WHY ADVOCACY? WHY RIGHTS OF THE CHILD?

Teacher Sam [Rayla Melchor Santos]

Before I attempt to answer the question, Why?, let me define what it is. Advocacy is the active
support of an idea or cause (WordNet). It is the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something,
such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support (Dictionary.com). It is the giving of public support to
an idea, a course of action or a belief (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary).
Having initiated a self-advocacy, I realize these bookish, conventional dictionary definitions of the
word advocacy can be rather flat, two-dimensional, even blas, for advocacy is farthest from flat,
two-dimensional and blas. I can not agree more with John Lord, Brock University, in presenting
Types of Advocacy that advocacys definition must also include a depth of feeling, a commitment to
advance a cause, a going beyond the call of duty(2004). Further, advocacy often stresses vision,
voice and choice. What vision? Whose voice?
Why Advocacy? Because McKINLEY is also a Leadership Academy for Children and leaders must see
past their noses. Leaders live for a higher purpose, on higher ground, possess a vision larger than
themselves and their small dreams for their families. And so it is with this mandate that we at
McKinley introduce advocacy to our children for to whom much is given, much will be demanded/
required, more will be asked of him to whom more has been entrusted, Luke 12:48. It is thus, a
stewardship and an accountability of the unmistakable privilege that we, all of us, children, mentors,
parents, stakeholders, the board of McKINLEY Hill have been entrusted with on this earth. To borrow
from Sean Covey, because we have been given much, we too should give. It should come as no
surprise that when you give, you get. (2008)
Why Advocacy? Inspired by Stephen Covey, this time by his 8
th
Habit, we have chosen, we have
found our voice and are influencing others to find theirs (2004). It is precisely this, a voice, that will
bring our children from competence to greatness. In no uncertain terms, advocacy is leadership.
Advocacy is greatness.
Why Rights of the Child? Because childrens rights continue to be dishearteningly, deplorably,
grossly disrespected and not protected despite the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the first
legally binding international treaty embodying to safeguard and protect the human rightscivil,
cultural, economic, political and social rights- of children, ratified by 194 UN member nations on
November 20, 1989. Because according to UNICEF, children continue to suffer from poverty,
homelessness, abuse, neglect, preventable diseases, unequal access to education and justice systems
that do not recognize their special needs.
Because it is our thrust to develop leaders and decision makers committed to live and lead a life of
greatness. In the course of finding their own voice in this world, the empowerment to make the
decision to take the best choices can only be through their knowing, experiencing, declaring and
embracing their inalienable rights and the rights of others.
Because as advocates of rights of the child, heartened by UNICEF UK, our own McKL children must
know that: they have rights, should be informed about their rights, should be helped to exercise
their rights, should be able to enforce their rights and should be a community of interest to advocate
young peoples rights. Because, according to the UNICEF UK initiative for UK schools called the Rights
Respecting School Award (RRSA), both schools and children have benefitted from the teaching and
learning of childrens rights. Evidence gathered suggests that when the values of the UNCRC serve as
the underlying foundation and curriculum of a school, they have a significant, positive impact on
important aspects of the childs well-being as well as an improvement in the school(s) positively
effecting the relationships, teaching approaches, attitudes and behavior of everyone involved.
(UNICEF 2010) Everyone involved, children, parents and teachers have reported: improved pupil self-
esteem, pupils enhanced moral development, improved behavior and relationships (reductions in
bullying, exclusions and improved attendance), more positive attitudes towards diversity in society
and the reduction of prejudice, pupils development as global citizens, overall school improvement
(including learning environment and academic standards), enhanced job satisfaction for teachers.
Because teaching children and young people about their rights, inspirited by UNICEF UK, means that
they can find out about the legal and human rights and responsibilities that underpin society, making
the Convention an excellent starting point for understanding global citizenship.
[Not only for the obvious understanding of and lesson on global citizenship,] Because the lessons
from the Convention on the Rights of the Child abound: explicitly and implicitly. Lessons on human
dignity and liberty, survival and development. Lessons on identity and nationality. Lessons on values
and virtues; on responsibility, compassion, empathy, care and protection, cooperation, respect, love,
among others. Lessons on life its basic attributes, of human life, in particular sentience,
awareness, mobility, will, autonomy and growth (Peck, 1988). More lessons on life its realities, the
existence of mental and physical disability, discrimination, abuse, neglect or negligent treatment,
maltreatment, deprivation, torture, exploitation, mental and physical violence, armed conflicts, war,
hunger, poverty, pain, abuse. Lessons on roles, relationships, equality, gender equality. Lessons on
faith and faiths. governments and governance, citizenship, community. Lessons on care, protection
and relief justice. Lessons on health and health services, disease and mortality. Lessons on the
respect and care for the environment. Lessons on education. Lessons on balance and wholeness,
leisure, recreation and cultural activities. Lessons on expression and the freedom of expression. Etc,
etc
Because one of the greatest lessons, if not the greatest lesson a child can learn, is the lesson on self-
worth. That he is special, unique and precious.
Lastly, because, if I were to be truest to myself as an educator and truest in my mission of preparing
children for life, I will need to teach them respect, of self and others. And this is accomplished best
through teaching them their entitlements inalienable and indivisible -encapsulated in the
Convention on the Rights of a Child. In doing so, I have done best and my best to empower and
protect them for life
Ultimately, advocacy is about what we stand for our values, our compassion, principles & belief in
the dignity and worth of every human being. It is about inspiring ourselves and others with our
prayers and deeds for a more humane world, in the words of Nobel Peace Prize recipient, our friend
and supporter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for a new kind of society more compassionate, more
caring, more sharing where human rights, where childrens rights are respected and protected.
Jose Rizal once said that The youth is the hope of our future. The healthy development of children
is crucial to the future well-being of any society. The costs to society of failing its children are huge
(UNICEF). The tyranny of some is possible only through the cowardice of others. It is enough for the
evil people to succeed for the good people to do nothing. SO ASK, WHY ADVOCACY? BECAUSE It
is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without
becoming a part of any edifice (Jose Rizal).
Let us share this vision of leadership and greatness for your, our children in a conspiracy of hope
and possibilities that even, one life, or with His Graciousness, lives may be spared pain and suffering
because we dared to dream, we dared to be heard, we made a choice
IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL love and gratitude for Merci Melchor, my mother for giving me the book, For
Every Child: the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child in words and pictures. PS1. Mom taught
me to love, and taught me to love and respect myself again. She influenced me to find my voice so I
could influence others to find theirs. Her patience, forbearance, meaning and love is the deeply
rooted foundation of the I Am S.A.M. Foundation. Roots and wings, Mom what Amazing Grace you
are in my life and the lives of countless women and children because you loved me well!

