100 children marched through James Town Sunday 20th November 2011 to Celebrate UN's Universal Children's Day, and help draw attention to the reasons why children are dropping out of public schools.
On a day set aside to mark the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations, the Yen Daakye Movement wanted to draw the nation's attention to the excessive levels of corporal punishment and the challenges within Ghana’s public education system.
It is 11 years since Ghana ratified the UN Convention but the rights of many children are being abused even when they are supposed to be in a safe learning environment. Through the march the children wanted to ask the local community, the state and civil society to come together and stand up for the Ghanaian child.
The issues the children themselves chose to write on their banners in both English and Ga included:
- Stop hitting us (nyƐ kpaa wƆ yii)
- Stop beating us
- Stop collecting our money (nyƐ kpaa wƆ shika hem)
- Stop bullying us (nyƐ kpaa wƆ esha feemƆ)
- Stop cheating us
- Stop insulting our parents
- Stop beating us with electric cable
The children have some very valuable and alarming experiences to share. Citi FM radio station came and supported the day and interviewed the children and reported the event in the 6 am, 10 am and 11 am news.
The radio station is currently in the process of preparing a documentary to be aired later this month to explore in more detail why children are dropping out of school. We will update you as to when this will be aired. 
They intend to have a phone-in discussion so we would welcome your involvement!
Viasat 1 TV station came down to directly interview the children. Whilst protecting the individual child's identity they also showed some of their physical scars from the excessive caning. The children's stories made the main national news on Sunday evening.
Please help us to keep the momentum moving. Share with us success stories of schools where different forms of discipline are being effectively used. We need to all learn together about how to change our behaviours.
Please read the pre march Press Release.
