Local teenagers go global for children's charity
Two Welsh teenagers are set to represent the UK in a Global Youth Panel set up by charity Save the Children and held next week (March 10 -14) in London.
Sunday 9 March 2008
Lydia Lewis, 17, Head Girl of Howell's School in Cardiff and Gareth Lewis, 16 from Caerphilly and a student at Blackwood Comprehensive School, were elected to the posts by their peers on the Save the Children Wales Youth Panel.
The Global Youth Panel is a new initiative set up to allow children and young people to express their opinions about the way the charity works and ensure that children's voices are heard. The panel has around 15 members from places where Save the Children UK works such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, UK, Liberia, Mongolia and Mozambique.
Lydia and Gareth will meet up with the other members in the first meeting of the Global Panel held next week at Save the Children's headquarters in Farringdon, London. During the week they will meet with the organisation's Board of Trustees and senior managers to discuss issues on policy and decisions on areas such as health, education, protection, HIV and AIDS, Children's rights, poverty and justice.
Both Lydia and Gareth recently took part in a residential course in Monmouthshire organised by the Wales programme of Save the Children to prepare them for next week's event, and are looking forward to taking part in the Global Panel:
Lydia, who has supported many Save the Children's fundraising events through Howells' Schools said: "I'm really looking forward to taking part in the Global Panel next week and having the opportunity to be involved in making decisions and influence action plans. I hope to gain a better understanding of the issues that affect children and young people in different countries around the world and how Save the Children helps to address these issues."
Gareth Lewis added: "I am really excited about representing Wales and the UK at the Global Panel. It will be really good to get the chance to give my opinion to the Board of Trustees and I hope that they even follow-up some suggestions that Lydia and I make. I hope to raise the issues of poverty in the UK, and how this can be tackled. I would also like to suggest improvements in education or sustainability in developing countries."
Eleri Thomas, Save the Children Interim Programme Director said: "This new initiative is part of a commitment to ensure that children are central to the work of Save the Children UK. We hope that Lydia and Gareth will gain a lot of positive experiences from the Global Youth Panel and bring issues, solutions and good examples from the meeting that will in the long term help us improve the lives of children and young people."
Your Youth Voice for Wales
Lydia and Gareth are aware of the importance of engaging young people to help make a difference. If you are a young person and would like them to raise any issues that concern you at a future Wales Youth Panel or Global Panel meeting, or if you would like make any suggestions that they think would help young people, contact them on walesinfo@savethechildren.org.uk.
