SIBU: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has officially launched the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) today (Aug 16), as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for children.
According to CFCI committee chairman, Cr Kiing Teck Ho, this initiative aligns with its vision to ensure that every child’s rights are respected, their voices are heard, and their well-being prioritised.
“CFCI is a global movement led by UNICEF, which encourages cities and local governments to actively engage in creating communities where the needs of children are met.
“The role of local governments is pivotal in this initiative, as they are closest to the people and can directly influence the quality of life for children. Through CFCI, the SMC will work collaboratively with various stakeholders to implement policies and programmes that ensure children’s rights to education, health, safety, and participation are upheld,” he said at a press conference held at SMC’s premises yesterday.
In conjunction with the implementation of CFCI, Kiing stated that SMC is collaborating with Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) for the recruitment of the Child Council.
He said this Child Council would serve as a platform for children to voice their opinions, contribute to decision-making processes, and actively participate in initiatives that affect their lives.
One of the key roles of the Child Council, is to provide input on the design and improvement of public facilities, including gardens, parks, playgrounds, toilets, and hand-wash basins.
“Additionally, SMC is committed to ensuring that all public facilities are inclusive and accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. The Child Council will be encouraged to consider the needs of disabled people when giving their recommendations, ensuring that our community facilities are designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind.
“We invite all interested candidates aged between 13-16 years old to apply for a position on the Child Council. The application process will involve an interview, after which successful candidates will be selected.
“The official swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed Child Council members will be scheduled once the interview process is complete. The date of the ceremony will be announced in due course,” Kiing stated.
SMC is committed to making Sibu a model Child-Friendly City, where every child is valued, their rights are respected, and their voices are heard, Kiing said, adding SMC is looking forward to the active participation of the community in this initiative.
To encourage this initiative, he said, the Council will organise various cultural programmes that not only celebrate Sarawak’s rich diversity but also instill in children the importance of harmony and peaceful coexistence.
According to Kiing, these programmes will include traditional dance workshops offering children the opportunity to learn and perform traditional dances from different ethnic groups; cultural storytelling sessions to share folktales and historical stories and heritage craft workshops to teach children traditional crafts such as weaving, batik painting, and pottery, all of these which are integral to our local culture.
Also present at the press conference was SRDC secretary, Ng Siang Wei.
