UK school children present government minister with over 230 000 letters of support for children affected by conflict

24 June 2009

Today, International Development Minister Mike Foster was presented with a campaign letter from 12 young people on behalf of over 230,000 UK school children. The letter supports children who live in countries affected by conflict, and is part of a campaign run by First News children’s newspaper, Save the Children and the Department for International Development to highlight the effects of conflict on children around the world.

The young people who presented the letters were winners of an art and journalism competition that was part of the campaign. The winners were presented with laptop computers and a cheque for £150 for their school, as well as a tour of the Houses of Parliament which took place before the reception.
This ceremony, which was hosted by Mike Foster at the House of Lords, recognised the involvement of so many of our nation's children in the First News Conflict Children Campaign which was launched in May 2008 at 11 Downing Street. They also listened to Ben Okafor who talked about his experiences as a former child soldier in Nigeria.

The campaign has given children in the UK an opportunity to voice their opinion on the lives of children living in conflict, and to be heard by Ministers who have the power to make a difference. 

Nicky Cox, Editor of First News commented:

“Our readers told us that they wanted to do something to help children like them around the world who are being affected by conflict.  We are delighted that we have been able to give British children a voice that shouts from the rooftops that their friends in other countries should not be made to suffer because adults fight. Their message of support for child soldiers and other children living their daily lives under the threat of violence and war, will be heard around the world. I am so proud that our youngest citizens have played their own part in helping to change the lives of children just like them around the globe.”

Mike Foster, International Development Minister who hosted the event at the House of Lords commented:

“I’m delighted that schoolchildren around the UK are supporting this campaign.
 
As International Development Minister, I've seen first hand how UK aid is helping children affected by conflict.  UK aid protects children from violence, enables them to attend school safely and helps them put their lives back together.
 
It's great that pupils in this country are campaigning on behalf of these conflict children around the world."

Jasmine Whitbread, the Chief Executive of Save the Children commented:

“The response to the Conflict Children campaign has been phenomenal. The biggest number of children ever have joined voices to stop children around the world being forced to fight.”