2009 Year of the Child

Making Children and Young People Count. 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations' International Year of the Child. This is an ideal opportunity for the Church to adopt 2009 as a celebration of children and childhood by:

reviewing our work with children and young people.
celebrating their contribution in the life of the Church and of wider society.
challenging the Church to fresh vision and expression, inspired by the spirit of the child.

The Diocese of Truro has made 2009 Year of the Child its main focus for mission during the whole year.

It is an opportunity to make 2009 a year in which the issues, injustices and challenges facing young people today can be highlighted. It gives an opportunity for work with children and young people to be celebrated. It is an ideal occasion to facilitate new initiatives with and for young people. It has so many strategic possibilities not just for celebrating at an event, but also for lasting change and growth.

YOTC09 is neither a prescriptive project nor a centrally driven programme. It is a framework for the whole Church to utilize in whatever way it feels it can best mark this important anniversary. It could be a large gathering of children with a party atmosphere with a local Bishop or it could be a new project tackling the social problems of gang culture!

Aims for the Diocese:

Challenge the Church to look anew at its vision for children and families, building on the spirituality which is within every child.
Celebrate the contribution that children make to Church and communities.
Enthuse young people to play their full part in shaping communities.