Voices of Youth

“I am going to the beach with my classmate,” said my little brother in his cheerful tone.

“Forget it! Mom definitely won’t allow,” I said with confidence, and continued, “Regardless of how many times I had asked her, I was allowed to go anywhere far with my friends only when I was in my 3rd year in University. So forget it, boy! Forget it! You are only in grade 10.” I replied with a good feeling. Then my little brother said, “Hey! But I am a boy.” Upon hearing this, I suddenly became speechless. This sentence did hit me. How could I forget? He is a boy, and that’s why he is different. The truth is he is highly likely allowed to go, and that’s simply because he is a boy.

This is sad but true. Being born as a girl, I realized my rights have been restricted. In Cambodia, girls are such fragile beings, and our lives are so vulnerable that people need to take special care. Of course, there are many things I want to do but I can’t because I am a girl, being told not to do this, not to do that. My experience in society is so limited as I am always expected to be at home. In fact, I just want to do things I know I love and I want to enjoy my life as much as a boy does. The way to achieve this is hard, I know, because I am a girl and I am supposed to listen to the olders who believe that girls should stay at home, girls are so fragile and not as capable as boys. Deep down, I dislike this belief; I want to challenge it. And that is what I am trying to do. Now I am restricted from doing many things, but I still strive to do the things I want to do, though little by little. Honestly, I can’t let the old belief prevent me from success. Sometimes, even when opinions clash and arguments occur between me and my parents, I still fight to do the things I think are right for me. I want to prove to everyone that I am right in what I am doing by doing the best I can. I know what I am going to do, and what I am not going to do. I want to stand up for what I think is right. And that because I am a girl doesn’t necessarily mean I am any bit inferior to a boy. This is my belief.

– Cambodian adolescent (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

© UNICEF/NYHQ2000-0146/Noorani. Cambodia.

The idea of the Third Culture Kid, or TCK, is often relegated to the realm of wealthy expat brats or international jetsetters, and therefore ignored in many reports about young people. However, with the number of refugees and asylum seekers rising, TCK’s are becoming more and more common as displaced youth are forced to grow up in foreign environments. Regardless of economic status, the parents of TCK’s often worry about their children losing their roots, and it is true that after a time, the traditional definitions of ‘culture’ and ‘citizenship’ are almost redundant to TCK’s. However, they don’t cease to exist – they are simply redefined, and there is much to be learned from this generation of young people.

My own experience as a TCK has allowed me to integrate the cultures of my homeland, adopted country and friends’ countries to create a globalised culture. Many other TCK’s have done the same, giving us a unique worldview that changes the way we relate to society. Continuous exposure to an international environment in our formative years results in multiculturalism on such a deep level that by the time we reach adolescence, even our thought processes are cosmopolitan. This not only endows us with a chameleon-like ability to fit in with people regardless of nationality, but also with a greater tolerance of others.

I have personally gained a wider spiritual perspective through my exposure to multiple religious systems. Being born Hindu in a predominantly Buddhist country, I was raised in the Middle East, and have experienced just as much wonder eating shuwa during Eid as I have making mooncakes for Chinese New Year or lighting oil lamps for Divali. Rather than be threatened by different belief systems, I have taken something from everything because having grown up seeing so many different variations of doing one thing, it is easy to question the idea that any one way is absolute.

Naturally, being a TCK has its own challenges. After being woven into the weave of so many different worlds, the question of identity is baffling. We don’t know where we come from and feel incomplete because we haven’t experienced a single place fully enough to call it our own. However, all cons carry seeds of pros, and the TCK who can transcend rootlessness feels at home no matter where they are. We are different parts of all the places and people we have lived with. The idea brings with it a feeling of unity, because the world becomes ‘ours’ rather than ‘yours’ or ‘mine’.

By the time we reach adolescence, TCK’s realize more than anyone that we are all different. However, we survived our childhoods by developing a belief system based on mutual understanding and acceptance, one that allowed us to see beyond the petty things that drive people apart. We belong everywhere and nowhere. And if we have to ‘lose our roots’ to discover that we are all part of the same tree, maybe it is not such a bad thing after all.

– 18-year-old from Oman (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

En la sociedad de hoy, la belleza se identifica como rasgos faciales “impecables” y cuerpos “perfectos”. Las adolescentes hacen frente a muchos retos relativos a su imagen debido a la importancia que le dan los medios de comunicación; este tipo de atención puede llevar también a una baja autoestima, que es una de las causas de trastornos alimentarios y depresión en los adultos jóvenes. He visto yo mismo la diferencia que los medios crean en la vida de las adolescentes; algunas de mis compañeras de clase sufrieron un bajón de autoestima debido a su peso o a sus rasgos faciales. Yo creo que los medios deben resaltar la verdadera belleza de las niñas, en vez de mostrar una belleza irreal que ha sido alterada con la tecnología de hoy.

Los medios desempeñan un papel enorme en la sociedad de hoy día, lo cual afecta la manera de pensar sobre nosotros mismos. Es difícil de creer que también deciden por nosotros, por nuestra manera de pensar; con el mejoramiento de la tecnología, no hay cómo evitar los medios.

Hoy día, la imagen corporal se basa en los modelos que los medios fijan para la gente. El énfasis que ponen en la atracción física y formas corporales pueden hacer que una adolescente normal tenga se subestima porque crea que debe pesar lo mismo que las modelos que aparecen en la mayoría de los anuncios, o parecerse a ellas. Podemos comenzar una campaña que ayude a las niñas a sentirse bellas como son, y les muestre lo que hay detrás de las sesiones fotográficas y los anuncios.

- Adolescente de 16 años de Jordania

Este artículo es parte de una serie de ensayos y mensajes de la publicación "La adolescencia - Más allá de los estereotipos" - escrito y editado por los adolescentes y los jóvenes con el apoyo de La Juventud Opina y UNICEF.

Aujourd’hui dans la société, la beauté est représentée par des visages aux traits « sans défauts », et des corps « parfaits ». Toute l’attention consacrée à ce sujet par les médias pose un défi aux adolescents quant à leur image d’eux-mêmes, et peut aussi nuire à l’estime de soi et provoquer des troubles de l’alimentation et des dépressions chez les jeunes adultes. Personnellement, j’ai pu constater la différence que font les médias dans la vie des adolescentes; certaines camarades de classe avaient une mauvaise estime d’elles-mêmes à cause de leur poids ou de leurs traits. Je trouve que les médias devraient valoriser la véritable beauté des filles plutôt que de mettre en avant une beauté peu réaliste modifiée grâce aux technologies modernes.

De nos jours, les médias jouent un rôle considérable dans la société, et modifient l’image que nous avons de nous-mêmes. Il est difficile de se dire qu’ils prennent aussi des décisions à notre place quant à notre manière de penser, puisque notamment avec le progrès des technologies, on ne peut échapper aux médias.

Aujourd’hui, l’image du corps repose sur les normes établies par les médias. L’importance qu’ils donnent à l’attirance physique et aux formes corporelles peu réalistes peut provoquer chez l’adolescente moyenne une faible estime de soi, parce qu’elle va croire qu’elle devrait perdre du poids ou ressembler aux mannequins visibles dans la plupart des publicités. Nous pourrions lancer une campagne qui aide les filles à se sentir belles dans leur corps et qui leur montrerait l’envers du décor des séances photos et des publicités.

– Une fille de 16 ans originaire de Jordanie

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrite et éditée par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeunes et l'UNICEF.

