Project
Collaboration between the three selected lead partners and KNH and TDH has already begun through the two projects “It’s Time to Talk!” (2016–2019) and “Dialogue Works” (2020–2024). While “It’s Time to Talk” involved all three organizations (MANTHOC in Peru, JCM in Zambia, and a leading regional organization in India), KNH and TDH selected the partners in Zambia, India and Perú based on their regional influence, established networks, and extensive experience in the field of child participation. The decision to collaborate again with these partner organizations is based on the successes and proven track record from previous projects. The existing collaboration has resulted in a solid foundation of trust, efficient work processes, and deeper content development. Continued collaboration not only ensures the sustainability of the results achieved so far but also allows for their selective expansion. The core partner organizations were selected not only to ensure regional representation in Southeast Africa, South Asia, and South America, but also because they bring strong advocacy, political engagement, and on-the-ground experience—elements essential for the empowerment of children at the macro, meso, and micro levels.
Core Objective
The Global Network for Child Participation – Dialogue Works 2.0 contributes to improving the living conditions of children in vulnerable situations by strengthening meaningful and sustainable structures for child participation in Zambia, India, and Peru, as well as in the three regions, and by creating a virtual platform for exchange and training worldwide.
“By the end of the project, the Global Network for Children’s Participation in 2029 will have helped at least 1,500 children and adolescents in vulnerable situations to increase their ability to express their needs and turn their proposals into self-directed advocacy efforts.”
Partner Organisations
We work with 11 partners in Southeast Africa, South Asia and South America. Some of them were already part of our previous campaign, ‘Dialogue Works!’, whilst others joined us in 2025. Take a look at our interactive map to see who we’re working with and where.
Dialogue Works 2.0 Partner Organisations
| "Dialogue Works 2.0" Partner Organizations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Africa | ||
| Zambia | Jesus Cares Ministries Zambia | https://jesuscares.org.zm/ |
| Kenya | Action for children | https://actionchildren.or.ke/ |
| Ethiopia | Facilitator for Change | https://fce-eth.org/ |
| Rwanda | Children Voice Today | https://childrensvoicetoday.org/ |
| Asia | ||
| India | ||
| Nepal | Children and Women in Social Service and Human Rights / CWISH | Website CWISH |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Unites | https://srilankaunites.org/ |
| Latin America | ||
| Peru | MANTHOC (Movimiento de Adolescentes y Niños Trabajadores Hijos de Obreros Cristianos) | https://manthoc.org.pe/ |
| Bolivia | Pastoral Social Cáritas Potosí / PASOCAP | https://www.facebook.com/PASOCAPof |
| Ecuador | Las Guerreras por la Amazonía | https://udapt.org/ |
Background
Children and Vulnerability
The right of children and adolescents to be heard and to participate in decisions that affect their lives is a central principle of children’s rights. However, in many contexts—especially where poverty, displacement, labor exploitation, or cultural exclusion exist—children’s voices still lack effective spaces and mechanisms to influence the policies and practices that concern them. This reality limits not only the protection of basic rights but also the quality and relevance of public policies aimed at children.
Based on this assessment, the Global Network for Child Participation was created to strengthen sustainable and meaningful structures for child participation in three priority regions: Southeast Africa, South Asia, and South America. The project recognizes the diversity of experiences—including those of working children and those from rural and indigenous communities—and advocates for context-specific approaches that combine local adaptation with regional learning and the scaling up of initiatives. The initiative is supported by international cooperation led by Terre des Hommes Deutschland and Kindernothilfe, together with regional partners with on-the-ground experience: Jesus Cares Ministries (Zambia), MANTHOC (Peru), and a leading regional organization in India.
The project’s strategy combines four main components: (1) strengthening local capacities, focused on training civil society organizations (CSOs) and empowering Adolescent and Children’s Committees (ACCs); (2) designing, piloting, and adapting methodological tools for participatory processes; (3) creating and maintaining a global Community of Practice (CoP) to document and share lessons learned across regions; and (4) advocacy and dialogue with authorities to ensure that children’s recommendations are translated into concrete policies and practices.
Child-centered and inclusion-focused approach
The project recognizes that children’s participation must be meaningful—not merely consultative—and designed with inclusion, gender, and protection in mind. Priority is given to working with vulnerable children and adolescents (including child laborers and marginalized communities), and participation is integrated with protection measures and actions that ensure educational continuity and capacity building. Furthermore, the initiative promotes culturally relevant practices to ensure that the voices of indigenous and rural communities are heard and respected.
The perspective of the children themselves is key: their participation provides a detailed assessment of risks and viable solutions, and ensures that the resulting policies address real needs. For this reason, the project fosters youth leadership, the co-management of activities by the CACs, and the visibility of children’s proposals in forums and decision-making processes.