How I learned I wanted to become a child rights lawyer
Photo courtesy of Cities for Children.
13-year-old Nayab reflects on how being a mentor for younger children in the Seekho Sikhao Saathi programme from Cities for Children — an organisation supported by Malala Fund — helped her realise she wanted to be a child welfare lawyer.
In 6th grade, I decided I wanted to create an organisation where I support the poor and unseen children in the neighbourhood, providing them with both Islamic and basic education. One way to do this was through becoming a child rights lawyer.
I read about the life of Allama Muhammad Iqbal and he inspired me. Apart from being a great poet, he was a lawyer and he knew a lot about the law and he helped people through law. Another thing that inspires me to become a child rights’ lawyer is that there are some children in my family suffering from poverty, lack of access to education, and lack of basic life necessities. Whenever I look at them I know I can help them and fight for their rights by becoming a lawyer.
That’s why I chose Seekho Sikhao Saathi. It was essential for me because it enhanced my confidence and I became an important person for younger children in the programme. I have a deep passion for this field and helping children. My teachers also give me a lot of motivation so that I can become a lawyer.
From Seekho Sikhai Saathi, I gained both motivation and confidence while working with kids. Leading the group of Chotay Saathi (Little Partners) helped me to develop my communication and leadership skills. I developed the confidence to explain different concepts to them patiently.
“[What] inspires me to become a child rights’ lawyer is that there are some children in my family suffering from poverty, lack of access to education, and lack of basic life necessities. Whenever I look at them I know I can help them and fight for their rights by becoming a lawyer.”
Every Friday morning I used to go to Chotay Saathis’ classrooms to bring them for sessions and then help them to perform different activities — like learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, creating pretty butterfly masks, and learning how to grow plants with our own hands.
This gave us the space to have fun and relax and refresh our minds. It helped me to understand children’s feelings and emotions. I also learnt to treat the children with love and kindness, so that they would be comfortable with us and learn easily. I believe that the confidence, communication and leadership skills I learnt from this programme will help me to become a great lawyer.
For instance, I used to work very fast. If a young child worked slowly, it made me very angry. However, with time, I improved. I learned that it takes a lot of time and patience to make kids understand us — I was a kid once too. They get scared easily, that's why it's important for us to give a friendly environment to the kids where they can learn with playful activities and have fun.
“The confidence, communication and leadership skills I learnt from this programme will help me to become a great lawyer.”
When I joined this programme I was excited at the idea of working with young children and earning their respect as a mentor. But this was my first time doing something like this.
My best memory from our sessions was the bubble-making activity. It was so much fun for the kids — they were jumping and laughing. They enjoyed it alot and we enjoyed it as well.
Now, whenever I meet any of my cousins, I tell them about this programme, and they get very inspired by my words. They have started treating their younger siblings and other children in their lives with kindness. Even when they are at home, they teach their siblings with a lot of love.
“I learned that it takes a lot of time and patience to make kids understand us — I was a kid once too. ”
When I applied the lessons from this session to my siblings, they also felt happier because when we treat our siblings and other kids around us with love, they trust us. They know we care about their feelings and their education and it helps them perform better academically.
The most important things that I gained from this experience were developing confidence, improving my communication skills, practising patience and how to manage groups of kids. After this programme, I learnt to manage my emotions and I also got more comfortable as a mentor to children.
Everything that I have learnt from this programme has helped me begin my journey as a child rights lawyer.
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