Children deserve a solid future

This year the International Catholic Child Bureau (ICCB) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its foundation. It was set up in 1948 at the insistence of Catholic organisations to provide help for children suffering as a result of the disturbances caused by World War II.

The ICCB works at the service of all children without discriminating or proselytising, in full respect of their nationality, their culture and their religion: "It has as its objective the integral development of all children in a Christian perspective, standing for the humanisation of their lives. It has a special concern for the most deprived" (statute, article 3 and Charter).

This anniversary should encourage the ICCB and those Catholic NGOs in partnership with it, which take up the cause of children and implement a wide range of projects for their protection, healing and advancement, to intensify their mission. Catholic organisations working with children and for them form a worldwide network. They have been invited to work alongside the ICCB - as are all organisms, whether Christian or not, which recognise in its objectives their own.

Its 2006 annual report shows that, in many countries, rich or poor, children are often still exploited, their dignity offended and their physical, psychological, intellectual, moral and spiritual growth seriously impaired. Seven years have passed since the beginning of the Third Millennium and still there are many oppressive situations affecting children. Criminal recourse to abortion is an attack on the dignity, right to life and respect due to every human being, especially the weakest ones, with whom Christ Jesus identified himself: "whoever welcomes a child is welcoming me" (cf. Mt 18:5). Handicapped children are banished from certain societies.

While very young, children are at the mercy of unscrupulous employers and, placed too early in gainful employment, are subjected to exhausting or degrading work and sexual abuse, which prevents them from receiving the education necessary for their development. Children are homeless and forced to live in the streets, in orphanages, detention centres or are being engaged in warfare. Likewise, drug and paedophile-pornography rings, the trafficking in human organs or situations of conflict lead to horrible forms of child exploitation.

This special year challenges the ICCB to continue actively, especially in those European and international foras where it is represented, to denounce these situations. In this spirit, the ICCB, inspired by the Servant of God Pope John Paul II's Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae (n. 10), courageously and incessantly invites civil authorities and all other institutions with a role in protecting and educating children to continue adamantly opposing these forms of oppression.

In this area, the mission of ICCB, close to the local situation, is very much in the forefront. Monitoring international life and suggesting many initiatives, the ICCB assists local associations for promotion and development. With its many partners, it helps repair the human and emotional fabric surrounding children, which is indispensable to their integral development, taking into account their innate frailty and basic needs. In fact, in the world of children, the ICCB would like to see recognised everywhere as essential: the family, with both father and mother present, an atmosphere of affection and warmth, schools, child day care centres, games, laughter, the joyful and peaceful discovery of life, so that each child, in the family and in society, with his/her siblings and friends, may flourish and give the world the best of himself/herself.

This 60th anniversary also gives the Catholic Church, on whose behalf the ICCB operates, another suitable opportunity to address all men and women of goodwill. The Church challenges us all to devote ourselves in seeing that every child is protected, helped and supported as his/her personality is formed and s/he builds his/her personal, family and social future.

Remembering the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, it is beneficial for all those who work with children and young persons to rediscover the theological virtue of hope. In fact, children are the hope of humanity; it is therefore up to us policy makers, adults, parents, educators, pastoral operators, facilitators and carers, to give them renewed trust in the future so that they may play a leading and responsible role for the world of tomorrow.

To encourage and guide a child's development, it is particularly important to support the families and natural communities of young people.

At the local, national and international levels, the ICCB is a partner in dialogue and action with the various ecclesial and civil authorities and with institutions that have responsibility for children, so that youth policies can be reoriented with respect for their dignity, their culture, their human and religious development. Twenty years ago, the ICCB actively participated in the drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a clear and significant aspect of the work it has undertaken since its foundation.

Central Office Ejjew Ghandi (formerly Children's Homes), which has been an active member of the ICCB for years now, would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank the ICCB and all those who work in its ranks for youth and who thus have a very concrete part to play in the new evangelisation process. Our gratitude is also extended to the many organisations and individuals who support us with their donations.

Ejjew Ghandi (come to me) urges them and all those in our islands, who have children's welfare at heart, to intensify their presence with children in order to bring them the comfort and support they need to become fully-fledged citizens who can build their future and take an active part in social life. Through those who are close to them, children thus discover the face of Christ, who is attentive to each of his little ones, for what one does to the least of these, one does to the Lord (cf. Mt 25:45).

This 60th anniversary could be a golden opportunity for local NGOs that promote children's dignity, rights and well-being to partner with ICCB (www.bice.org) so that children would have a stronger voice not only on the European but also on the international level. There is room for everyone.

Working alone does not help children. Globalisation is an incentive to network together in the local and international field. Children cannot wait. Let us together give every child a solid future.

Mgr Zammit McKeon is director of Ejjew Ghandi.