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An Ally’s Guide to Coming Out- Happy International Coming Out Day!
International Coming Out Day is on Monday, October 11th, meaning You're going to, if you haven't already, be faced with at least one person coming out to you. And when faced with someone putting so much trust in you, it's crucial that you react in an appropriate way, one that makes them feel safe, well-received, and loved. when someone comes out to you, they are revealing a huge part of their identity to you; through this, you can understand so much more about the person and grow closer to them. However, coming out will only be beneficial for both parties if you, the receiver of new...
Speak a little louder
What does it mean to be a girl? Growing up, I never thought about what it meant to be girl. Was I naive to believe that it didn’t matter, ignorant to think that as my world expanded beyond my own community it would never stand in my way? No–– I may not have always been sure of myself, but I was sure of the fact that I had as much as a right to do whatever the guy to my left was doing. If that meant I had to speak a little louder, work a little harder, and try a little more, then so be it. Nearly eighteen years later, I now know what the world wants me to believe being a girl means–– that I am...
Child rights
I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for children forced into labor and what they have to go through. Child labor is such a hard and dangerous lifestyle that no child should have to experience. I can't imagine being out on the streets selling merchandise instead of being in school learning. Many of these kids don't have any other choice. They have to be out on the streets so they can take care of their families and provide for themselves. This must be very hard for them because I don't think any child would want to waste their childhood cleaning cars, shoes, windows or doing almost...
Advocate Ziedullo Atakuziev from Kyrgyzstan finds strength in his disability
Reporting live from Côte d'Ivoire, children's rights activist Jessica Gnamien
Advocate Viktoria Kravetz from Ukraine is betting on the power of youth
MC Soffia, the Brazilian rapper fighting racism with her lyrics
The Agony of Poverty
Poverty— seven letters that affect the lives of thousands of people especially in my country, the Philippines. As our car was stopped because of traffic in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, children began to flock in front of our car. They started dancing for money that the passengers would give. Some motorists would share but that does not mean that those coins are enough for living. Now, I started asking myself many things. Do they eat thrice a day? Do they study? Why do they dance and beg for money when they should be attending schools, learning to read and write? Why are they amid...
A proud black woman
I am a proud black woman Every inch, color, curve of my body is something I learned to accept Something I once questioned while looking at myself in the mirror I am a proud black woman Even though I get paid less than my white cousin And my choice in clothing is frowned upon I am a proud black woman Even though my "missing dad" is seen more as a statistic than a cry for help I am required to push through because of the color of my skin Or else I'm seen as weak I am a proud black woman Throughout the braided hair The urban dance The "cool" swag You see they want to be us until they have to be...
A Girls Sacrifice
Did you know that there are around 800 million girls and women who menstruate every day(1)? Many of us don’t face any issues when menstruating and we can continue with our day to day tasks, at ease. Sadly, that is not the reality many girls face every month. Many girls worldwide do not have access to sanitary products, menstrual education, adequate sanitary conditions (e.g: separate toilets) and the ability to manage their period waste probably. This is known as period poverty, an issue that needs to be noticed and acted upon! Girls make huge sacrifices with significant impacts on their daily...
The Peace Tree
There is a tree that symbolizes peace but its upside down Like one's world that evolves around lies and misleads. Everyone wants a world with peace Where I can play with you and you can play with me Without running from bullets or being shot dead in the street. Go back into history where we were actually human Wondering why the world is so cold and mean. Maybe if we just come as one in unity there will finally be peace.
A message to the world from Lucky
Against racism
"I am" I replied: "I am you in another body! Yes, it is true, Look how much the same we are, No matter what, The color The creed The race The status Look, I am born and die Suffer and enjoy Love and hate, just Like you! I am a father, a brother, a son, A mother, a sister, a daughter, just Like you, Happiness I seek, family to raise I wish, Peace to find I look for, just Like you. I yearn I abhor I fear I hope I bleed I heal, just Like you. I believe I doubt I accept I refuse I laugh I cry, just Like you. We are alike We are the same We are brothers, children of A unique father Tell me, My...
IMPORTANCE OF CHILD RIGHT TO THE WORLD
Samuel Olomu Child rights are fundamental freedoms and the inherent right of all human beings below the age of 18. This right applies to all children, irrespective of the background, race, color, parents/guardian, creed and gender. Children are innocent and of full hope. Children are trustworthy, naïve and hopeful. Their childhood should be filled with joy and love. To some children life is blissful because they live with joy. But for many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different. Children have the same right as adults in the society. Children are neither the property of...
A Message to Celebrate Youth
Children are the hope of the future, they say Embracing the world with what we have today Lack of food, poor security, climate change Endangered animals are their destined fate Being brave is like a pass that the youth gets Reassured, as their age beats all assets. Age gives the advantage of time for chances To choose a life worth living; to help, to love. Enjoy! Eat out, laugh hard, don't regret. Yawn when sleepy. Yell when upset. Open your mind and know what you want. Use youth for something significant. The world will await for you Hearten others and be true. A Message to my Fellow Youth.
Citizens’ Assembly: A Tool to Fight Corruption in Panama
Democratic systems tend to reflect that they are all about freedom and “letting the citizens choose”, but are they really? Many democracies hide behind fact that citizens are able to elect their own leaders, hence they are able to decide what happens with their country, but really their vote has little to do with the decision-making that goes down behind closed doors. In Panama, economic development has boomed during the last decades, making it the most modern country in Central America, but its government’s corruption and the lack of political involvement from civilians have created a never...
She sleeps...
She sleeps on a mattress A little girl.Bony, hungry eyes. A few tattered books lie beside her, Where children are pictured on comfy beds. She sleeps on the old worn out thing... Every night she tosses and turns. Cold draughts blow across making her shiver Tiredness is her lullaby Lying on the mattress, Her mother walking by seems giant The walls tower over her... She feels dreadfully small Other girls talk about jumping up and down on their beds. It sounds fun. She may never know. Sweet girl, poor girl. Darkness hides her silent tears
The Power of the Youth Voice
In a global society, the youth and their older counterparts often operate in silos. The old guard grinds the wheels of power, relying on the wisdom of time, while young people are forced to wait patiently beneath them, accumulating the experience necessary to assume their place. This arrangement is not the fault of any individual, nor either generation. It is merely a consequence of the inexorable march of time. As the years march on, the old guard molds the world, despite the fact that young people will one day inherit it. The future they construct is not the consequence of that inexorable...