organizer with the United Way of
Calgary and Area’s children’s initiative
and the First 2,000 Days Network.
“Here I am a retired person and now
I really have the time to focus on what’s
important,” Carlton says as two of his
grandchildren watch “Pappy” during an
interview.
“I especially see that not all children
have supportive environments and we
all have a responsibility to provide that
to them.”
Building those supportive
environments is often a matter of
building solid relationships between
children and the adults in their lives:
parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles,
teachers, neighbours and more.
“Children need positive, caring
APPLE
FALL 2017 56
PRAISING PASSION
Adults working
for the rights of children
Protecting and respecting kids
365 days a year
WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TERRY BULLICK
Phil Carlton and Zeeyaan Somani are
among dozens of Albertans encouraging
people of all ages to be part of National
Child Day on Nov. 20, 2017.
The day revolves around promoting
and understanding the rights of
children—in Canada and around the
globe. This year’s theme is the right to
be safe.
The United Nations’ Convention
on the Rights of the Child outlines the
human rights of children, calling them
“the standards in international law for
the treatment of children to support
their optimal survival, development and
protection.”
Since 1971, Carlton has worked
around, with and for children as a public
school teacher then as a community
relationships with adults so that in
times of trouble they have someone
they can trust to help them—we all have
the ability to help a child and make a
difference in their lives.”
Somani is a nursing student who
worked this summer with the Office of
the Child & Youth Advocate of Alberta.
She says children and adults can and do
work together to accomplish children’s
rights in Alberta.
“Children in our province continue
to experience abuse and neglect. We
can work together to make positive
changes.”
Both say National Child Day does
more than celebrate children’s rights. It
recognizes children need to be protected
and respected 365 days a year. |a
Phil Carlton, left, and Zeeyaan Somani say Albertans can work together to accomplish children’s rights in the province.