Yo tenía una vida agradable, y nunca había oído que ningún tipo de crimen violento hubiera tenido lugar en mi pueblo. Para mí, la violencia sólo se encontraba a muchas millas de distancia en Ciudad de México. Por lo menos, eso es lo que la televisión nacional me mostraba. No obstante, en cuanto comencé a crecer y a leer los diarios locales, me di cuenta de que algo andaba mal.

No sé realmente cuándo comenzó, pero por más de tres años Tijuana ha estado cubierta por una ola de crímenes violentos que están relacionados con el tráfico de drogas. Secuestros, asesinatos con tortura, tiroteos en lugares públicos, persecuciones, amenazas, la intervención del ejército, vidas inocentes perdidas: todo eso se ha convertido en parte del lugar que yo acostumbraba a llamar mi hogar.

Mientras algunos están aterrorizados y evitan salir, especialmente de noche, otros habitantes dicen que realmente no les importa la violencia de Tijuana porque “es un problema entre mafiosos”. Aparentemente, estas personas nunca han oído de los tiroteos que tienen lugar dentro de hospitales, o afuera de las escuelas, incluidos los jardines infantiles.

No es lo mismo ser indiferente que ser ignorante. Yo era ignorante. Creía que Tijuana era una ciudad pacífica y que todas las cosas dichas por los medios eran exageraciones. Sin embargo, tus ideas pueden cambiar una vez que se te informa que le dispararon a un vecino mientras estaba en un parque, o que uno de sus amigos más cercanos perdió su padre que era policía, o incluso que una chica ha estado involucrada en el mundo del tráfico de drogas toda su vida.

Una de las cosas que he aprendido es que cuando la gente se acostumbra a la violencia, simplemente termina por aceptarla. La sociedad ha perdido la fe en sus representantes, lo cual hace que unas personas no voten. Es decir, la gente ya no espera el cambio.

En mi opinión, a Tijuana le faltan personas que desean una realidad diferente. Creo que si alguien tiene la voz y el coraje, el resto le escucharán. Desafortunadamente, el tráfico de drogas es tan poderoso que silencia a las personas. Esto es lógico en una sociedad que no depende de sus representantes.

La gente siempre culpa al gobierno cuando las cosas salen mal. Pero ¿qué hace la gente aparte de quejarse y cruzarse de brazos? No creo que hablar de cómo eran de buenos los viejos tiempos vaya a cambiar el presente o el futuro.

- Chica de 17 años de México

Este artículo es parte de una serie de ensayos y mensajes de la publicación "La adolescencia - Más allá de los estereotipos" - escrito y editado por los adolescentes y los jóvenes con el apoyo de La Juventud Opina y UNICEF.

Je menais une vie tranquille, et n’avais jamais entendu parler de crimes violents perpétrés dans ma ville. Dans mon esprit, la violence n’existait qu’à des kilomètres de Mexico. C’est du moins ce que semblait dire la télévision nationale. Néanmoins, en grandissant, j’ai commencé à lire la presse locale, et j’ai réalisé qu’il y avait un problème.

Je ne sais pas vraiment quand ça a commencé, mais depuis plus de trois ans, Tijuana a été la cible d’une vague de crimes violents liés au trafic de drogue. Enlèvements, meurtres sous la torture, coups de feu dans les endroits publics, persécutions, menaces, infiltration de l’armée, mort d’innocents, tout cela fait maintenant partie de la ville que je considérais autrefois comme chez moi.

Si certains sont tétanisés et évitent de sortir, notamment la nuit, d’autres ne s’estiment pas menacés par la violence de Tijuana parce que « ça se passe entre les gangs ». Visiblement, ces personnes n’ont jamais entendu parler des coups de feu survenus dans les hôpitaux ou à côté des écoles, dont des maternelles. Il y a une différence entre l’indifférence et l’ignorance. J’étais ignorante. Je croyais que Tijuana était une ville paisible et que les médias exagéraient. Néanmoins, quand on apprend qu’un voisin a été abattu dans un parc, qu’un de vos amis les plus proches a perdu son père qui était policier, ou quand on entend l’histoire d’une fille impliquée dans le monde du trafic de drogue toute sa vie, on commence à réfléchir.

J’ai notamment compris une chose, c’est que lorsqu’on habitue les gens à la violence, ils finissent par l’accepter. La société a perdu la foi en ses représentants, ce qui en dissuade certains de voter. Les gens ne croient désormais plus au changement.

A mon avis, Tijuana manque de personnes avides d’une réalité différente. Je crois que si quelqu’un a suffisamment de voix et de courage, il se fera entendre. Malheureusement, le trafic de drogue est tellement puissant qu’il pousse les gens à se taire. Logique, dans une société qui ne fait pas confiance à ses représentants.

Les gens critiquent toujours le gouvernement quand ça ne va pas. Mais que font ces personnes à part se plaindre et croiser les bras ? Je ne crois pas que c’est en parlant du bon vieux temps qu’on fera changer le présent ou le futur.

– Une fille de 17 ans originaire du Mexique

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrits et édités par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeunes et l'UNICEF.

Estoy confundido, y sólo tengo 16 años. No sé cómo calmar o consolar a mi contraparte, mi prima que perdió su mejor amiga recientemente. No sé qué hacer o qué decir, por temor a partir el corazón de mi prima de nuevo. Todo lo que le puedo decir es, ‘Hermana, no se ha ido realmente con el viento. Se ha convertido en su ángel y debes sentir felicidad por ella porque se ha librado de penalidades y todo lo que no estaba dispuesta a aguantar …’, pero sé que no es verdad …

Debido a la pesada carga de estudio y el estrés de su familia, la mejor amiga de mi prima acabó su joven y prometedora vida lanzándose al viento desde el techo del edificio a la edad de 17 … Estas cosas de ‘adolescente comete suicidio’ ya no son nuevas para mí, un estudiante de secundaria en la China, pero todavía me impresioné mucho cuando supe de esto. ¡Qué mundo más pequeño! En el mismo instante en que oí la noticia supuse que esto debía haber partido el corazón de mi dulcísima prima …

Debido al trabajo escolar abrumador y difícil o relaciones personales complicadas, algunos adolescentes de mi edad o hasta más jóvenes ¡deciden aliviarse acabando su vida a tan temprana edad! Hasta yo debo admitir que cuando a veces estaba asfixiado por mi vida estresada la idea del suicidio surgía en mi mente …

Algunos de ustedes juzgarían que estas cosas son un problema emocional o psicológico bizarro de adolescentes, pero ¿si no son populares sólo entre algunos estudiantes, sino casi todos los estudiantes?

En mi país, si puedes ser aceptado por una universidad clave, eso es cuando comienza su vida feliz. Fui criado bajo este tipo de concepto. Mi país ha puesto gran énfasis en la educación primaria. Y así mi vida dura y mis pesadillas han sido inevitables.

En mi país, no existe la cosa ‘grado más bajo, vida más feliz’. Aun los estudiantes de las escuelas primarias tienen cuestiones difíciles que están un poquito más allá de su capacidad. Entonces la consecuencia es que no tienen tiempo de sobra para sus propias aficiones. ¡Los niños necesitan jugar!

La niñez y adolescencia ingenuas deben estar llenas de risa, pasión, ambición y confianza. Son tiempos preciosos. El tiempo universitario nos debe hacer saborear las penalidades de la vida y la crueldad de ‘supervivencia de los más aptos’. Los niños y adolescentes sí necesitan algunas dificultades, pero demasiadas penalidades en la vida sólo les haría considerar que la vida es horrible y les haría cínicos.

