HRE Resources

Seen and Heard: Creative Journeys into Children’s Rights

Seen and Heard: Creative Journeys into Children’s Rights is a set of five educational resources designed for children and young people aged 10–14. Written by award-winning author Sita Brahmachari with Amnesty International Poland, the materials combine storytelling, art, drama and reflection to bring children’s rights to life in creative and engaging ways.

Each resource focuses on a different theme:

  1. Hear Me, See Me: A Creative Introduction to Children’s Rights
  2. In Our Hands: Exploring Freedom of Expression Through Creative Action in Our Communities
  3. The Power of Empathy: Standing Up for Refugee and Migrant Rights
  4. Empowerment Through Solidarity for Human Rights
  5. Global Citizens Take Action: Creative Protest for Change

What makes these resources special?

The activities are playful and flexible – from building a Children’s Rights Tree to designing Hands of Change or imagining a Welcome Suitcase. They encourage young people to reflect on fairness, speak up about issues that matter to them, and explore how empathy and solidarity can create change.

How to use them

The resources are free to download and can be used in schools, youth groups, libraries or at home. Each one includes ready-to-use lesson plans, reflection questions and printable worksheets. Educators can follow them as a full programme or select individual activities depending on the group’s needs and time available.

Why it matters

Children are not only the citizens of the future – they are citizens today, with rights that must be respected. These resources support teachers, parents and youth workers in creating safe and inspiring spaces where every child feels seen, heard and empowered to act.

What makes these resources special?

The activities are playful and flexible – from building a Children’s Rights Tree to designing Hands of Change or imagining a Welcome Suitcase. They encourage young people to reflect on fairness, speak up about issues that matter to them, and explore how empathy and solidarity can create change.

How to use them

The resources are free to download and can be used in schools, youth groups, libraries or at home. Each one includes ready-to-use lesson plans, reflection questions and printable worksheets. Educators can follow them as a full programme or select individual activities depending on the group’s needs and time available.

Why it matters

Children are not only the citizens of the future – they are citizens today, with rights that must be respected. These resources support teachers, parents and youth workers in creating safe and inspiring spaces where every child feels seen, heard and empowered to act.

Download the resources

Children in conversation

Hear Me, See Me: A Creative Introduction to Children’s Rights

Contains four lesson plans featuring playful and thought-provoking activities that help children understand their rights and express themselves.

Download
Children discussing ideas

In Our Hands: Exploring Freedom of Expression Through Creative Action

A flexible, creative human rights resource that supports young people to understand, explore and express their right to freedom of expression through discussion, writing, drama and art.

Download
Girl in classroom with other children

The Power of Empathy: Standing Up for Refugee and Migrant Rights

Contains interactive speaking, writing, drawing, crafting, discussion and drama activities focus on a vital human right: the right to claim asylum – and the possibility that every single human being, if placed in a position where safety and home were threatened, might need this right.

Download
Children in workshop

Human Rights Education Resource 4

Empowerment through Solidarity for Human Rights

Due November 2025
Children in an educational workshop

Human Rights Education Resource 5

Global Citizens Take Action: Creative Protest for Change

Due January 2026
Children using simple toys to explore how stories work
‘I never thought about how the characters might feel if they were real people. Now I want to ask more questions when I read.’ –  workshop participant
 
During Seen and Heard’s ‘Engaging with Literature’ workshops, we used the Story Explorer developed by Amnesty International UK. This piece of classroom origami helps children and young people explore human rights themes in fiction through questions that encourage discussion and critical thinking. Students have fun exploring characters’ emotions, relationships, and choices, while also identifying themes connected to human rights. 
 
Simple yet powerful, the Story Explorer supports teachers and educators to lead conversations about empathy, equality and justice through fiction. It can be used with any text – from classic novels to contemporary tales and picturebooks.
 
‘This is a fun way to read a book – we’re doing more than just reading the words!’ – workshop participant 
See Story Explorer
Seen and Heard logo

Watch this space as more HRE resources are published in due course

Back to Human Rights Education

Seen and Heard: Creative Journeys into Children’s Rights

Seen and Heard: Creative Journeys into Children’s Rights is a set of five educational resources designed for children and young people aged 10–14. Written by award-winning author Sita Brahmachari with Amnesty International Poland, the materials combine storytelling, art, drama and reflection to bring children’s rights to life in creative and engaging ways.

Each resource focuses on a different theme:

  1. Hear Me, See Me: A Creative Introduction to Children’s Rights
  2. In Our Hands: Exploring Freedom of Expression Through Creative Action in Our Communities
  3. The Power of Empathy: Standing Up for Refugee and Migrant Rights
  4. Empowerment Through Solidarity for Human Rights
  5. Global Citizens Take Action: Creative Protest for Change
Yellow pencil

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