Graz/Vienna (OTS) – Shared yesterday im Skyroom des Styria Media Centers Fabienne, die Children’s mayor of the city of Graz, and Michael-Johannes, a committed young person from Graz, expressed their demands and wishes when asked: “What does a world look like in which children and young people can grow well and everyone has a chance? with that of the city of Graz, experts in listening, children’s rights and the future.
“The ever-increasing inability to listen to one another affects all areas of our lives, but children and young people in particular suffer lasting damage. If they no longer have the tools with which they can communicate their hopes and fears, our longings and needs, i.e. if they no longer find a counterpart with whom they feel understood, this will lead to a psychological and emotional meltdown in the long term. The first signs of this are already clearly visible – in families, in schools!”
Folke Tegetthoff, the founder of the International Austrian Storytelling Festival, storyteller and fairy tale writer and honorary professor at the Graz Children’s University, explains the current problem.
The children’s mayor of the city of Graz, Fabienne, explains: “For me, the question of equal opportunity means that everyone is treated equally and no one is excluded. Some children in my school are not from Austria. At school we live by the motto: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ I wish that all people live peacefully together.”
Michael-Johannes, who is a committed young person from Graz, emphasized the importance of a clean city, for example.
Living children’s rights
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Children’s rights. The opportunity for the best possible development is also a right that all children have.
“Children and young people are the decision-makers of the future. But their voices must be heard at all times, because yesterday, today and tomorrow they have the right to be included in decisions that affect them. It is the job of all of us to implement the rights of every child. If we fail to give children, for example, education, equal opportunities and a say, this is relevant for all of us. The future is now!”
said Corinna Geißler, Head of Advocacy and Children’s Rights at UNICEF Austria.
A city for children & young people
Nadine Aichholzer from the Office for Youth and Family, Open Child and Youth Work of the City of Graz was also on the podium yesterday. She represented the panel discussion Child friendly city Graz and used examples to demonstrate the city’s commitment to children and young people.
Nadine Aichholzer emphasized: “Young people have a lot to tell us if we just listen to them carefully. As the city of Graz, it is our job to give children and young people in particular a voice and to shape the city not just for them, but together with them and to include them in decisions.”
“We as humans should try harder to become the adults we always wanted to be as 14-year-old children. The adult who would have inspired us back then. We should become this person. Then we will make better decisions and the right ones that let us live authentically.”
Ali Maholdji, UNICEF Austria honorary representative as well as EU youth ambassador, entrepreneur and author, concluded the panel discussion.
In any case, one thing became clear yesterday: We are all responsible for hearing, seeing and perceiving children and young people, including their needs, demands and wishes, in order to realize real participation as a child’s right for young people.
Story trees
For the first time this year there will be 14 people on the playground in Graz until May 20th “Story Trees”that can be visited. There you have the opportunity to write your own thoughts on a postcard and hang them on the “Wall of Words” in the covered fairytale castle. Each tree is assigned a topic about which a question is asked. Stories can be shared here and the living trees help the words perhaps take root in others and help stories grow.
Graz tells
Information about Graz Tells and other dates can be found here: https://www.storytellingfestival.at/graz-erzahlt-2024.
Further information about the International Storytelling Festival and the program can be found here: https://www.storytellingfestival.at/
Images for editorial purposes can be downloaded here: https://we.tl/t-k62J1dTCvW
Photo credit: © Moritz Pirker
Questions & Contact:
Mag. Lisa Heidegger-Haber
haber@unicef.at
+43 660 34 83 653