Sé que la competencia en la sociedad es fuerte, el estrés y la infelicidad son intolerables pero inevitables. Que los adultos y los capaces enfrenten esto, ¡no nuestros niños y adolescentes! Tenemos nuestros propios problemas, pero ¡definitivamente no éstos! Nos debe importar nuestro estudio, pero cuando se relaciona con empleos futuros o importantes momentos decisivos de la vida, se excede. ¡Las calificaciones no pueden decidir tu vida!

No trato de ser sarcástico; simplemente trato de llamar a una vida fácil y feliz para nosotros antes de enfrentar la verdadera vida dura que tenemos delante. Por la amiga de mi prima y por toda vida joven y prometedora, por favor, ¡alíviennos y merecemos una vida fácil y feliz!

- Chico de 16 años de la China

Este artículo es parte de una serie de ensayos y mensajes de la publicación "La adolescencia - Más allá de los estereotipos" - escrito y editado por los adolescentes y los jóvenes con el apoyo de La Juventud Opina y UNICEF.

Je suis perdu, et je n’ai que 16 ans. Je ne sais pas comment apaiser ou consoler ma cousine, qui a perdu sa meilleure amie récemment. Je ne sais que faire ou dire, de peur de lui briser le cœur à nouveau. Tout ce que je peux lui dire c’est « écoute, elle n’a pas vraiment disparu, c’est maintenant ton ange gardien et tu peux te réjouir pour elle parce qu’elle s’est débarrassée de sa détresse et de tout ce qui l’encombrait… ». Mais je sais que ça n’est pas vrai…

A cause du lourd fardeau des études et de la pression familiale, la meilleure amie de ma cousine a mis fin à sa jeune vie prometteuse en se jetant du haut d’un immeuble, à l’âge de 17 ans… Ces suicides d’adolescents ne sont pas nouveaux pour moi, qui étudie en Chine, mais j’ai tout de même été choqué en apprenant la nouvelle. Comme le monde est petit ! Au moment où j’ai appris la nouvelle, j’ai imaginé que cela avait dû briser le cœur de ma chère cousine…

A cause de la quantité et de la difficulté du travail scolaire ou de relations compliquées, certains adolescents de mon âge ou plus jeunes encore choisissent de se soulager en mettant fin à leurs jours, à un si jeune âge. Je dois admettre que parfois, étouffé par le stress, l’idée de me suicider m’a déjà traversé l’esprit…

Certains diront qu’il s’agit d’un problème psychologique ou émotionnel bizarre et propre à l’adolescence. Mais s’il ne s’agissait pas de cas isolés, si presque tous les étudiants étaient concernés ?

Dans mon pays, quand on parvient à être accepté par une grande université, c’est le début du bonheur. J’ai été élevé dans cette croyance. Mon pays insiste davantage sur l’enseignement élémentaire. Ma vie a donc été inévitablement difficile et cauchemardesque.

Dans mon pays, les petites classes ne sont pas synonymes de vie heureuse. Même les enfants de primaire se retrouvent face à des situations un peu au-delà de leurs capacités. La conséquence, c’est qu’ils n’ont pas de temps à consacrer à leurs loisirs. Un enfant, ça a besoin de jouer ! L’innocence de l’enfance et de l’adolescence devrait n’être que rire, passion, ambition et confiance. Ce sont des périodes précieuses. L’époque des études supérieures devrait nous initier aux difficultés de la vie et à la « loi du plus fort ». Les enfants et les adolescents doivent être mis face à la difficulté, mais trop de difficultés risquent de leur faire croire que la vie est horrible et de les rendre cyniques.

Je sais que la concurrence est féroce dans la société, et que le stress et le malheur sont intolérables mais inévitables. Laissons cela aux adultes et à ceux qui sont capables d’y faire face, mais pas aux enfants et aux adolescents ! Il y a des problèmes propres à notre âge, mais certainement pas ceux-ci ! Nous devons nous préoccuper de nos études, mais d’ici à établir un lien direct avec nos futures carrières ou les tournants importants de la vie, il ne faut pas exagérer. Les notes ne déterminent pas nos vies !

Je n’essaie pas d’être sarcastique, mais seulement de revendiquer une vie simple et heureuse avant que la difficulté de la vie ne s’impose à nous. Au nom de l’amie de ma cousine et de toutes les jeunes vies prometteuses, s’il-vous plaît, soulagez-nous, nous méritons une vie simple et heureuse !

– Un garçon de 16 ans originaire de Chine

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrits et édités par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeunes et l'UNICEF.

We need to take a step back and look at our world.

We are all human beings, are we not? So why is it that we look at others differently and judge them? Think of how many groups in society are being discriminated against, day after day, even though the Declaration of Human Rights states that they are equal. These are groups such as people of different race, religion, nationality, class, ability, sexual preferences and ethnic minorities.

I, as an adolescent, propose to you, all other adolescents around the world, to stop judging others. Judgement is the cancer of our society, and it is constantly eating into our minds. How can we judge and discriminate against someone without stopping to get to know the person first? Does it not make more sense to learn more about cultures, countries and ways of life to help you welcome new members of society, rather than living in an ignorant bubble? Some say ignorance is bliss but I beg to differ.

So the world needs to change. The state of my world is that I cannot stand to see human beings be discriminated against any longer. I am pro-equality. I think it is only fair then to promote non-discrimination, don’t you agree? By supporting international groups around us, encouraging their growth, we can then encourage diversity in our societies. Promoting non-discrimination can also mean supporting Fair Trade and other charities so we can hope for decent pay and equality in disadvantaged countries.

So take it as a personal challenge, embrace diversity and part from your norm. I’ve already started by opening my eyes.

– 17-year-old from Ireland (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

© UNICEF/NYHQ2004-1158/LeMoyne, 2004, Uganda

My life was unique from the day I was born. My mother is a black South African and my father is Greek. My mother was born on a farm in a rural area; my father was born on a sunny Greek island. They met at university and it was love at first sight.

In apartheid South Africa, it was rare to see an interracial couple, but my parents believed that our beloved country would one day change. Despite all the stares and the whispering, they soldiered on. They publicly took walks on the beach and went to movies together which seems very normal, but was like the sighting of an eclipse under the apartheid regime.

At the dawn of democracy in 1994, I was born. I was the little ‘mixed blessing’. My parents had been together for 9 years and now finally had a child. I viewed the world through the eyes of a child. I saw nothing wrong with my family; however people would often stare at us. I just thought it was because my mother was so beautiful.

My views changed significantly when I went to crèche. The children would often ask if I was adopted, which was a preposterous idea to me. They would often ask me humiliating questions about my parents. For a while I felt ashamed of myself and would ask my mother or father to wait in the car and send my older mixed-race cousin to fetch me from crèche.

However, everything changed as I grew up. At primary school there were many other children with parents of different races. They made me feel like I was a part of them. I was no longer the lonely mixed-race girl. I still faced embarrassing questions at times, but I grew in confidence and always had witty replies.

It is now 16 years later. When I go out with my family, we still get the odd look or two. But it doesn’t matter because I know that I am a beautiful mixed race girl. I don’t need to be black or white.

– 16-year-old from South Africa (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

Cet essai décrit ce que je vois et comprends en observant le quotidien de mes semblables. Je ne peux m’empêcher d’être triste pour les terres et les rivières qui meurent lentement. Depuis quand mes frères ont-ils peur de vivre comme des Indiens ? La provocation l’a-t-elle emporté sur la résistance ? Sommes-nous les plus faibles dans cette lutte pour la survie qui dure depuis bientôt cinq cent dix-huit ans ?

