Family for Every Child are proud to be supporting #CareDay22. This annual global celebration of children and young people with care experience will take place on Friday 18th February, and is an initiative of our Irish member organisation EPIC.
This year, children and young people with care experience are asking you to stand with them as they recognise all the people who have had an important impact on their outlook and sense of self-worth. With this in mind, the EPIC Youth Council have chosen this year’s theme to be ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. EPIC work every day to advocate for the rights of children and young adults in the care system and aftercare and enable their voice to influence positive change in their own circumstances and the care system.
The “village” that raises a child can include relatives, youth workers, teachers, coaches, neighbours, or advocates – all of whom hail from our community. We might not even realise the positive impact we have on others; and simple acts of listening, encouraging, or understanding can have profound, direct, and lifelong effects.
Getting involved
There are a few different ways you can show your support on the day:
- Share a photo of yourself (or just your hands if you are camera shy) on social media with #CareDay22 written on the palm of your hand.
- Share a video selfie to wish children in care, those with care experience, and EPIC a very happy care day, or any other messages of solidarity and celebration you may have.
- Change your social media profile picture to the #CareAware graphic for the week to show you’re standing with children and young people all over the world who have care experience.
When you are posting your messages of solidarity on your social channels – please use the hashtags #CareDay22 and #CareAware – so we can keep track of all the day’s activities and actions on our #CareDay22 Social Wall. And keep an eye on our Twitter page @FFEveryChild on Friday 18th February, as we’ll be sharing a selection of the messages celebrating the day around the world.
Taking part as a practitioner who works with children and families
If you are a practitioner who works with children and families, you can also take part in #CareDay22 by sharing your photos, videos and messages on the Lived Experience Platform on our Changemakers for Children community. The Lived Experience Platform is an online space for those who value the lived experiences of children and young people who are care experienced or without parental care. It provides a forum for a global community to come together to strengthen our practice and support each other.
