DALAT: Dalat has been selected as the pilot location for the Child-Friendly Town Initiative (CFTI), setting a new benchmark for the development of child-friendly communities in Sarawak’s rural areas.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this is part of the government’s commitment to expanding the implementation of CFCI beyond major urban centres to include small towns and rural areas.
Every child, she said, regardless of location, deserves to grow up in an environment that is safe, inclusive and supportive of their physical, emotional and social development.
“A child-friendly approach in rural areas is crucial as there are various challenges, including access to services, the digital divide, early intervention, recreational facilities and community support,” she said when chairing the CFCI Implementation Meeting with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) here recently.
She added that the implementation of the pilot project in Dalat represents a significant step in strengthening the child-friendly development agenda in the state.
Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman, said several early initiatives had already been carried out, including an ‘Engagement Workshop with Children’ aimed at obtaining children’s views, hopes and concerns directly.
“This approach is important because one of the key principles of the CFCI is to ensure that children’s voices are heard and taken into consideration in every decision-making process involving their lives,” she said.
She added that her ministry is also planning to establish a Children’s Council in the near future as an official platform to enable children to voice their opinions and participate in community development.
“If this pilot project in Dalat is successfully implemented, it has the potential to become a new reference model for the implementation of child-friendly initiatives in small towns throughout Sarawak,” she said.