J’espère que la résistance va continuer de ressembler à celle menée par mon père, mon grand-père et mon arrière grand-père. Il s’agit d’une flamme plus que d’une résistance avec des armes, symbolisant la revendication de notre culture, la préservation et le respect de notre mode de vie, et le fait de refuser que notre territoire soit envahi par des sociétés qui détruisent l’harmonie que nous avons préservée.

Aujourd’hui, je suis fier de pouvoir étudier dans une université de mon pays et de faire partie des premiers autochtones de mon groupe à avoir accédé à une meilleure éducation, mais voulez-vous savoir pourquoi ? Tout a commencé à l’école de mon village. Je tiens à préciser que la qualité de l’enseignement costaricain est très médiocre et que celui reçu par les communautés autochtones est encore pire. C’est parce que dans les classes que nous suivons, il n’y a pas d’effort d’équité pour essayer de préserver notre existence en tant que peuple : la culture autochtone et sa langue maternelle. Dans ces classes, les professeurs qui enseignent ces matières sont obligés de faire cours dans la classe la plus vieille de l’école, sous un arbre. C’est la réalité.

Parfois j’ai de la peine pour eux; on nous a refusé le droit à presque tout. Notre réalité, c’est d’être né autochtone dans ce pays, où la couleur de la peau a son importance. Si la paix et l’égalité régnaient ici, les enfants de mon peuple auraient les mêmes possibilités d’accéder aux technologies que les enfants des autres régions du pays. Si la paix régnait au Costa Rica, le territoire autochtone serait respecté, et si un véritable intérêt était porté aux besoins des autochtones du Costa Rica, je ne ferais pas partie des rares autochtones capables d’écrire un document comme celui-ci, avec l’intention qu’il soit lu et entendu.

Ils nous imposent davantage de contraintes et essaient de nous faire oublier notre langage, de nous faire honte de qui nous sommes, de notre manière de vivre ou de penser. Mais ils n’y parviendront pas si les rêves et la volonté d’être Terraba persistent.

– Un garçon de 17 ans originaire du Costa Rica

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrits et édités par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeunes et l'UNICEF.

La discriminación racial consiste en cualquier distinción que surja del origen de una persona o de la nacionalidad, antecedentes étnicos o religión de una persona.

Pertenezco a esta gran comunidad peul que ha vivido en Senegal por muchos años. Las poblaciones aborígenes ocasionalmente o rutinariamente nos llaman NDRINGS. Este apodo, que es racista, se está haciendo más y más popular debido a que el número de peules que vienen a Senegal está aumentando. Cada vez que oigo esta palabra y la manera en que se pronuncia me hiere profundamente y me siento impotente, porque en cuanto más prohíba uno a las personas darte este nombre más lo hacen y se ríen de ti.

La juventud es uno de los principales impulsores del desarrollo de un continente, y en este momento en que la gente habla de unidad africana debemos ir más allá de estos ideales de superioridad para promover el panafricanismo. Mencioné a la juventud porque es a este nivel que está el problema. Personalmente, he logrado ganar el respeto de mis compañeros de clase al aceptarme a mí mismo como soy pero también al demostrarles que puedo hacer cosas asombrosas y tener éxito como lo pueden ellos, y hasta mejor. Senegal es un país de hospitalidad y paz. Debe seguir dando el ejemplo rechazando esta discriminación, porque todos tienen derecho a viajar y a vivir libremente, dondequiera quieran hacerlo, como resultado de nuestra humanidad común.

- Chico de 15 años de Senegal

Este artículo es parte de una serie de ensayos y mensajes de la publicación "La adolescencia - Más allá de los estereotipos" - escrito y editado por los adolescentes y los jóvenes con el apoyo de La Juventud Opina y UNICEF.

Dans le cadre du rapport phare de L'UNICEF, «La situation des enfants dans le monde 2011 (SOWC)», l'UNICEF a publié un manuel intitulé «L'adolescence: Au-delà des stéréotypes» dans lequel des adolescents offrent leurs propres perspectives sur le monde. Ce manuel a été édité par une équipe de 12 adolescents et jeunes originaires des quatre coins de la planète, dont la mission fut de collecter, éditer et corriger le contenu. Cette équipe s'est également occupée de la mise en page et des illustrations ainsi que du lancement et de la diffusion du manuel. En conséquence, ce manuel, conçu par et pour des adolescents, donne une perspective unique et authentique sur la jeunesse actuelle. Le contenu a été élaboré grâce à un appel à contributions lancé sur le site La Voix des Jeunes en 2010 et avec la collaboration de nombreux partenaires et volontaires désireux de s'assurer que les témoignages de jeunes qui n'ont pas souvent l'occasion d'être entendus ( notamment ceux qui n'ont pas accès à Internet ainsi que les enfants handicapés, les réfugiés et les enfants des rue), soient inclus.

Vous pouvez découvrir leurs témoignages et leurs messages ici sur le site de La Voix des Jeunes.

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrit et édité par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeune et l'UNICEF.

Este ensayo describe lo que veo y lo que entiendo cuando miro la realidad de mi gente. Mi corazón no puede sino sentir tristeza por la tierra y los ríos que están muriendo lentamente. ¿Cuándo fue que mis hermanos comenzaron a sentir miedo de vivir como indígenas? ¿Puede ser que la burladera fue más fuerte que la resistencia? ¿Puede ser que somos el punto más débil de una lucha por la supervivencia que pronto habrá durado 518 años?

Espero que la resistencia continúe y sea la misma que mi padre recibió de mi abuelo, y mi abuelo de su padre – una llama, más que una resistencia con armas, simboliza el hecho de querer tener nuestra cultura, de querer que nuestro estilo de vida sea preservado y respetado, de querer que nuestro territorio no sea invadido por empresas que destruyen la armonía que hemos conservado.

Hoy me siento orgulloso de poder estudiar en una universidad estatal en mi país y ser uno de los primeros indígenas de mi grupo en tener acceso a la educación superior, pero ¿quieren saber por qué soy uno de los pocos? Pues bien, todo comenzó en la escuela en mi aldea; déjenme decir primero que la educación costarricense no es de ninguna manera de calidad, y la que reciben las comunidades indígenas está lejos de serlo. La razón es que cuando se trata de las clases que se dictan no hay equidad para tratar de preservar nuestra existencia como pueblos: la cultura indígena y lengua madre. En estas clases los maestros de estas materias son forzados a dar clase en el aula más vieja de la escuela o bajo un árbol. Esta es la realidad.

A veces me siento triste por ellos; nos han negado el derecho a casi todo. Haber nacido como indígena en este país, en el cual el tono de la piel importa, es la realidad. Si aquí hubiera paz e igualdad, los niños de mi pueblo tendrían las mismas oportunidades de acceso a la tecnología que los niños de otras regiones del país. Si la paz existiera en Costa Rica, el territorio indígena sería respetado, y si hubiera un interés real por las necesidades indígenas en Costa Rica, yo no sería uno de los pocos indígenas que escribe un documento como este, con la intención de que sea leído y sea escuchado.

Se imponen más sobre nosotros y tratan de hacernos olvidar nuestra lengua, hacernos sentir vergüenza de quiénes somos, de cómo vivimos, de cómo pensamos. Pero no tendrán éxito si no se roban los sueños y la voluntad de ser un nativo de Terraba.

- Chico de 17 años de Costa Rica

Este artículo es parte de una serie de ensayos y mensajes de la publicación "La adolescencia - Más allá de los estereotipos" - escrito y editado por los adolescentes y los jóvenes con el apoyo de La Juventud Opina y UNICEF.

