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Children's Rights Worldwide

Children's Rights Worldwide

Objective: This worksheet aims to raise awareness about children's rights challenges in Somalia, particularly regarding education and healthcare, and to foster empathy and critical thinking about global social issues.


Content and methods: The worksheet features a fictional newspaper article, a first-person narrative from a child living in a country with a problematic children's rights situation. Following the article, students answer multiple-choice questions to assess their comprehension of the child's situation and dreams. The worksheet then encourages students to formulate their own questions for the child, promoting empathy and deeper engagement. A subsequent section provides "Further information on the country," detailing the broader context of children's rights violations in the regarding country. True/false questions are used to check understanding of this informational text.


Competencies:

  • Reading comprehension
  • Empathy and perspective-taking
  • Critical thinking about social and humanitarian issues
  • Information extraction and analysis
  • Question formulation


Target group: 4th-6th grade

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Target group and level

4th-6th grade

Subjects

Geography

Children's Rights Worldwide

Children's Rights Worldwide

Read the newspaper article, then complete the corresponding tasks on the following pages.

My life in Somalia

Hello, my name is Amina, and I am 12 years old. I live in Somalia, a country in East Africa with about 15 million people. Somalia has beautiful beaches and warm weather, but it also has many problems. The country has been in conflict for many years, making life very hard for families like mine. Many people are poor, and there are not enough schools or hospitals.

Amina and her goat. Image by Freepik

I love playing with my little brother and our goat, but my life changed when I was forced to work. My father lost his job, and we had no money for food. I had to help my family by working in a market, carrying heavy bags. It’s very tiring and leaves me with no time to play or study. Many children in Somalia face the same problem because there are not enough jobs for adults. This makes it hard for us to go to school and have a better future.

Even though life is difficult, I dream of going back to school and becoming a teacher. Education is very important, and I want to help other children learn and have a better life. I hope that one day, Somalia will be a peaceful place where all children can go to school and play without worries. Until then, I will keep working hard and hoping for a brighter future.

Choose the correct answer for each question.

Further information on the country

Learn a bit more about the state of children's rights in the country. Read the text and answer the questions on the following page.

In Somalia, the situation for children's rights is very difficult. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, Somalia has been experiencing conflict and instability for many years. This ongoing violence has disrupted daily life and made it challenging for families to stay safe. As a result, many schools, hospitals, and homes have been destroyed, making it hard for children to get an education and proper healthcare.

At present, many children in Somalia do not have the opportunity to go to school. Some schools have been damaged or closed, and in some areas, it is not safe for children to travel to school. This means that many children are missing out on important learning and the chance to develop their skills. Additionally, girls face extra difficulties because some groups do not believe they should receive an education, making it even harder for them.

Healthcare is another major issue. Many children do not have access to doctors or medicines, especially those living in remote areas. Without proper medical care, even simple illnesses can become very serious and life-threatening.

Looking ahead, there is hope that international organizations and the Somali government will continue to work together to improve the situation. Efforts to promote peace and stability could make a big difference. If schools can be rebuilt and healthcare services improved, children in Somalia will have a better chance to grow up healthy and educated, leading to a brighter future for the entire country.

For each sentence, choose if it's true or false.