Appendix III: Focus Group Presentations Presentation: Primary School Family In the family, there are many opportunities to participate – sometimes. We also have the choice to choose which stream you want to study, or what school you want to go to. Sometimes we don’t get what we want to eat. For example, breakfast is decided by the parents, usually the mother. We don’t have any right to choose our appearance.” Health We are talking about children’s rights and our right to participate. In the health sector: children do get the opportunity to participate. For example, we go to see a doctor when we are sick. When we go to the doctor, the doctor does their chek-up and tells the patient, even if it is a child, they tell you why you are sick. They tell us, we have eaten something with germs in it, or something like that. Doctors explain to us. And doctors and nurses tell us not to panic when something happens. In general, a lot of children feel pain when needles are used; and some children are afraid. But some nurses and doctors are very caring. They reassure children and make them happy before giving them injections. “ In terms of what is negative: “sometimes doctors and nurses give us medicines we don’t like. Most children do not like medicine, maybe there are some who do. There are some children who really hate specific medicines and refuse to take them. But, they sometimes force us to take medicines, saying that it will make us better. However bad the medicine is, parents sometimes force children to take them, so that the child will get better.” Sports Sometimes they ask us what sports we want to include in sports day. But mostly there is no choice in what sport we participate. Teachers favour those who have talent. As an example, in most school dances, the teachers choose the songs, costumes and steps. There is no consideration of what the students want. School There is some time fighting in our school but the victims do not inform the school. There are a lot of activities to choose from, but there is no consideration given [to children’s views] when these activities are being planned and when it is decided how they are going to be carried out. For example, when carrying out lesson plans. The teachers carry out lesson plans that have been made out two years back. Or earlier. Actually, the lesson plans should consider how children want them to be carried out. I don’t think they listen to children’s opinions. I think that Posts and other such roles are made to make sure that children’s views are taken into account, but they usually do not listen to these opinions. School boards ranking structure. For example, in my school, the same Captain has been there for two years. The other things is while selecting Posts there is voting taken, only the grade eight and seven students can vote. But, the school captain can influence the whole school. So, I believe that all the students should be given the chance to vote. Another thing is the school anniversary: it is a really big occasion, and students’ opinions should be really taken into account when making decisions.” 82