Hoy día, las expectativas para nosotros los adolescentes son altas. Las familias, escuelas, comunidades, compañías y el gobierno de mi región son impulsados por el espíritu de desempeño y competencia permanente. Quieren que mejoremos nuestras destrezas todo el tiempo, ser cada vez más eficientes, más exitosos, mejor preparados para el mundo de los negocios. Obedecemos.

Pero llega un punto en nuestra niñez en que cada uno de nosotros se atreve a volver el pensamiento de nuestra llamada “sociedad del desempeño” al revés. Este es el momento en que, por primerísima vez, no nos hacemos la pregunta común de cómo quiere la sociedad que seamos; en este momento preciso nos preguntamos lo contrario: ¿cómo queremos que sea la sociedad?

Estos pensamientos, no importa en qué contexto, ilustran un gran potencial de cambio y mejoramiento en toda sociedad. Sin embargo, la mayor parte del tiempo no son considerados como tal ni tomados en serio por la sociedad (adulta).

Entonces, no es una gran sorpresa que para los jóvenes la época en que comenzamos a pensar acerca de cómo se debería cambiar nuestro entorno es a menudo la más decepcionante de nuestra vida adolescente. Luego de nuestro idealismo y entusiasmo inicial (a menudo cínicamente llamados “ingenuidad”), la mayoría de nosotros notamos que muchos de aquellos que detentan el poder – maestros, directores de escuela, organizadores comunitarios, empresarios, políticos – no tienen ningún interés en nuestros pensamientos. Y lo más triste de ello: Como adolescentes, no podemos de ninguna manera aplicar nuestra agenda sin que nos respalden los que tienen el poder. La mayoría de los adolescentes no tienen ni representación ni derecho legal de participar en decisiones escolares y gubernamentales. Todo lo que podemos hacer es pedir, suplicar, escribir cartas y organizar eventos, tratando de presionar a aquellos que tienen el poder de decidir – pero al final del día, la mayoría de nosotros tendremos la sensación de que nuestro compromiso ha caído en oídos sordos.

Muchos de nosotros renunciamos y dejamos de pensar acerca del mundo como debería ser, y a cambio elegimos la manera más fácil y más “prometedora” de encajar en el mundo tal como es hoy. El progreso – en todo aspecto de la vida – nunca tendrá lugar si los jóvenes se sienten obligados a seguir el status quo y son forzados a adaptarse y obedecer.

Así que si queremos que nuestra generación joven piense por sí misma, formule ideas creativas e innovadoras, y combata todos los problemas que todavía existen en nuestro mundo hoy, hay que implementar derechos de participación en todos los aspectos de la vida del adolescente. Los gobiernos debe instaurar un par de medidas estatutarias tales como parlamentos infantiles y juveniles obligatorios en las escuelas y comunidades, educación en derechos humanos y ciencia política en la escuela y planes de acción adicionales para los derechos de participación. Estas medidas estarían 100% de acuerdo con la Convención de los derechos del niño de la ONU y su artículo 12, que insta a los signatarios a aceptar el derecho del niño a participar.

Los gobiernos, y todos los demás que pueden influir en las políticas nacionales e internacionales, deben implementar ideas como aquellas mencionadas para crear una generación nueva que piense por sí mismo en vez de obedecer ciegamente. Estoy absolutamente seguro de que esto beneficiaría a todos.

- Chico de 18 años de Austria

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-1420/Marc Hofer, 2010, Uganda.

Este artículo es parte de una serie de ensayos y mensajes de la publicación "La adolescencia - Más allá de los estereotipos" - escrito y editado por los adolescentes y los jóvenes con el apoyo de La Juventud Opina y UNICEF.

Est qualifiée de discrimination raciale toute distinction opérée à raison de l'origine ou de l'appartenance d'une personne à une nation, une ethnie, une race ou une religion déterminée.

Je fais partie de la grande communauté peule vivant au Sénégal depuis de longues années. Les autochtones nous appellent souvent ou occasionnellement les NDRINGS. Ce sobriquet, raciste, prend de plus en plus d’ampleur du fait du nombre croissant de Peuls arrivant au Sénégal et parce que nous opérons dans des secteurs d'activités qu’ils « délaissent ». À chaque fois que j'entends ce mot et la manière dont il est prononcé je me sens profondément blessé et impuissant car plus on interdit qu'on nous appelle ainsi et plus les gens se moquent de nous.

La jeunesse est l'un des principaux moteurs de développement d'un continent et à l'heure où l'on parle d'Unité Africaine, ces idéaux de supériorité doivent être dépassés pour promouvoir le panafricanisme. J'ai évoqué la jeunesse parce que c'est à ce niveau que se situe le problème. Personnellement, j'ai réussi à gagner le respect de mes camarades en m'acceptant comme je suis, mais aussi en leur prouvant que je pouvais réaliser des prouesses et réussir comme eux ou mieux. Le Sénégal est un pays d'hospitalité et de paix. Il doit continuer de donner le bon exemple en bannissant cette discrimination car chacun a le droit de voyager et de vivre librement, partout ou il le souhaite, du fait de notre humanité commune.

– Un garçon de 15 ans originaire du Sénégal

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrits et édités par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeunes et l'UNICEF.

Aujourd’hui, on en demande beaucoup aux adolescents. Les familles, les écoles, les communautés, les sociétés et le gouvernement de ma région sont régis par l’idée de performance et de concurrence. Ils veulent que nous développions en permanence nos capacités, que nous soyons toujours plus efficaces, plus brillants et mieux préparés au monde du travail. Et nous obéissons.

Mais vient un moment dans notre enfance où chacun de nous tend à remettre en question cette « société de la performance ». C’est à ce moment que, pour la première fois, nous ne nous demandons plus ce que la société veut faire de nous, mais plutôt l’inverse : que voulons-nous faire de la société ?

Ce questionnement, quel que soit le contexte, démontre un grand potentiel de changement et de progrès dans chaque société. Malheureusement, la plupart du temps il n’est pas considéré ainsi ou n’est pas pris au sérieux par la société (des adultes).

Ce n’est donc pas une grosse surprise pour nous les jeunes lorsque, alors que nous commençons à réfléchir à la façon de faire changer notre environnement, nous nous retrouvons généralement face à une grosse déception. Après une phase initiale d’idéalisme et d’enthousiasme (souvent cyniquement qualifiée de « naïveté » ), la plupart d’entre nous constatent que la majorité de ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir (enseignants, directeurs d’écoles, responsables des communautés, acteurs du monde des affaires, politiciens) n’accordent aucun intérêt à nos réflexions. Mais le plus triste dans tout ça, c’est qu’en tant qu’adolescents, nous n’avons pas de moyen de mettre en œuvre notre projet sans être appuyés par ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir. La plupart des adolescents n’ont ni de représentation ni de droit légal de participer aux décisions scolaires ou gouvernementales. Tout ce que nous pouvons faire, c’est demander, supplier, écrire des lettres et organiser des événements pour essayer de faire pression sur ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir décisionnel. Mais au final, la plupart d’entre nous auront la sensation que leur engagement est tombé dans l’oreille d’un sourd…

...Nombreux sont ceux qui renoncent et cessent d’envisager le monde comme il devrait être. Ils choisissent plutôt une manière plus facile et « prometteuse » de s’adapter au monde d’aujourd’hui. Le progrès, sous tous ses aspects, n’aura jamais lieu si les jeunes se sentent obligés de suivre le statu quo et sont forcés de s’ajuster et d’obéir.

