New York: Let’s dream a little dream together is the title of the booklet published by CRY America. Flim Personalities Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar unveiled this fusion of dreams and visions for children at a press conference held at the Taj Lounge in New York recently. The booklet is an expression of hope and optimism by people from all walks of life to see a just and better world for millions of children who are denied their basic rights to a childhood.
CRY America’s vision of a just world for children is guided by the collective conviction and action of over 10,000 donors, 500 volunteers and 41 supported projects. This conviction was further strengthened by individuals, who expressed their dream and view of children’s rights through “My Vision for Children Campaign,” a new initiative launched this year by CRY America, a 501c3 non-profit organization working for children’s rights in India and the US “My vision and dream for children” campaign launched by Child Rights and You America Inc. in May 2009 has culminated in “Let’s dream a little dream together” booklet that showcases the winners across the various categories. Participants across various segments — children, teen-agers, adults — shared their dream for a better world through paintings, essays, poems, songs, films and photographs. Touching thoughts, beautiful poems, poignant pictures and paintings were received, all capturing one belief, one dream; of a better world for children! Partici-pants submitted their entries to the campaign by uploading them on america.cry.org/myvisionforchildren. The entries ranged from the issue of right to education, to child labor, disability rights, female infanticide and poverty. At the conference organized by CRY America, Shabana Azmi ex-pressed her conviction that “Millions of underprivileged children have their survival threatened on a daily basis due to malnutrition, illiteracy, child labor, preventable diseases, abuse and exploitation. I believe that each one of us can and should make a difference by joining with CRY America to build a world where every child can expect justice, and enjoy a happy and healthy childhood.”
Javed Akthar, shared his vision at the event for children and recited a poem Mumbai Tere Bachche (Mumbai, your children), describing the trials and tribulations of street children in Mumbai.
Shefali Sunderlal, president, CRY America, believes in the power of the collective action as a catalyst of change. She said: “No matter how difficult or long the journey, if each one of us believes in doing what’s right, then all children will have their right to live, learn, grow, play.”
In just over six years, CRY America has transformed the lives of more than 245,580 children living across 1,376 villages and slums by supporting 41 not-for-profit organizations in India and the US towards realizing the dream of a just world. Thanks to the organization’s emphasis on child rights, families now have viable livelihoods; state schools and health centers are functioning; and girls, whose very existence has been threatened by infanticide and neglect, have now become the flag bearers of their communities. This has been achieved by building awareness about child rights, establishing their linkage to the urgent issues of livelihood that bedevil parents and mobilizing whole communities to overcome their many differences in the interests of their children.
Shefali concluded; “We need your support. Please get involved and join us by donating, volunteering and spreading the cause of child rights. Visit our Web site america.cry.org to know more.”
Shabana, Javed release CRY America’s Let’s dream a little dream together
