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Back to School with UNICEF
Do you like staying active? Do you enjoy making an impact? In the spirit of back-to-school, UNICEF Kid Power is a timely and year-round campaign from UNICEF that combines both into a single campaign. Below are some common questions that can help you get started, even if you're sitting in a classroom or stuck at home on a rainy day. Q: So what is UNICEF Kid Power? A: Formerly known as TeachUNICEF, UNICEF Kid Power is a highly accessible, super inclusive campaign that anyone can plug into for the fantastic price of free! Using short videos known as "Kid Power Ups", teachers and parents can guide...
12 Things to Consider in Your 20s
Youth empowerment for a better society
Young people are the backbone of a society. Their participation in all aspects of society is very important. Unfortunately, we see many Iraqi youth being deprived of this. They have no or limited roles in decision-making processes or leadership programs at the local and national level. Isolating young people, intentionally or unintentionally, especially in rural plantation areas, can contribute to drug abuse, illegal and criminal actions, depression, migration and so on. This is happening while youth are the potential group of actors for structuring the future of Iraq. Based on a report...
Silent message!
Islands are sinking. The Amazon forest is burning. Health is turning into disease. People are raising their "standards", but where is nature going? Towards destruction! Why are we still silent? We need to stop using words and start showing our deeds. It's time to show gratitude towards nature, who gives us so much and in return we are harming them! A silent message to all people: Plant more and more trees. Show a little act of kindness by not killing living lives for no reason. Save them save earth. Save yourself. The world is a better place to live if we stop using plastic shopping bags and...
When will there be peace on Earth?
It is 6 AM in the morning, I wake up and prepare myself for a job. When listening to the morning news I learn that more than 70.8 million people are displaced by civil and interstate wars. This is really shocking me, but then I ask myself who will help to bring peace on Earth, if not me? Creation of peace on earth is a duty of all human beings. While the majority of us enjoy peaceful conditions in our countries, our joy will be completed when we can help the people who are displaced and deprived of comfortable places to sleep, study or work for an income. In many parts of the world, people...
Peace can be a reality
In a world of war, I searched for peace In a world of hate, I searched for love In a world of discrimination, I searched for acceptance In a world of racism, I searched for equality In a world of injustice, I searched for fairness But I found NONE. Then I decided I will be peace. By accepting my neighbour for who they are. Remember peace can be a reality if we do not make religion a barrier in loving my neighbour. Peace can be a reality if I am ready to put aside all differences and accept my neighbour with open arms. Peace starts with you and me. If we are not peaceful in our heart, we...
Education: My right, my fight, not a privilege.
Education for long has been either an excuse to appreciate someone for their achievements or something annoying to a few. But who decides who will have access to education and who will not? In the modern world, we are facing copious crises and scarcity of quality education is just one of many. I have had the privilege of receiving quality education since childhood; that's what makes me confident, self-efficient and also knowledgeable. But what about those who deserve education but can't access it due to their dire conditions? My idea is to spread education, the fruit of knowledge. In Indian...
The way of the universe
It was empty but there was no empty space. Everything existed yet was still, silent - dead. This was the way of the universe. There was a spark. A traitor among them, twitched, moved- formed. An almighty shatter. Their ties broken, Their net cut, their cage lifted. And the way of the universe was irrevocably changed. The universe instantly recoiled, Completion was the one thing they longed for, circling each other, Reins of force pulled by a desperate universe, loosened. Matter violently jerked into existence, Yet they were still unsatisfied, For this was the way of the universe, Overcoming...
This Dreadful Educational Crisis
Education is a powerful tool and the antidote to a flourishing nation. Education has empowered minds and taken individuals to beautiful destinations. Each and every individual, regardless of beliefs, socio-economic status, race, sex, gender etc. is worthy of the gift of Knowledge, for which the currency is Education. This world has witnessed a delightful rise in the literacy rate and the enrollment of children and young people in school and higher education. This change was much desired and very welcome indeed for developing countries like mine, Bangladesh, in South Asia and beyond, where...
Culture and my survival as a young woman
Growing up I have always been told I should conform to culture, practices, norms and beliefs. Growing up I have always asked the questions "Why is culture mostly applied to women and not men?" "Why does it affect women more?" "Why does culture favour men and not women?" "Why not both sexes?" Reality sinks in on how women are subjected to cultural norms and practices that infringe on their rights and free will. On daily basis, I witness how culture places emphasis on how and why men are to be respected and not women. In The Zambian culture when a woman is about to get married, she is subjected...