Alors si nous voulons que notre génération pense par elle-même, développe des idées créatives et innovantes et lutte contre les problèmes qui existent encore dans le monde aujourd’hui, il faut mettre en place des droits de participation pour chaque aspect de la vie adolescente. Les gouvernements devraient établir des mesures légales comme l’obligation pour les écoles et les communautés d’avoir des parlements pour les enfants et les jeunes, la sensibilisation aux droits de l’homme et l’introduction des sciences politiques à l’école, ainsi que d’autres plans d’action relatifs aux droits de participation. Ces mesures seraient 100 % en accord avec la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits de l’enfant et son douzième article qui appelle ses signataires à accepter le droit de participation des enfants.

Les gouvernements, et toutes les autres entités capables d’influencer les politiques nationales et internationales, devraient mettre en pratique des idées comme celles mentionnées afin d’établir une nouvelle génération capable de penser par elle-même plutôt que d’obéir aveuglément. Je suis absolument convaincu que cela bénéficierait à tout le monde.

– Un garçon de 18 ans originaire d’Autriche

Cet article fait partie d'une série d'essais et des messages de la publication «L'adolescence - Au-delà des stéréotypes» - écrits et édités par une équipe de jeunes gens avec le support de La Voix des Jeunes et l'UNICEF.

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-1420/Marc Hofer, 2010, Ouganda.

About the Publication

On the occasion of UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children (SOWC) 2011 on adolescents, UNICEF supported the production of a publication - “Adolescence – Beyond the Stereotypes” - that reflects on the state of the world from a young perspective. The publication has been created by an editorial team of 12 adolescents and young people from all parts of the world, who were involved in collecting, editing and reviewing the content, shaping the design and illustrations, and planning for the launch and distribution of the publication. The result is an authentic publication that reflects adolescents’ experiences and provides unique insights into their lives.

The content came from an open call for contributions on Voices of Youth in 2010, as well as from many partners and volunteers who ensured we were able to hear from adolescents that often do not have the opportunity to have their voices heard, including those without access to internet, children living with disabilities, refugees and street children.

You can explore the essays and messages written by adolescents here on Voices of Youth - and you can also download the full publication below.

• Read a message from the Editorial Team
• Read more about the methodology of the publication
• Download a PDF of the publication

Launch and exhibition

The publication was launched on September 8, 2011 at the UNICEF Headquarters in New York. President of the UNICEF Executive Board, Ambassador Sanja Štiglic, introduced the publication, while UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta and Professor John Santelli from Columbia University joined members of the adolescent team in a dialogue around adolescents and stereotypes.

• Read more about the launch here

• See a slideshow of an exhibit based on the publication

Stereotypes video

In connection with the launch of the publication, we talked to students at Brooklyn International High School in New York to hear about their perspectives on adolescence and stereotypes:

A brief explanation of the methodology employed to create this report

We are the New York and Global Reference Teams, we are 14 to 23 years of age and we come from Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Egypt, Fiji, Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar/Thailand and Viet Nam. We were invited by UNICEF to support the development of this publication and we would like to share with you ‘our journey’ for creating it.

Very early on we learned that one of our first key roles would be to spread a survey among adolescents everywhere and ask them to send in their contributions. Our calls for contributions went out in late May 2010 and were in the form of an online questionnaire on the UNICEF website. Various partners also distributed the questionnaire to adolescents who do not have access to the Internet.

In June 2010 we, the New York team, had a face-to-face meeting and developed the criteria for reviewing contributions. Each and every contribution was reviewed by us (the New York and Global Reference Teams) with the invaluable support of the facilitators of the project. Each of us received review packages that were organized for reviewing the essays and messages, and each essay or message was reviewed by at least three team members, including at least one boy and one girl.

We wanted to preserve the ‘authentic’ voice of each writer, and so the unique grammar and writing style is presented as the contribution was sent to us – in its original form. We made small changes only if they would make it easier for the reader to understand the message. And we have changed or deleted names, cities and other personal details in order to protect the identity and safety of the writer.

Some contributions do not appear in their entirety. It was important to include more adolescent stories and needed, therefore, to do some editing. However, we (the teams) were consulted regarding all these changes.

Throughout the project, we were communicating with the facilitators through e-mails, phone calls and Skype chats to be updated with the latest decisions and to have the opportunity to discuss our opinions. They supported us and provided all the help and information required for the project. We discussed everything about the project (including themes, chapters, edits and design) and had the opportunity to vote on everything. Finally, we were divided into groups to write the different sections of the publication (title, introduction, credits, process and methodology).

The project has been all for adolescents (us) and by adolescents to reflect our voices, opinions and lives, truly from our own points of view.

Limitations

During the process of reviewing contributions, we discovered that some issues were not mentioned by adolescents. We recognize that our publication does not address all issues that adolescents feel are important. There were many possible causes for this. Adolescents, for example, were asked to choose only one topic to write about. They also understood that their contributions were being sent to UNICEF and may have chosen their messages accordingly. Whatever their reasons, we understand that there is a diverse range of issues affecting adolescents. We encourage readers to recognize the importance of the messages found in this publication and to be willing to help make positive change for adolescents.

Dear Readers,

“Young people are the future.” This adage is used in almost every presentation about our generation. Although it does convey the necessity for an educated and empowered youth, it misses one crucial detail that most of us have overlooked, which is our importance in the “today” world. It is time for all of us to ask ourselves, “Have adolescents been taken seriously enough to develop themselves and contribute their talents in developing our world?” It is time for a new acknowledgement that says, “We are not the future, we are NOW!”, for adolescents all over the world to speak out and their voices to be heard.

As adolescents, nowadays, we have to face many challenges and hardships that adults may never have experienced. This gap has made it, at times, impossible for adults to understand what the younger generation is going through. This gap, coupled with the inability to voice our opinions, has made adolescence in our world today that much harder. For this reason, we believe that it is vital that the world listens to us to learn about what it is to be an adolescent today, what needs to be done and what adolescents can do to create a better place for all, because it is not just games and fun that adolescents care about. And thanks to The State of the World’s Children this year, many of those topics have been addressed, and hopefully there will be a difference.

To make this publication a reality, adolescents from all around the globe have shared with us their thoughts, feelings and/or real stories either about themselves or about people they know. Each of the adolescent voices, whether speaking of personal problems or of regional and global issues, has its own strong message to show the world the many diverse aspects of an adolescent’s life today. However, it is important to keep in mind that this publication contains a collection of truths, but like each adolescent, each truth is unique and invokes an individual’s experience and does not necessarily represent all adolescent experiences or truths.

By creating this, we all hope that something will be changed for good. It is our goal that people in every level and sector – government leaders, non-governmental organizations, parents, religious leaders and adolescents themselves – will be more aware of what is really happening to our generation nowadays. As you read the contributions found in this publication we ask that you put yourself in the situations of those children and adolescents across the world, to consider and listen to their ideas and voices. And if you find yourself asking, “What can I do?”, we have provided you, at the end of the publication, with ideas for reflection, communication, exploration, sharing and action.

The voices of the adolescents of our world have to be heard and taken into consideration during decision-making in their communities as well as in their countries. Without support, young people can hardly express and develop their initiatives. We hope this publication will give all decision makers ideas to design more appropriate interventions and to facilitate the needs of the adolescents in their families, communities, programmes and countries. More action needs to be taken to help young people develop and achieve their goals and objectives, so that we can be the present and the future that the world needs.

Our wish is that you take away from these contributions, not just the challenges that are faced by adolescents, but our hope and fervent desire for a more united world that can create better lives for all.

Sincerely,

The New York and Global Reference Teams – Amira, Anthony, Boramey, Desmond Nji A., Helen, Jessie, Josephine, Mohammed, Patrina, Quynh, Signa and Spero.

