Rights Respecting Sciennes: P6 UNCRC Art Project with Together (The Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights)

UNCRC panels destined for Scottish Parliament in the Autumn

Juliet Harris and Liz Millership visiting to see UNCRC panels created Together

We hope that families will take the opportunity to come into school before the end of term to see the wonderful UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) panels currently on display in the foyer outside the Gym Hall. They will also be on display in the Scottish Parliament in the Autumn. Below, the children explain the themes and messages in the panels.

Chelsea Stinson, Children's Voices Project Manager from the Children's Parliament (based at Summerhall) approached us with a very exciting opportunity to work with Together - the Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights (see video below).

Over the past few months, Together and the Scottish Universities Insight Institute hosted four seminars on children's rights in law, practice and policy, sharing national international examples of good practice with a diverse group of delegates:

http://www.togetherscotland.org.uk/resources-and-networks/the-uncrc-in-scotland-seminar-series-2017

As part of this seminar series, Together has been working to ensure that children and young people play a key role and that key messages from the seminars are accessible to everyone. Together commissioned artists Joanna Boyce, Yonnie and Lyver to work with our P6 pupils to present key messages in a creative and engaging way.

Three young people who had attended the seminars (Joel, Thomas and Suki) interpreted the key messages and themes then P6C pupils from Miss Katy Stewardson's class - Arwen, Thomas, Alma, Luis, Eilidh, Isaac, Eamon and Rachel - worked closely with the artists to visualise the imagery suggested, for example 'rights in the clouds', 'a policy factory', 'a meadow of rights' and 'connected Together in a daisy chain.'

During the project on 7th, 8th and 9th of June, Miss Stewardson's whole class discussed and worked on visualising UNCRC articles, particularly Article 42 Everyone should know about the UNCRC (finding ways to depict 42 of the articles) and Article 31 The right to play and rest.

P6C have included their own images of 42 articles of the UNRC

P6C's ideas will help create a new Playground Charter

Juliet and Liz from Together Alliance visited P6C on Election Day 8th June when Emily illustrated Article 4

PANEL ONE
Isaac - The Policy Factory

"My panel showed all adults trying to let children have the rights but the children aren't actually involved in the process. I enjoyed working with the people and painting the mural." Isaac

The Policy Factory, but where are the children?

The Policy Factory from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL TWO
Thomas - Right in Reach?

"My panel shows the children reaching for their rights. They aren't getting their rights because the adults are not letting the children help them make the policies. It is important children are involved in things about them." Thomas

How can we help all children to reach their rights?

Right in Reach? from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL THREE
Luis - Teardrop

" My panel was the one about not getting heard. And children not getting respect. There was a teardrop in the middle because the child was sad that no one was listening to her." Luis

A tear for the child who says, "No one asked me."

Teardrop from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL FOUR
Eilidh - The Children's Rights Clan

"Painting the mural was really fun. The artists were nice and helpful. I learned that I could change rights for other children in Scotland. I got better at painting over the two and a half days and enjoyed myself. I hope the mural changes the MSPs' views on decisions about kids' rights." Eilidh

The Clan, all Together for Children's Rights, including Noel, Leo and Suki

The Children's Rights Clan from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL FIVE
Alma - Right at the Heart

"This panel is where kids are well heard by all the adults. Instead of doing homework straight after school, this girl went outside, had some fresh air and learned more insects. Her teacher teaches mindfulness to her at school and all the children are well treated and well heard." Alma

Getting It Right, at the Heart

Right at the Heart from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL SIX
Eamon - Equations

"I think I got a lot out of painting the mural. I developed my teamwork skills while having fun with my friends. The panel I worked on the most was the Equations board which is about three people talking to each other about how rights should just be there, that every child has them." Eamon

It All Adds Up - every child born equals the same rights

Equations from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL SEVEN
Rachel -The Meadow of Children's Rights

I really enjoyed working on the mural because it involved being very creative! I liked the ideas Joel, Thomas and Suki had come up with, so it was fun painting and building on them. The mural shows a powerful message to me and I hope it will do the same for anyone else who sees it!" Rachel

Journey along the panels to reach the Meadow of Children's Rights

The Meadow of Rights from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

PANEL MOTIF
Arwen - Daisy Chained Together

When I painted this mural I learned that everyone has rights and that my voice should be heard. My panel/talking bit was about passing on the word of rights and that everyone should know about them. The mural was very fun to do and I learned lots about rights." Arwen