World Refugee Day 2003 National Activity Plan: Guinea

In Conakry, the Day of the African Child (June 16) will be celebrated prior to World Refugee Day. On June 16, refugee children will help launch a campaign for registration at birth and the second session of the Children's Parliament, which will continue up to June 18.

On June 7, refugee children will participate in the national celebration programme co-ordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Women Promotion and the Child, starting with a show by Kamaldine, a Guinean artist.

UNHCR will organise a forum on the theme of Refugee Youth at Matam Registration Centre on June 19, with speeches by refugee youth representatives, UNHCR and government officials.

On June 20, cultural and sport activities will take place at the Palais du Peuple. There will be dances, songs, poems and football matches played by refugee women and men, NGO and UNHCR staff. Various products made by refugees will be exhibited.

In Kissidougou, celebrations will include an exhibition of handicrafts and other products made by refugees, plays and concerts with musicians from Conakry and the refugee community. There will be a screening of films featuring the Vocational Training Centre, the Men's Association for Gender Equality (MAGE) and Community Action Against Drug Abuse (CAADA). A UNHCR film about refugee youth will also be shown.

In Sembakounya camp in Dabola, there will be a series of activities from June 14-19. A cleaning campaign, a conference, a theatre show and sport competitions will be held to mark the Day of the African Child and World Refugee Day.

In addition, CAADA will conduct sensitisation sessions on drug abuse and alcoholism as part of the World Refugee Day initiatives.