S.A.M. stands especially for Simply Amazing Momcie!

PS2. McKinley Hill has evolved into the MCK (Making Champions of Kids) through the S.A.M. in
Me Educational Empowerment Curriculum.
S.A.M. (Shaker And Mover) stands for a Leader

PS3. McKinley Hill IS and Leadership Academy for Children was cited by UNICEF UK as the first
school outside the UK to be an UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School


www.iamsamfoundation.com (being updated)
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www.samraylamelchorsantos.com


Tricia Mariza Mercado, OIC for IamSAM PEP Schools:
Mobile 63-917-506-9621
Landline 632 425-6155

WORKS CITED

Advocacy. WordNet. A Lexical Base for English. Princeton University, 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Sept.
2010. <wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn>.

Advocacy. Dictionary.com. 11 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Sept. 2010.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/advocacy>.

Advocacy. Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary. 11 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Sept. 2010.
<www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/advocacy>.

Covey, Sean. Seans Picks. 2008. Web. 17 Sept. 2010.
<www.seancovey.com/getinspired_sp_foundationstones.html>.

Covey, Stephen. The 8th Habit From Effectiveness to Greatness. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.

Lord, John. Types of Advocacy. Brock University, May 31, 2004. PowerPoint file. 11 Sept. 2010.
Web. 17 Sept. 2010.
<www.johnlord.net/Power%20Empowerment%20Partnerships%20Advocacy/Brock%20Powe
rpoint%20presentation.ppt>.

Peck, M. Scott. People of the Lie. London: Random House, 1988.

"Teaching about Children's Rights." Unite for Children. Web. 17 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.unicef.org.uk>.
Unicef. The UK Committee for UNICEF. Rights Respecting Schools Award. 2010. Web. 17 Sept.
2010. <www.unicef.org.uk/tz/teacher_support/rrs_award.asp>.