Roots Meeting 2004

Background to the Invitation

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International Roots Meeting

In a letter to the Globetree “UENP Exec. Dir. Klaus Toepfer has authorized Globetree to run a Children’s Meeting Place on the grounds of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya”.

The Children’s Meeting Place is a beautiful Acacia Tree and the inauguration ceremony took place in September 2001. In the speech at the inauguration Dr. Toepfer joined with the children telling that he looks forward to play and dialogue with children around their tree.
United Nations Secr. Gen. Kofi Annan, Queen of Sweden, Prime Minister of Sweden, EU Commissioner Margot Wallström and many others sent their congratulations to the children.
At the inauguration ceremony around the Children’s Tree, 300 children and youth from five nations participated and united their voices in a Children’s Declaration. Participating adults shared their vision and concern. All agreed: - A tree without roots will not stand, cannot grow.

The International Roots Meeting is the answer to the adults concern to give strong roots to the Children’s Tree. In Globetree we call the concerned adults The Roots of The Tree.
To prepare for the International Roots Meeting Globetree invited children, youth and adults to a First and Second Preparatory Roots Meeting; in April and November/December 2003.

The 1st Prep Roots Meeting addressed Mayors from 6 cities in the Lake Victoria Region and from 5 cities/municipalities of Sweden. The Mayors participated for three days in the Mayor’s Meeting and the dialogue between children and mayors set the stage for The Children’s Meeting Place. Both children and mayors were happy – even enthusiastic!
Guests of Honour and especially invited were: Prof. Wangari Maathai, Assistant Minister for the Environment of Kenya, The Ambassador of Sweden, Dr. Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP, Ms. Anna Tibaijuka and Executive Director of UN Habitat.
Soon after the April meeting, The Mayor of Entebbe, Uganda invited children and councilors of Entebbe City Council for the inauguration of a Children’s Meeting Place close to the City Hall.

The 2nd Prep, Roots Meeting took place in November-December 2003. A Swedish delegation of 16 persons were invited to join the inauguration of the Children’s Meeting Place by the Mayors of Kisumu (Kenya), Mwanza (Tanzania) and Kampala, Mukono, Busia (Uganda).
In cooperation with the cities of the Lake Victoria Region, the cities of Kalmar and Strängnäs will inaugurate their Children’s Meeting Places in May 2004. In Sweden the cities of Borlänge, Sundsvall and Värmdö have already inaugurated their Children’s Meeting Place.

South- Africa. At the Johannesburg Summit 2002, Globetree was invited to inaugurate a Children’s Meeting Place at the Openheimer Park in Soweto. EU Commissioner Margot Wallström met with children and shared their concerns for the future.

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