#LetMeLearn It's time to stop the inequality child refugees face in education
With the Covid 19 pandemic, the education of us children has been significantly affected. Unfortunately, the schooling of refugee children who are displaced from their homes and countries is much more impacted, causing them to lose hope for tomorrow. The lucky ones try to continue their education by connecting to their teachers from their home country through their mobile phones. I observed this situation with the Ukrainian child refugees I had the opportunity to meet last June. Some try to hold on to their academic life with teachers provided by institutions such as UNICEF, as I witnessed...
The impact of Covid-19 on education worldwide
In the 21st century, no one can go far without proper education, yet so many children around this globe do not get the opportunity to get educated. Why would this still be happening even though all of us know that education is the main priority to prepare children to face this big world in the future? All I can say about this, is mention the ignorance of the governments and the community for not taking the education system seriously. Every child deserves an education, and there are plenty of ways to solve this problem. Not only the governments but the NGOs also have to be active in helping...
A Story of Kindness
You don't always need to engage with a community or club to help people. You can do it in other ways. Let me share a story. Ever since I got admitted to school, I never found my fellow classmates unsupportive. They were always there to support me unconditionally. No one ever bullied me. No one ever asked me embarrassing questions. They always extended their hands to help me – both literally and metaphorically. Without a question or hesitation, they accepted me as a part of them, so naturally. In college, I again found myself surrounded by warm and kind classmates. They stand up for me whenever...
Education for persons with disabilities
I stand tall to raise my voice as a #LetMeLearn campaign supporter, focusing on children and youth with disabilities. This group deserves unrivaled access to opportunities in the educational arena, where learning takes the centre stage. The right to education is a fundamental right as enshrined in key doctrines within my country, like the Constitution, the Persons with Disabilities Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The provisions set in these statutes grant these learners the authority to advance their education to the levels they fully...
#LetMeLearn "Look Them Up"
Technology-based learning is fun. But for a country with an unequal economy like Indonesia, it's complicated. Not all students have these opportunities. They cannot use technology wisely for their learning process. They have a tendency to use the facilities they have just for entertainment. Learning is not only about technological developments, but the most important thing is student progress. It is about how much the student can accept the given knowledge. This is also related to the increase in students' interest in learning. Don't create a system that puts too much pressure on students in...
Stop fighting for peace
Should we fight for peace? Well this is what happens in the world. Countries are trying to control the world through wars nowadays. We are trying to get peace through war. That’s the problem: This is just like throwing wood in the fire instead of water. For centuries we have been trying to get peace, but with no results. There are many examples that you could look at to understand what exactly I mean by this. If you take a look at human history you’ll see that we’ve fought many wars and many battles in the name of peace, but where has that really gotten us? It is 2017 and we still have “war...
Education is a Right not a Privilege! #LetMeLearn
Education is a basic right for everyone irrespective of their gender, caste, class, faith, socio-economic status or sexual orientation. In the post-pandemic world, many students have been deprived of their right to study. A transformative change can only come through inclusive, youth oriented policy measures and effective skills-based training, so that the young generation can create an impact in the global society with their innovation, creativity and willingness to change. Global leaders need to come together to ensure quality education for all, and all of us need to ensure we uplift each...
Before it's too late: Ubud tourism
In recent years, Ubud, the cultural hub of Bali has been flooded with foreigners looking to find themselves or perhaps just visiting for the day. Ubud used to be known as the place of art, scenery, and culture. Today, it is more known to be a place for yoga, vegans and Instagram bucket-list hotspots. Thanks to the popularity of the Hollywood movie Eat, Pray, Love and social media. Somehow it has been flooded with young travelers staying in hostels and walking around with their Bintang beers. Monkey Forest road and Pengosekan resemble streets of Kuta, having bars, cafes, and shops with brightly...
Part 3: Thinking of peace and cruelty
(This is a continuation of the Mennonite identity series) I think often about the incredible lives my grandparents had to live. I can see my features in my moms. I have a sense that faith will not leave me, even if I am the only one left. If there's one thing I would share, it's that you can be a mixture of a lot of people. My mom and I certainly are. Sometimes I feel like I'm just a pile of the broken parts, the shards of whole people. But it doesn't mean you left them. Or that they left you. Mixed paint is incredibly beautiful. That's what my mom showed me. Also I would say that Mennonitism...