Introduction
Prayer and Action for Children is a global interfaith initiative working to protect children’s rights, promote their well-being and end all forms of violence against children.
Established by Arigatou International in 2008, the initiative brings together religious leaders, faith communities, children, civil-society organisations, governments and international institutions. Its work has reached more than 90 countries through advocacy, capacity building, community action and the annual World Day of Prayer and Action for Children.
Prayer and Action for Children is based in New York and operates as one of Arigatou International’s four major global initiatives.
History and Background
Arigatou International was founded in 1990 by Myochikai, a Japanese Buddhist organisation whose members continue to support its work through donations. “Arigatou” means “thank you” in Japanese.
Arigatou International subsequently established four initiatives:
- Global Network of Religions for Children in 2000.
- Ethics Education for Children in 2004.
- Prayer and Action for Children in 2008.
- End Child Poverty in 2012.
Prayer and Action for Children was created to mobilise people from different religious and cultural traditions to support implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Its annual World Day of Prayer and Action for Children began as a global observance but developed into a year-round platform for interfaith advocacy and practical action.
Mission and Purpose
Prayer and Action for Children envisions a world where every child enjoys a safe and joyful childhood, free from violence, abuse and exploitation.
Its mission is to encourage individuals, religious leaders, faith communities, NGOs and international organisations to work together to:
- Protect children from violence.
- Promote policies benefiting children.
- Advance children’s rights and well-being.
- Influence positive social and behavioural change.
- Encourage cooperation among different religions.
- Support meaningful participation by children.
- Create dialogue between children and adults.
Its work is guided by:
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
- Sustainable Development Goal target 16.2 on ending violence against children.
- The Panama Declaration on Ending Violence Against Children.
The initiative believes that faith leaders can help transform harmful attitudes and practices because they hold considerable moral influence within their communities.
Governance and Structure
Prayer and Action for Children is an initiative of Arigatou International, an international interfaith NGO founded in Japan.
Arigatou International holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and consultative status with UNICEF. Its work and four global initiatives are guided by the Arigatou International Advisory Group.
Prayer and Action for Children works closely with the Global Network of Religions for Children, which connects faith communities and grassroots organisations across numerous countries.
Its collaborators include:
- UNICEF.
- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
- Office of the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children.
- UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children.
- ECPAT International.
- ChildFund Alliance.
- Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
- Bahá’í International Community.
- Faith-based and civil-society organisations.
Governance, financial accountability and institutional reporting are primarily managed through Arigatou International.
Funding and Grants
Prayer and Action for Children is supported through Arigatou International’s funding structure.
Funding sources include:
- Donations from Myochikai members.
- Individual charitable contributions.
- Foundation grants.
- International nonprofit organisations.
- Private-sector donations.
- Corporate sponsorships.
- Contributions from campaign partners.
The initiative uses these resources for advocacy, international events, training, grassroots action, research and support for child-rights organisations.
Wear My Shoes Award
The Wear My Shoes Award recognises grassroots organisations advancing children’s rights and well-being.
The award has offered five grants of US$5,000 each to selected organisations. Recipients can also participate in a year-long capacity-building process designed to strengthen their advocacy and programs.
Eligible participants may include:
- Civil-society organisations.
- Faith-based groups.
- Religious leaders.
- Local communities.
- Grassroots child-rights initiatives.
Award priorities have included peacebuilding, climate change, children’s participation, education, online safety and protection from violence.
The award is not necessarily open throughout the year. Applicants should monitor the official website for current calls, eligibility requirements and deadlines.
Major Programs and Initiatives
World Day of Prayer and Action for Children
The World Day of Prayer and Action for Children is commemorated annually on 20 November. The date marks World Children’s Day and the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Activities may include:
- Interfaith prayer and meditation.
- Child-rights education.
- Community service.
- Policy advocacy.
- Dialogues between children and adults.
- Public-awareness campaigns.
- Cultural and educational events.
- Announcements of new child-protection initiatives.
The World Day has been celebrated in more than 90 countries. The organisation reports that approximately 94% of activities have been interfaith, bringing together participants from different religious traditions.
Priority issues include child marriage, sexual abuse, trafficking, violent discipline, school violence, online exploitation, climate change and birth registration.
Ending Violence Lab
The Ending Violence Lab supports collaborative grassroots advocacy to prevent violence against children.
Projects have involved Global Network of Religions for Children members in:
- Chile, supporting children’s participation in policymaking.
- Nepal, preventing online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
- Serbia, strengthening children’s participation in policy decisions.
- Tanzania, advocating against child marriage.
The Lab combines children’s rights principles with shared religious values to build local partnerships and influence policies, practices and community behaviour.
Wear My Shoes Campaign
The Wear My Shoes Campaign was established in 2021 in response to challenges affecting children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It mobilises:
- Religious leaders.
- Policymakers.
- Parents and caregivers.
- Teachers.
- Civil-society organisations.
- Children and young people.
The campaign encourages adults to consider children’s experiences and become stronger advocates for their rights. Its themes have included returning to school, emotional well-being, peace and the effects of climate change on children.
Child Participation
Prayer and Action for Children promotes the meaningful involvement of children in decisions affecting their lives.
Participation methods include:
- Child-led advocacy.
- Intergenerational dialogue.
- Community consultations.
- Youth panels and forums.
- Children’s involvement in World Day activities.
- Engagement in local policymaking.
Children are treated as active partners and rights holders rather than only as beneficiaries.
Faith and Children’s Rights
The initiative helps religious communities understand and apply the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
It contributed to the development of Faith and Children’s Rights: A Multi-religious Study on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The study explores connections between religious traditions and children’s rights principles.
This work helps faith leaders address harmful practices while using religious values to promote dignity, equality, protection and respect for children.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Prayer and Action for Children reports that its work has reached more than 90 countries since 2008.
Key areas of impact include:
- Mobilising religious leaders to protect children.
- Creating interfaith cooperation around child-rights issues.
- Supporting grassroots organisations through awards and training.
- Promoting children’s participation in policymaking.
- Raising awareness of online sexual exploitation.
- Strengthening advocacy against child marriage.
- Addressing violence, poverty and climate-related risks.
- Connecting local campaigns with international child-rights frameworks.
The Wear My Shoes Campaign received approximately 140 applications during its first three editions. The 2023 call alone attracted 52 applications, demonstrating growing interest among grassroots organisations.
The Ending Violence Lab has supported country-level advocacy on online child protection, child marriage and children’s participation. These projects demonstrate how faith communities can help change social attitudes and influence local policies.
The organisation’s impact also comes from the scale of the World Day. Activities in more than 90 countries have brought together children, adults, religious institutions, civil society and public authorities to promote child protection.
Conclusion
Prayer and Action for Children is a global interfaith initiative dedicated to protecting children’s rights and ending violence against children.
Established in 2008 by Arigatou International, it uses the influence of religious leaders and faith communities to support advocacy, education, policy change and grassroots action.
Its major programs include the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, the Ending Violence Lab, the Wear My Shoes Campaign and the Wear My Shoes Award. These initiatives address child marriage, online exploitation, violent discipline, climate change, poverty and children’s participation.
Prayer and Action for Children is not a conventional grantmaking foundation, but it periodically supports grassroots organisations through awards and capacity-building opportunities.
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