Today, expectations for us adolescents are high. Families, schools, communities, companies and the government in my region are driven by the spirit of permanent performance and competition. They want us to improve our skills all the time, to increasingly become more efficient, more successful, better prepared for the world of business. We obey.

But there comes a point in our childhood when each of us dares to turn the way of thinking in our so-called “performance society” around. This is the moment when we, for the very first time, do not ask ourselves the common question of how society wants us to be; in this very moment we ask ourselves the opposite: how do we want society to be?

These thoughts, no matter in which context, illustrate a great potential for change and improvement in every society. Unfortunately, most of the time they are neither considered that way nor taken seriously by (the adult) society.

It is not a big surprise then that for young people, the time we start thinking about how our environment should be changed is often the most disappointing in our adolescent life. After our initial idealism and enthusiasm (often cynically called “naiveté”), most of us notice that many of those in power – teachers, school directors, community organizers, business people, politicians – do not have any interest in our thoughts. And the saddest thing about it: As adolescents, we can not in any way enforce our agenda without those in power standing behind us. Most adolescents have neither representation nor a lawful right to participate in school and governmental decisions. All we can do is ask, beg, write letters and organize events, trying to pressure those who have the power to decide – but at the end of the day, most of us will have the feeling that their commitment has fallen on deaf ears.

Many of us resign and give up thinking about the world as it should be, and rather choose the easier and more “promising” way to fit into the world as it is today. Progress – in every aspect of life – will never happen if young people feel themselves obligated to follow the status quo and are forced to adjust and obey.

So if we want our young generation to think on its own, develop creative and innovative ideas and combat all the problems that still exist in our world today, participation rights must be implemented in every aspect of an adolescent’s life. Governments should instate a couple of statutory measures such as compulsory children and youth parliaments in schools and communities, human rights’ education and political science in school and further plans of action for participation rights. These measures would be a 100% in accord with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its twelfth article which urges its signatories to accept the child’s right to participate.

Governments, and all others who can influence national and international policies, should put ideas like those mentioned into practice in order to establish a new generation that thinks on its own rather than blindly obeys. I am absolutely positive that this would be to the benefit of everyone.

– 18-year-old from Austria (male)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-1420/Marc Hofer, 2010, Uganda.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

“Imagine a place where co-operation comes before competition; care for others comes before jealous self-interest and a desire for collective growth comes before the need to guard what you have. Imagine a place where respect for ‘people with different perspectives’ replaces mistrust of ‘people not like you’, where a feeling of safety replaces a feeling of fear, where involvement replaces isolation. For me, that is a community, and anything you do to bring that ideal closer, that is citizenship.”

– 18-year-old from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (male)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

Spring Hope springs eternal, and so do my yearly examinations. Weeks of preparation, revision and recollection leaves us sleepless and drained out.

The year we spend at school, we hope to learn, to study things we want to keep with us for life. Our school years are when we learn, play and most importantly grow the most, mentally, physically emotionally and morally. So, in this season of new beginnings, let us pledge to make schools what they are meant to be.

Summer After a long year at school, the summer vacation comes as a refreshing break. India is a melting pot of cultures and religions. There are over a hundred dance forms and many music schools yet how many opt for arts as a career? It is not the passion we are lacking but the encouragement.

Parents are not receptive to careers which do not fall into the norms. Many schools do not encourage it either. If you are in 9th – 12th grade, you do not have any more ‘time’ for extracurricular activities. Hence, summer is the season we play, dance, sing, and enjoy to the fullest. We seize the day, celebrating until school starts again.

Monsoon The rain was coming down in buckets, and I had to go to school. I trudged through the rain with an umbrella to my bus stop. As I waited for the bus, I saw a poor girl, from a local municipal school, walking to her school without shoes. I was horrified. Here I am complaining so much about going to school, where as this girl is walking in the rain, without shoes, just to get her education.

The majority of the children in India go to municipal schools where they learn English only as a second language. They teach all subjects in the regional language. This proves to be a major setback to these children as getting a job later on becomes tough. After high school, they still do not learn many of the life skills that are needed for a better job and they end up being farmers, masons, drivers, and house cleaners.

Winter Winter is the season of festivals. We remember all that we are thankful for. For me, one of the things I am thankful for is that I live in a secular country. We celebrate so many different festivals, Diwali, Id, Christmas, New Year…

...Life in India, as an adolescent, may be troublesome at times, but at the end of the day, I would not want to be anywhere else. Therefore, as my 15th birthday approaches or my 14th revolution around the sun ends, I look forward to my next revolution. A new adventure. A new beginning. To dream. To Learn. Discover. Explore. LIVE.

– 14-year-old from India (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

I hate the state of laziness I’ve got myself into. I remembered the feeling that makes you want to jump off your couch and start helping people, and be a good citizen of the world, and I truly miss that. I miss how passionate I was at changing the world, and I have to admit that a while back, that notion started to sound absurd and impossible. I was thinking about myself, and my own future; what am I to do with my life? I let go of my desire to change the world. Perhaps it was because my surroundings didn’t help. I always thought that when I grow up, I’d find many opportunities to change the world by volunteering at a shelter, an orphanage, a community center. Back then, it all seemed very easy. Now, it looks harder. My community doesn’t appreciate volunteerism as it should be appreciated and I feel sorry about that. I simply wonder now, why did I let that stop me?

As a teenager who cares about the world, my dreams were that when I was old enough I’d engage myself in my society, try to change it and spread awareness about things. I always wondered why don’t people do that too? Why were there few opportunities that enabled them to do so? I thought that would never stop me, but now it seems that it’s stopping me. I feel so helpless sometimes to stop the suffering of others, but I have to remind myself that only I can change that. I can empower myself, and those around me.

I blamed my community above, and while I think part of me uses that as an excuse, the other part strongly believes that communities should offer opportunities to help others. Why not encourage people to take a step? I am sure many will come forward, just because it is possible for them to give a hand. Unfortunately our communities are concerned with blaming governments, complaining of the current “situation”, and are surprised life isn’t getting better for them. How will it ever change if we don’t change it? I see people around me waiting for that change, but why wait when we can start that change, make that change and be that change!

The world isn’t simply the way we see it, our vision may be blind or even blurry. We need to look closely, and motivate ourselves to aspire to change the world, make it better for ourselves, our families, and friends let’s care enough to look closer, and search for hidden opportunities that allow us to bring hope to others.

– 19-year-old from Oman

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

“Each of us have the task of learning how to give without expecting anything in return, to help without a specific purpose and not to think individualistically, but to care about others, to stop being in a material world and be in one filled with love. We need to think that what makes us rich is not the power or the material possessions, but the true riches that are inside us, and nobody can deprive us of them.”

– 14-year-old from Mexico (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This essay describes what I see and what I understand when I look at the reality of my people. My heart can’t help but be sad for the land and rivers that are dying slowly. When was it that my brothers began to be afraid to live like Indians? Could it be that the teasing was stronger than the resistance? Could it be that we are the weakest point of a struggle for survival which soon will have lasted five hundred and eighteen years?

I hope that resistance will continue and be the same as my father received from my grandfather, and my grandfather from his father – a flame more than a resistance with arms symbolizes the fact of wanting to have our culture, of wanting our lifestyle preserved and respected, of wanting that our territory is not invaded by corporations that destroy the harmony that we have preserved.

