This year's 'Rights 4U' course, organised by the Office of the Commisioner for Children, will be held during the weekend of July 10 to12 at Manresa House in Gozo. It is open to young people aged 13 to 15, from both Malta and Gozo, and will once again be led by Anna Grech and Malcolm Micallef, who are experienced in working effectively with youths.

Each year, the course proves very popular with young people, who make new friends while actively learning about the fundamental rights they are entitled to under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The course programme promises to be educational, interesting, and fun. It is also interactive and includes various activities in which young people will actively explore and engage in discussions on their rights.

While the participants are taught about their rights they are also educated on the reciprocal need to respect the rights of others, including those of their peers.

The course aims to give participants tools with which to be more involved in matters of social concern, in such a way that they may be empowered as active and independent members of society. It focuses on personal development and participants develop critical thinking skills, and learn to put into practice concepts they learn in the course, such as respect, responsibility, inclusion, and independence.

The course seeks to explain children's rights to young people in a way that is suitable for their particular age group, while simultaneously obtaining feedback from young people by giving them a chance to make their voices heard on various topical issues. These views and opinions in turn provide further direction to the work of the Commissioner for Children, and allow the Commissioner to represent the voice of the child more effectively.

The course is an initiative of the Commissioner's office, and has been successfully organised for the past four years. It falls within the Commissioner's obligations as outlined by articles 9 (b) and 11 (a) of the Commissioner for Children Act 2003 to 'provide public education and information designed to promote an understanding of the rights of children', and 'to ensure that children are being given the opportunity to express their opinions and that these are in fact considered' .

This year, the course theme is 'Giving young people a voice'. It will explore the issue of children's participation in matters of concern to them in their daily lives. More specifically, participants will discuss how their views and opinions can better reach government authorities and decision-makers, and how these should be taken into consideration when decisions are taken that will directly affect their lives.

Last year, 52 young people from various schools and social backgrounds took part in the course. They discussed the issues put forward in the 'Manifesto for Children', a research publication from the Office of the Commissioner for Children which highlighted issues requiring urgent attention in sectors affecting children.

The course fee is €30; a limited number of sponsorships are available for prospective participants who may find difficulty in contributing this amount.

The organisers seek to ensure that the number of participants is balanced in terms of age, gender, and applicants from different schools.

Preference is given to applicants considered as 'vulnerable' or marginalised.

Youths interested in attending are to contact Sharon Attard at the Office of the Commissioner for Children on Tel. 2148 5180, or e-mail sharon.a.attard@gov.mt.

The application deadline is April 30.

What participants at last year's course had to say

Emma Cassar, 15:

In Malta, we are extremely fortunate to have a Commissioner for Children who is responsible to stand up for any child in our islands. This is not the case for all countries around the world.

Though many countries, including Malta, signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, several others have still not fully adhered to the convention.

There are still children around the world who do not even have the basic necessities that many take for granted, such as a supply of clean water, adequate shelter, a sound educational system, proper healthcare and most of all, love and care within a stable family environment.

These and other important issues were all discussed in the Rights4U course which was held last summer. It gave us the chance to voice our opinion about topical issues and how we can all contribute to improve situations by proposing strategies and implementing them in our own little ways.

Many might think young people are too inexperienced to be heard, but I believe all children are endowed with personal and distinct characteristics, which if given the chance, can contribute to improve situations in society.

The course was a fun experience. We were able to meet new people with different outlooks from various schools. We were given the opportunity to play games and work in groups, thus encouraging even the most timid participants to voice their opinions in a friendly atmosphere.

Rebecca Barbara Bonnici,14:

No words can explain the experience during the weekend. It was full of activities and fun.

Together we learned about children's rights and read the Manifesto for Children.

We also shared about serious problems that children may encounter, which we previously may not have been very aware of.

Taking part in the course was a great experience which cannot be forgotten. It should not be missed by students who have the opportunity to take part in the next live-in.

Ms Zammit is Commissioner for Children