Children's Day: origin and importance

Children's Day is a commemorative date to celebrate and honour childhood, recognising the importance of children in society and highlighting their rights and specific needs.

When is Children's Day celebrated?

Children's Day in Portugal is celebrated on 1 June, in commemoration of the approval of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the United Nations Organisation (UNO) in 1959. This declaration established ten fundamental principles to ensure the protection, education, health and well-being of all children.

Why is Children's Day celebrated on 1 June?

On the same day, but the following year, in 1960, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution inviting all countries to establish a Universal Children's Day.

However, the date on which Children's Day is celebrated may vary according to the country. For example, in Brazil it is celebrated on 12 October. The important thing is to highlight that Children's Day is not just a time for festivities, but rather an opportunity to reflect on children's conditions and promote actions aimed at their well-being.

What is the importance of Children's Day?

Children's Day is an occasion to raise awareness about the fundamental rights of children, such as the right to life, health, education, protection from violence and exploitation, among others. This date highlights the need to protect and promote the well-being of children in all spheres of society.

Children's Day is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of quality education and the integral development of children. It is essential to invest in programmes and policies that guarantee equal access to education, that stimulate creativity, imagination and learning in children, preparing them for a better future. By highlighting the importance of childhood, Children's Day reminds us of our collective responsibility to create a safe, healthy and enabling environment for children's growth and development.

Collection of donations by Living Tours (Campanhã Youth Centre)

Mission

On Children's Day, LivingTours had a special mission: to perform a collection of donations - for the helpless children of the Campanhã Youth Centre. This was a unique opportunity for us to celebrate the joy and spirit of children, while helping those who need it most.

The Campanhã Youth Centre is an institution dedicated to caring for, educating and supporting children in vulnerable situations. These are children who, for various circumstances, need a safe and welcoming environment where they can grow, learn and dream.

Cause

Living Tours invited everyone to join us in this noble cause. Throughout the Children's Day there was a continuous presence in our Branches, Offices, Tuk Tuk, Regular Tours and Private Tours, with the collection of donations.

A box was distributed per team, in the Porto and Lisbon branches, and all the donations collected on this day were then given to the Campanhã's "Meninos Desamparados" (abandoned children). To this amount we added the value of our donation of 1 meal per participant in our tours, which, on this particular day, was all channelled to the Campanhã Youth Centre.

Living Tours managed, from this action of collecting donations in support of the Campanhã Youth Centre, to raise a total of 2,118€, which was a success and allowed a significant help for the helpless children.

Purpose

Living Tours believes that every child deserves a promising future, full of opportunities and smiles. Therefore, we joined forces with Campanhã Youth Centre to provide them with a safer and loving environment where they can develop their full potential.

We counted on the generosity and support of everyone in this solidarity campaign. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of these children. We managed, with everyone's help, to fill their hearts with joy and hope.

On Children's Day, we showed the true meaning of love and solidarity. We will continue to make smile and brighten the future of each child of the Campanhã Youth Centre.

Youth Centres: context

It is fundamental that, besides the celebrations and recreational activities, Children's Day is an occasion to reinforce the commitment to fight for children's rights and to work towards their happiness, health and safety. This implies not only individual actions, but also government strategies, such as creating laws that protect children and investing in social projects that ensure their future.