Today I am proud of myself for being able to study in a state university in my country and being one of the first indigenous in my group to have access to higher education, but, do you want to know why I am one of the few? Well, it all started at the school in my village; let me tell beforehand that the Costa Rican education is by no means of quality and the one received by indigenous communities is far from it. The reason is that when it comes to the classes that are given there is no equity to try to preserve our existence as peoples: indigenous culture and mother tongue. In these classes the teachers of these subjects are forced to give lessons in the oldest classroom of the school or under a tree, this is the reality.

Sometimes I feel sad for them; we have been denied the right to almost everything. To have been born indigenous in this country, in which the shade of the skin matters, is the reality. If here there were peace and equality the children of my people would have the same opportunities of access to technology as the children of other regions of the country. If peace existed in Costa Rica, the indigenous territory would be respected, and if there were a real interest in indigenous needs in Costa Rica, I wouldn’t be one of the few indigenous who writes a document like this, with the intention that it be read and be heard.

They impose on us more and try to make us forget our language, make us ashamed of who we are, of how we live, of how we think. But they will not succeed if they don’t steal the dreams and the will to be a Terraba native.

– 17-year-old from Costa Rica (male)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

Beauty in today’s society is identified as “flawless” facial features and “perfect” bodies. Teens are faced with many challenges about their self-image with all the attention the media places on that matter; this kind of attention can also lead to low self-esteem, which is one of the causes of eating disorders and depression in young adults. I’ve personally witnessed the difference that the media creates in teenagers’ lives; some of my classmates suffered low self-esteem due to their weight or facial features. I believe that the media should bring out the real beauty in girls instead of displaying unrealistic beauty that has been altered with today’s technology.

Media plays a huge role in society nowadays, which affects the way we think of ourselves. It’s hard to believe that it also makes our choices for us because of the way we think, especially with technology improving, there is no way to avoid the media.

Today, body-image is based on the standards that the media sets for people. The focus it places on physical attractiveness and unrealistic body shapes can cause the average teenager to have low self-esteem because they believe that they should weigh or look the same way as the models that appear in most ads. We can start a campaign that helps girls feel beautiful in their own skin and shows them what goes on behind the scenes of photo shoots and advertisements.

– 16-year-old from Jordan

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

I’m confused, and I’m only 16 years old. I don’t know how to soothe or comfort my counterpart, my cousin who has lost her best friend lately. I don’t know what to do or what to say in case I would smash my cousin’s heart again. All I can tell her is, ‘Sis, she hasn’t really gone with wind. She has become your angel and you should feel happy for her because she’s got rid of hardship and everything she wasn’t willing to bear…’ but I know, it’s not true...

Because of the heavy burden of the study and the stress from her family, my cousin’s best friend ended her young and promising life by throwing herself into the wind from the top of the building at the age of 17… Those adolescent-commit suicide things are no longer fresh to me, a high school student in China, but I was still quite shocked when I learned this. What a small world! The instant I heard the news, I reckoned this must have broken my sweetest cousin’s heart…

Because of the overwhelming and tough schoolwork or complicated relationships, some teens of my age or even younger, choose to relieve themselves by ending their life so young! Even myself, I have to admit that when sometimes I was choked by my stressful life, the idea of committing suicide would pop into my mind…

Some of you would judge these things as bizarre teenagers’ emotional or psychological problem, but what if these are not just popular among some students, but almost the whole students?

In my country, if you can be accepted by a key university, that’s when your happy life starts. I was raised under this kind of concept. My country has put much great emphasis on elementary education. And so my harsh life and nightmares have been unavoidable.

In my country, there is no ‘Lower grade, happier life’ thing. Even the pupils in primary schools, they also have tough questions which are a little beyond their ability. Then the consequence is they have no time to spare for their own hobbies. Children need to play! Naive childhood and teenage should be full of laughter, passion, ambition, and confidence. They are precious times. College time should make us to taste the hardship of life and the cruelness of ‘Fittest survive’. Children and adolescents do need some difficulties, but too much hardship of life would only make them consider life is horrible and make them cynical.

I know the competition in the society is fierce, the stress and unhappiness is intolerable but unavoidable. Let the adults and the capable ones face these, not our children and adolescents! We have our own problems, but definitely not these! We should care about our study, but when it’s related to future jobs or important life turning-points, it’s overdone. Marks cannot decide your life!

I’m not trying to be sarcastic; I’m just trying to call for an easy and happy life for ourselves before we face the true hard life in front of us. For my cousin’s friend’s sake and for every young and promising life’s sake, please, relieve us and we deserve an easy and happy life!

– 16-year-old from China (male)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

I had a nice life, and I’d never heard of any type of violent crime taking place in my hometown. For me, violence would only be found miles away in Mexico City. At least that’s what national television showed me. Nevertheless, once I started growing up and reading local newspapers, I realized that something was wrong.

I don’t really know when it started, but for more than three years ago, Tijuana has been covered by a wave of violent crimes that are related to drug trafficking. Kidnappings, torturous murders, shootings in public places, persecutions, threats, army’s intromission, innocent lives taken away, it all has become part of the place I used to call home.

While some are scared to death and avoid going out, especially during night, other habitants say they don’t really care about Tijuana’s violence since “it’s an issue between gangsters.” Apparently, those people have never listened about shootings taking place inside of hospitals or outside schools, including kindergartens. There is a difference between being indifferent and being ignorant. I was ignorant. I thought Tijuana was a peaceful city and that all the things said by the media were exaggerations. Nevertheless, once you are informed that a neighbor was shot while in a park, or that one of your closest friends lost his father who was a policeman, or even when you listen to the story of a girl who’s been involved in the drug trafficking world all her life, that makes you think.

One of the things I’ve learned is that when people get used to violence, they just end up accepting it. The society has lost faith in its representatives which keeps some people from voting. That is, people do not expect change anymore.

In my opinion, Tijuana lacks people eager for a different reality. I believe that if someone has the voice and the courage, the rest will listen to him. Unfortunately, drug trafficking is too powerful that it actually silences people. This is logical in a society that doesn’t rely on their representatives.

People always blame the government when things go wrong. But what are people doing besides complaining and crossing their arms? I don’t believe that talking about how good the old times were will change the present or the future.

– 17-year-old from Mexico (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

Racial discrimination consists of any distinction arising from a person’s origin or a person’s specific nationality, ethnic background or religion.

I belong to this great Peul community that has lived in Senegal for many years. Aboriginal populations routinely or occasionally call us NDRINGS. This nickname, which is a racist one, is getting more and more popular because the number of Peuls coming to Senegal is increasing. Each time I hear this word and the way it is pronounced I am deeply hurt and powerless, because the more you forbid people from giving you this name the more they do it and laugh at you.

Youth is one of the major drivers of a continent’s development and at this time when people talk about African unity we must go beyond these superiority ideals to promote panafricanism. I mentioned youth because it is at this level that the problem lies. Personally, I have managed to get the respect of my classmates by accepting myself as I am but also by proving to them that I can do amazing things and succeed like they can and even better. Senegal is a country of hospitality and peace. It must keep giving an example by rejecting this discrimination, because everybody is entitled to travel and live freely, wherever they want, as a result of our common humanity.

– 15-year-old from Senegal (male)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

“We all come from different backgrounds, we are different religions but all these things UNITE us. Today’s world is a challenge for everyone. But if we’re together, we’ll unite the world in peace and equality. We’ll do it successfully. I believe that all men are equal on the Earth. I believe that every man has a right to have a good life.

LET’S IMPROVE THE WORLD TOGETHER!”

– 15-year-old from the Russian Federation (female)

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.

This entry is part of a series of essays and messages from the publication "Adolescence - Beyond the Stereotypes" - written, compiled and edited by adolescents and young people themselves with support from Voices of Youth and UNICEF.