Zambia Civic Education Association introduces the Triza Kanyanga Children’s Award

ZCEA introduced an award in honor of Triza Kanyanga, a 13 year old girl who died in Monze in March 2014 in the process of saving a one year old child from being electrocuted .The toddler she saved lived. The story was carried in the media on 7^th march 2014. ZCEA picked up the story and engaged in discussions and consultations about how it relates to their work.

Consequently, ZCEA introduced the award in acknowledgement and celebration of children’s evolving capacities and the contribution they make to society. Triza kanyanga paid the ultimate price for her heroic deed and through her, ZCEA wants to honor other children who perform outstanding deeds in the service of others. ZCEA hopes that the award will be a source of inspiration to both children and adults in Zambia and a motivation to children to make a difference in their communities. Furthermore, through this award, ZCEA desires to contribute to meaningful child participation through recognizing and nurturing the strengths, interests, and abilities of children by providing real opportunities for them to take a lead or become actively involved in decisions that affect them, both at the individual level and within the society.

ZCEA held the event to introduce the Triza Kanyanga Children’s Award at Southern Sun Hotel, Lusaka on 17^th November. The guest of honor at the event was Law Association of Zambia President Linda kasonde. Speaking at the event, the Executive director of ZCEA, Judith Mulenga, said that the decision to come up with the Triza Kanyanga Children’s Award was done in conjunction with the family. Using Triza’s name is a way of honoring her for the heroic deed. Mrs. Mulega stated that many good deeds by children go unnoticed, but ZCEA wants to use this award to recognize them.  Nominations are currently being invited, as the award is being promoted in schools and communities.

The criteria for nominations are as follows:

• The act should be voluntary by the child. I.e. it should not have been prompted or initiated by an adult.
• It should challenge situations of discrimination and bring about positive growth in the community.

ZCEA will set up a group of independent assessors to go through all the nominations. The assessors will be:

• Childs right activist
• Social worker
• Civic or traditional leader
• Educationalist
• NGO worker
• Two children ; one boy and one girl
• Auditor

The executive director reiterated that the organization shall not benefit financially in any way from this award, hence the inclusion of auditors in the assessment team.

The Triza Kanyanga Children’s award will be conferred on a biennial basis. I.e. every two years .All winners will be announced publicly and will receive a plaque and money in form of school fees for two years or a grant to help with the child’s initiative to help their community.

The guest of honor LAZ president Linda kasonde said in her speech that the purpose of the award is to encourage children to be more involved in decisions that affect them. “Triza is a deserving recipient and a trailblazer, she is a great example of what it means to love your neighbor” she said.

The inaugural award was given posthumously to Triza Kayanga and was received by her mother and her four siblings. They were presented with a cheque of twenty thousand kwacha (K20000) to go towards the school fees and other requirements for Triza’s siblings. The family representative thanked ZCEA, saying that through it is a sad story; they feel honored that Triza’s name will live on through the award for what she did.

ZCEA is a non-governmental , not for profit organization registered in 1993 .ZCEA promotes and advocates for children’s rights in line with the provisions of the United Nations convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) . Zambia is a state party to both.