Celebrating Young People in Our Lives

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Celebrating Young People in Our Lives

In some countries, including Poland, June 1st is celebrated as International Children’s Day. This year, on June 3rd, Joyce Reilly and I were invited to speak about Children’s Rights to a class of first graders from Chelsea Public School in New York City. The program was organized by the Polish Mission to the UN and Polish Cultural Institute and it took place in the United Nations building. We sat in the Security Council’s Chamber and listened to a presentation about the UN’s mission to create peace in the world, walked through a children’s exhibit and saw a refugee tent, visited the Janusz Korczak Poster exhibit in one of the corridors of the UN, and finally I spoke about Children’s Rights. These first graders were not only attentive and full of great questions but shared many smart answers.

As I was driving home, I thought about Children’s Day and wondered why in the USA, we don’t hear about it. Here is what I found out about it on the internet: In the United States, Children’s Day is typically celebrated on the second Sunday in June, this year on June 9th. The tradition dates back to 1856 when the Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts, held a special service focused on children. Over the years, several denominations declared or recommended an annual observance be held for children, but no government action has been taken. Past presidents have periodically proclaimed a National Child’s Day or National Children’s Day, but no official yearly celebration of National Children’s Day has been established in the United States.

So here is what I am thinking: This year is a special year since it is the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and all over the world, there will be celebrations on November 20th to commemorate this important milestone. If you have young people in your life, surprise their parents with a membership to the Korczak Association of the USA. We will contact them and see how together we can create for their young people something special for November 20th. Maybe they will learn about the CRC and share it with other young people. Maybe they will take special responsibility for someone or something at home or school. Or maybe they will write an essay, a poem or create piece of art or podcast to share with others.

In order to carry Korczak’s legacy forward, the Korczak Association of the USA needs young people to join us. If you agree, please donate generously to Korczak USA this month.

And if you have other ideas on how to get young people involved with Korczak USA, please let us know.

For Korczak USA
Mariola Strahlberg

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