Children are important and their needs and interests are different from adults. The Best Interests of the Child (BIC) is one of the main principles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child reminding all adults that when decisions are being made, adults need to consider the impact of those decisions on the lives of children. The first important step to meet children’s needs and interests is for adults to listen to children when they communicate what is in their best interest.

Keywords: Child and youth participation, NGOs