Children and Young People as Citizens: Partners in Social Change

The International Save the Children Alliance in South and Central Asia Region consists of 10 Save the Children agencies operating programmes in 24 locations in the South & Central Asia Region. The Alliance works under the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Under these same principles, Save the Children believes that children and young people are active citizens of both today and tomorrow. Children's active participation and their right to be heard and have influence over decisions that affect their lives is a fundamental principle for Save the Children.

This publication, which is comprised of four booklets and a discussion paper "Children and Young People as Citizens: Partners in Social Change", examines children's different backgrounds in South and Central Asia and demonstrates a diversity of ways children have organised themselves and influenced their own situations. It provides examples of children's participation and citizenship in families, communities, schools, work places, local government bodies and other settings. It highlights the many diverse and creative ways in which children organise themselves, let their voices be heard and create change in their lives, appropriate to their different cultures and situations.