Africa Children Summit 2025

Grace Oduor

14 April 2025 4mins

Dennis and Girma of TdH at the African Children's Summit

Parktown, South Africa

Seen, Heard and Meaningfully Engaged in the Africa Children Summit 2025

Last week, from 4th to 7th April, 2025, children from all across Africa gathered in Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa, for the Africa Children Summit 2025, under the guiding theme #SeenHeardAndEngaged In Education. The Summit brought together key partners and organisations in a powerful forum that highlighted that the voices of children matter, they are ready to lead; and the critical aim of ensuring they are meaningfully involved in shaping the future of the continent

Objectives and highlights

The Summit aimed to unite children from across Africa to engage in discussions about critical issues facing them on the continent. Participants addressed the necessary actions to fulfill the aspirations of African children, generating and sharing evidence-based concerns regarding child rights and the challenges encountered. The Summit sought to propose key policy recommendations to tackle child protection issues across Africa, while also documenting and packaging the essential issues, advocacy requests, and recommendations into a comprehensive outcome statement. Additionally, it recognized the contributions of state parties, organizations, and individuals dedicated to promoting the well-being of children in Africa. Ultimately, the goal was to create a Children’s Action Plan that aligns with the vision of the Africa they desire.

Terre des Hommes Netherlands representation at the Summit

Dennis Ratemo, Programs Manager, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, along with Programme Officer Caroline Parmet, Ethiopia Country Director Girma Amentie and Marta Teklie, represented the organization at the Africa Children Summit 2025. They were joined by five TdH NL project participants (3 children from Kenya and 2 from Ethiopia). Together with other children participants, they contributed to developing the outcome statement, which was presented at the summit and to the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACERWC).

Key Thematic Areas highlights

The key deliberations revolved around pressing educational themes, reflecting both regional disparities and shared continental concerns and core areas of focus that included:

Emphasising the importance of platforms where children contribute to decisions affecting their learning and development. Advocating for vulnerable and marginalised children, including those with disabilities and from rural areas, to be fully integrated into educational systems.

Exploring how climate change disproportionately affects access to learning, particularly in disaster-prone areas.

Analysis on whether AI technologies pose a threat to traditional learning or offer transformative solutions.

Discussing structural and socioeconomic barriers to education, including infrastructure, affordability, and connectivity.

Addressing the devastating impact of child exploitation and the right to safe, quality education.

The Kenya Delegation Side Event

The Kenyan Delegation’s side event at the Africa Children Summit served as a vital platform for fostering robust dialogue among key stakeholders on child rights and participation. The event focused on several clear objectives, including creating a space for Kenyan organizations to engage with policymakers, donors, and other stakeholders regarding the resourcing of child participation. It also involved an in-depth analysis of existing practices and models to determine what facilitates or hinders meaningful child engagement, accompanied by actionable recommendations. Additionally, the side event highlighted Kenya’s significant progress, innovations, and interventions in advancing child rights, showcasing successful models and ongoing initiatives. A key goal was to strengthen partnerships among government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners to drive necessary policy changes and mobilize resources effectively. Overall, the side event emphasized the crucial role of children in shaping their own futures and served as a poignant call to action for all stakeholders, underscoring the necessity of meaningful engagement and resource allocation to fully realize children’s rights and well-being.

The Africa Children Summit 2025 successfully achieved its objectives by fostering a collaborative environment where children from across the continent could voice their concerns, aspirations, and recommendations regarding their rights and welfare. Through meaningful dialogue, the participants generated evidence-based insights into the challenges they face and proposed essential policy recommendations aimed at enhancing child protection across Africa. The Summit culminated in the creation of a comprehensive outcome statement that encapsulated the key advocacy asks and prioritized solutions to the issues discussed. Moreover, it recognized the vital contributions of state parties, organizations, and individuals committed to improving the lives of children. As the children await the implementation of their outcome statement, they remain hopeful that key stakeholders will respond with action, turning their aspirations into reality and paving the way for a brighter future for all children in Africa.