Day of the African Child: PMC in Kenya Urged to Help Children Realise Full Potential

By Silas Isenjia

Nairobi, 16 June, 2026 / 5:09 pm (ACI Africa).

The National Coordinator of the Pontifical Missionary Childhood (PMC) in Kenya has called on members of the organization to listen to children and create opportunities and environments that allow them to realize their full potential.

In a message marking the annual Day of the African Child (DAC), celebrated on June 16, Sr. Rosemary Mwangi said that children should be provided with an environment in which they feel loved, protected, and empowered.

“As members of society, we are all called to listen to children, respect their dignity, and create opportunities for them to realize their full potential. Children should be seen not only as beneficiaries of our care but also as active participants in building a better future,” Sr. Mwangi said.

Reflecting on the significance of the Day of the African Child, the member of the  Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (ASN) said the celebration is marked by both joy and concern.

She noted that while children are a source of hope for families, the Church, and society through their talents, resilience, creativity, and faith, many continue to face serious challenges that hinder children’s growth and development.

“We rejoice in the talents, resilience, creativity, and faith of our children. They are a source of hope for our families, the Church, and our nations. Through their energy and dreams, they remind us that Africa has a bright future,” she said.

The PMC official lamented that many children across Africa continue to experience poverty, hunger, abuse, neglect, human trafficking, early marriage, substance abuse, and the negative influence of digital media.

She added that others are affected by conflict, displacement, family breakdown, and inadequate healthcare, challenges that she said threaten their well-being and limit their ability to become responsible and productive citizens.

The Day of the African Child (DAC) was launched by the Assembly of Heads of State of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1991 to be commemorated on June 16 each year.

The DAC pays tribute to the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, which resulted in the killings of students who demonstrated against the poor quality of education they received and demanded to be taught in their own language by the apartheid regime.

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Over the years, the day has been an opportunity for all stakeholders and actors involved in the protection and promotion of children's rights in Africa to come together, to consolidate common goals, and to tackle the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving an Africa fit for its children.

For 2026, the theme of DAC is “Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for every child in Africa.”

This theme also aligns with the African Union Theme of the Year 2026: “Assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063,” adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at its 38th Ordinary Session held in February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and at its 39th Ordinary Session held on 14 February 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

According to Sr. Mwangi, the observance of DAC should not be limited to celebrations and festivities but should serve as an opportunity for reflection and renewed commitment to the welfare of children.

“Celebrating the African Child, therefore, must go beyond songs, dances, speeches, and gifts. It should be a moment of reflection and commitment,” she said.

She emphasized the responsibility of different stakeholders in ensuring the holistic development of children.

Families, she said, must provide loving and safe environments where children can flourish, while schools should offer quality education that promotes both academic excellence and moral values. She also underscored the role of the Church in accompanying children through faith formation, safeguarding initiatives, and opportunities for meaningful participation.

Sr. Mwangi further called on governments and other stakeholders to strengthen policies and programs aimed at protecting children and supporting their integral development.

She described DAC as a celebration of hope and a reminder of the inherent dignity of every child.

“Let us commit ourselves to creating environments where every child feels loved, protected, and empowered to become a responsible agent of positive change in the Church and in society at large,” she said, adding, “As we celebrate each child, may our words be accompanied by actions that uphold the rights, dignity, and dreams of every child.”

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Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.