Young Ambassador Brings Children’s Charter
of Rights to Lancaster Public School

Students at Lancaster Public School learned that too many children are using homeless shelters in Peel at a rally to bring attention to the Peel Children’s Charter of Rights. On Friday, more than 500 students attended an assembly to hear Naomi Ishmael, the ten-year-old ambassador for the Charter talk about the importance of children’s rights and how life should be better for some children.

“When we were working on our Charter, some kids told us that they didn’t think they had the same rights as adults. They didn’t know that we have rights that are especially meant to protect and respect us as children. My hope is that when more of us learn about the Charter, life will get better for children in Peel”, said Naomi.

The Status of Children in Peel 2009 is a report by Success By 6 Peel that uses data and anecdotal evidence to compare specific aspects of children’s lives to what they said they needed in the Peel Children’s Charter of Rights. In her speech, Naomi used information in the report to talk about some of the issues children in Peel are facing such as poverty and lack of affordable housing.

 “Did you know that over two thousand kids used homeless shelters in 2008? The Mississauga Food Bank helps twelve thousand people every month and sixty-eight per cent are families with children, said Naomi. “The children’s words (under the “Right to Basic Needs”) in our Charter say “Every child has the right to have clean water, good food, proper clothes, a home and be happy. Every single child in Peel deserves to have this right met!”

The Reelstages Children’s Choir also performed the Peel Children’s Charter of Rights theme song, “We’ve Got Rights!” as students clapped, danced and sang along. The lyrics for the song were adapted from the twelve rights statements in the Charter.

Naomi speaks to the students at Lancaster PS. "The children’s words in our Charter say 'Every child has the right to have clean water, good food, proper clothes, a home and be happy.' Every single child in Peel deserves to have this right met, she said.	The Reel Stages Choir, Tarik, Tealyha, Micah, Naomi, Jerron, Marina, Sade and Mikhi perform the Charter theme song, "We've Got Rights!" for the students, staff and some parents of Lancaster PS at a morning assembly on Friday, June 18.