1000 Wishes for the Children of the World

A colourful giant tapestry, representing wishes painted by South African children, and their German and Brazilian counterparts, was displayed on Constitutional Hill, on 16 June 2004, as part of celebrations for Youth Day and the United Nations Day of the African Child.

Justice Yvonne Mogoro of the Constitutional Court was a keynote speaker at the celebration attended by many guests and partners. Statements were made by Mr. Jody Kollapen, Chair of the South African Human Rights Commission and Mr. Sam Ramsamy, President of South African National Olympic Committee.

Over 200 children from South Africa and Germany attended and took part in the ceremony that drew on the symbolism of the venue as a place where freedom and rights were once denied but which is today the home of the South African Constitutional Court.

This programme highlighted the country's advances in recognising and upholding the rights of children in the first decade of democracy. Before the unveiling of their painting, South African children recited from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is the framework document for UNICEF's work across the globe.

The "1000 Wishes for the Children of the World" was initiated by the German National Committee of UNICEF, and brought together German, South African, Brazilian and Japanese children to contribute their wishes and hopes for the future.

These were then presented at the Olympic Games in Athens, in August 2004.