Last Friday marked a powerful moment for Hope and Homes for Children. Together with young people from across our movement, we officially launched the Our Voices Matter (OVM) Charter – a shared commitment to accountability, participation and change, led by children and young people themselves.
The Charter sets out a clear vision: a world where children and young people are respected, listened to, and supported to grow up in families, not institutions. It is a declaration that children are not passive recipients of care, but active partners in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
As Lydia Uwimana Kamerewe, a young OVM member from Rwanda, shared at the launch, “Our Voices Matter means a lot to me because my voice is listened to and respected… Being part of OVM makes me feel valued and strong.”
The Charter is underpinned by commitments at every level of Hope and Homes for Children. National teams have pledged to embed youth participation into programmes and decision-making, while Trustees and senior leadership have committed to accountability through a Global Youth Advisory Group.
For Dr Liliana Rotaru, Country Director in Moldova, the launch was about more than words: “Accountability to children and young people is not an added value – it is a fundamental value. When we get it right, our work becomes stronger and fairer.”
Young people also spoke about what the Charter represents for the future. Nombulelo Mbangula from South Africa described it as “a big promise that my needs and well-being matter” and a sign that organisations are ready to work with young people, not just for them.
The launch of the Our Voices Matter Charter is not the end of a process. It is a beginning – a promise to listen, to learn, and to act.
Because nothing about children and young people should ever be decided without them.
