The Children’s Tree at the United Nations – A Children’s Wish

Ett träd på museiområdet valdes till Children's Tree (Ficus Tree). Den invigdes med Our Uniting Water and Soil Ceremony. Generaldirektören för National Museums of Kenya, Augustine Lomon'gin välkomnade alla barn och dignitärer till museet.

Barnens träd i Kisumu är en kinesisk Banyan (Ficus thonningii). Det trädet är en bra livsmiljö för fåglar eftersom fröna är så smakrika

Barnens träd nära Mwanza City Hall är en jakaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia). Trädet ger botemedel mot malaria, magont och konstnärer använder den för sniderier. Barn och ungdomar från 17 skolor sjöng, dansade och trummade sin glädje över sitt träd som överlämnades av stadens borgmästare.

“Ficus-Natalensis (Oreteti) is a sacred tree for the Maasai society. It is a Monumental tree for the reason that the Spiritual rituals are performed under this tree.. Oreteti le-Emboreet is a holy place from time immemorial where generations of Iloibonok (Pl of Oloiboni) have undertaken ritualistic practices for the barren women to get children and for the alleviation of calamities. The council of Elders was consulted in order to allow the youth and children to convert Oreteti le-Emboreet into a Children's Meeting Place. The request was discussed by the elders and traditional Leaders for a long time with a lot of consultations to the most elderly men within the area. The request was deemed to be genuine and permission was granted in the light of protecting this tree.

More than 2000 children from 11 schools and centers prepared for the inauguration of the Children’s Meeting Place in Soweto. 500 of them gathered at Openheimer Park in Soweto for the ceremony. The Mayor of Soweto dedicated a tree called Olive Wood Tree (Olea Africana) to the children. The Tree will be a place where children and leaders will meet and dialogue. The Mayor of Soweto joined the inauguration ceremony together with The Swedish Minister for the Environment Ms. Lena Sommestad, The Swedish Ambassador of South Africa, Ms. Helena Nilsson and Mr. Theodore Oben who brought greetings from UNEP Dir. Gen. Klaus Töpfer.

Barnens mötesplats ligger i ett skyddat hörn intill stadshuset i Kampala. Alla ledamöterna i kommunfullmäktige var engagerade i att välja rätt träd.

Barnens träd i Mukono är en palmaralia (Schefflera actinophylla) intill Stadshuset. Traditionellt i Uganda så är palmaralian ett träd under vilket människor möts. Trädet ger bra skugga och skydd.

Entebbes borgmästare Stephen Kabuye invigde en Children's Meeting Place nära Stadshuset i april 2003 . Bland trädets grenar delade barnen med sig av sina personliga problem och viktiga meddelanden till alla i Entebbes kommunfullmäktige.

One very old and big Mutuba Tree (Ficus spp.) is the closest neighbor to the City Hall of Busia. That very prominent tree is now the Children’s Meeting Place. H.W. the Mayor of Busia Mr. Michael Mugeni told that the design for the New City Hall will be changed so that the Children’s Tree will be enclosed in the City Hall instead of cut down. The Mutuba Tree is a very special tree in Uganda. In the old times the bark of the Matuba Tree was used for shrouding corpses before burial and a twig of the tree was planted on the grave as a memory of the wisdom of the deceased.

Detta otroligt vackra träd som kallas Flamboyant Purple Tree (Delonix regis) har utsetts av Lugazi stadsfullmäktige som den plats där barn och ungdomar samlas för att vädra sina åsikter och också diskutera med stadens beslutsfattare om det som barn och ungdomar anses bör göras för en bättre framtid

I Liljekvistska parken i Borlänge står ett äppelträd (Malus baccata) som barnen själva har valt som sitt träd att vara Barnens mötesplats.

Children and young people presented messages and thoughts for the future. The ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior L.) was decorated with messages. Two ribbons are tied together to symbolize cooperation between decision makers and children/youth. Director of Enskede-Årsta District Ms. Ulla Thorslund concluded the Inauguration with a speech; holding a Golden Key that she received at another meeting organized by Globetree. She said she would keep her promise then given; to listen to children and she promised to keep meetings at the ash tree, probably one in the autumn and one in spring.

Kommer snart...

The Kalix Globetree/Children’s Meeting Place (Sweden) is situated right outside the “Galleria Kalix” which will open in September 2008. The place will be a central place for people in Kalix. Nearby is the bus station where people come and go from Kalix.
The tree is a Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia var. Fastigiate).

The Children’s Meeting Place in Kalmar is right outside the Town Hall. In the beginning of June the Children’s Meeting Place in Kalmar was inaugurated in conjunction with a two-day youth conference. The chosen tree is a Dove tree (Davidia involucrata) placed in the inner court yard of the City Hall.
At the inauguration ceremony lots of banners, drawings and textiles with messages gave a colorful frame to the place of the tree. Mayor of Kalmar, Mr. Roland Karlsson was present and greetings came from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

Två händer som möts blev den gemensamma symbolen för Framtidsskeppet och Barnens Mötesplats.
När Barnens mötesplats i Strängnäs invigdes byggde 100 barn ett Framtidsskepp på kulturhuset Multeum där det finns bibliotek, museum och utställningslokaler. Två Mayors (borgmästare) från Uganda deltog i invigningen Mayor i Mukono och Busia tillsammans med lärare och elever från Kenya.

The Children's Meeting Place of Sundsvall is a Linden tree (Tilia cordata) at the center of the city. It's situated in the main park Hedern. In conjunction of the inauguration ceremony an Oak Tree was planted on the school yard of Höglundaskolan!!!
The Children's Meeting Place is very well marked and an sign board tells of the importance of the Children's Meeting Place. A chest was created to be connected to the Children's Meeting Place where children put their suggestions and questions to the politicians of Sundsvall City Council. Children united water at the inauguration and the water has a central place in the City Hall.

The Children’s Meeting Place in Vantör City District was inaugurated in connection with the 1st World Championship in Cooperation 2006.Children, the Chairman of the District Council Mr. Magnus Dannquist and astronauts met under the tree (Vingnöt Tree - Pterocarya pterocarpa).
A second meeting, between the Chairman and the children, was held under the tree in August/September. There is a promise to put a plate with a description of the place under the tree. The tree is standing at Sandängen, a meadow where sheep are grazing. This meadow goes through two parts of the district, Högdalen and Bandhagen, and connect them. It is an open place and the tree is easily seen.

Astrid Lindgrens Sockerdrickaträd blir ett Globträd - en Barnens Mötesplats den 5 juni. Det beslutas att man varje år den 5 juni ska samlas vid Vimmerbys Globträd för samtal mellan barn och beslutsfattare.

Barnens mötesplats i Värmdö kommun är en stor ek (Quercus robur) väl synlig på en kulle.