Care Leavers Network Ireland organised a national conference in Dublin on November 20th to celebrate World Children’s Day. This is the third year of this celebration in Ireland, and it involved many events around the country, as well as a showcase ‘Child Talks’ event attended by over 600 people and watched by over 90,000 children on Facebook Live throughout the schools of Ireland.
Founded by Wayne Dignam, Chairman of Care Leavers Network Ireland, the concept is to celebrate childhood and children’s rights every year on November 20th and the event has grown significantly each year. As a care leaver, Wayne understood the importance of recognising children’s rights, particularly children who have to be cared by the State. Care leavers celebrated this day, along with Government officials, policy makers, social care workers and the National Child and Family Agency, which has responsibility for protecting children in care on behalf of the Irish State. The ‘Child Talks’ event heard from many disadvantaged children and they had to opportunity to give inspiring ‘Child Talks’ about how they overcame their disadvantage to be the best person they could be.
