International Roots Meeting
Inauguration of the 7 Stones Fireplace
United Nations, Nairobi, November 2004
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The International Roots Meeting November 2004 was the result of preparatory meetings and workshops that started in 2001 and in the process, it has involved several thousands of children and youth from schools and non-governmental and community based organizations in about 20 cities in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Sweden.
The inauguration of the 7 Stones Fireplace became an important ceremony to unite inherited knowledge from the four directions of the world. The Fireplace is an assigned place close to the Children’s Meeting Place – The Mother Tree on the grounds of the United Nations, Nairobi. The 7 stones were brought form 7 places of the world. At the center are stones from the three closest mountains; Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro Tanzania and Mount Elgon Uganda. The three stones represent the three cocking stones at the center of the house. The four stones were brought from the four directions of the world: The North Stone came from the Sami land in the north of Sweden. The South Stone was sent by the aborigine people, Australia. The East Stone was brought from Tibet and the West Stone from the Andes, Peru. The tree is an important place of meeting but you also need the fire for story telling. The maasai of Kenya made the first fire for the 7 Stones Fireplace and woman from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda made the first soup of grains.
The objectives of the International Roots Meeting were:
to unite inherited knowledge with modern technology,
to establish a meeting place where traditional and modern expressions of art come together,
to enable children to jointly voice their concerns to adults,
to bring together teachers, community workers, professionals and city councilors of different backgrounds to dialogue with children and to respond to their needs,
to involve adults in important roles to ensure children of their rights,
to contribute suggestions and recommendations of a strategic plan of action and activities called the "Way Forward" for 2005 and 2006.
The “Way Forward” provides an overview of the planned and proposed activities where stakeholders, partners and participants can prepare to engage themselves, participate and contribute. Its framework encourages independent initiatives by children and their local partners.
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