Manifesto written by children, for every child
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Deepika Mogilishetty of the EkStep Foundation advocates for a child-led manifesto designed to empower children to shape the policies and systems that affect their lives.
Child-Led Advocacy: The EkStep Manifesto
The initiative highlighted by Deepika Mogilishetty, Chief of Policy and Partnerships at the EkStep Foundation, centers on a "Manifesto written by children, for every child." This approach marks a significant departure from traditional top-down policy-making, where adults typically define the needs and rights of children. By centering the children's own voices, the initiative promotes the concept of child agency, suggesting that those most affected by educational and social systems are the best equipped to identify the gaps within those systems.
The Shift Toward Participatory Governance
Historically, child welfare and educational policies have been designed by policymakers and experts using a prescriptive model. This manifesto represents a shift toward participatory governance, where children are viewed as active stakeholders rather than passive recipients of services. By allowing children to articulate their own vision for their futures, the EkStep Foundation is challenging the systemic exclusion of youth from formal policy discourse, advocating for a model where children's lived experiences inform legislative and institutional changes.
Role of the EkStep Foundation
The EkStep Foundation is well-known for its work in creating digital public infrastructure for lifelong learning. The involvement of their Chief of Policy and Partnerships suggests that this manifesto is not merely a symbolic gesture but is intended to be integrated into broader policy frameworks. By bridging the gap between child-led aspirations and governmental policy, the foundation aims to create a scalable model where youth-led insights can drive systemic reform in education and child rights across India.
Summary
In summary, the manifesto serves as a powerful tool for empowerment, transforming the role of the child from a subject of policy to a co-creator of it. This initiative underscores the necessity of inclusivity in governance and sets a precedent for how child-centric policies should be developed—through direct participation and genuine representation.
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