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What we want from our leaders
The Easter bombings: Breaking the cycle of violence
You wouldn’t believe how light a bomb feels in the cradle of your own arms. I remember the warm yellow sand of Batticaloa beaches, pillowy grains sifting between the grooves of my size two feet. Seaweed lined the shore in slimy patches that we tiptoed around, searching for shells hidden among the green carpet. A brisk wind bounced along the rolling tide, and yet all we could feel were the steady waves of the sun beating down on our backs. With a toothy grin and an oversized cap perched on my head, I posed for a photo, brandishing in my arms a landmine the size of my head. That day, we...
Can we start the change?
"Refugees are still people"
Omar Osman does not like to brag. After living in a Kenyan refugee camp for 19 years, he came to the United States to attend Central Washington University in 2015. After just a year, he ran for class president--and won. “Students at my school were shocked that I, a refugee, could become class president.” But according to Omar, what “I did was not that extraordinary.” Omar, though, is not giving himself the credit he deserves. Indeed, what he has done, despite the barriers and challenges he has faced, is truly remarkable. Although he received only sporadic formal education as a child, for...
The story of a lynching: A wake up call to protect tribal rights in India
In February 2018, Madhu, an Adivasi tribal youth from the South Indian state of Kerala, was brutally attacked and lynched by a mob that accused him of stealing rice. The assailants then clicked photographs with the injured man whose hands were tied up, after which he was beaten to death. In light of this incident, the Kerala High Court initiated suo moto proceedings. The report of the amicus curiae paints a grim and contrasting picture in a state that boasts of the highest literacy rate and produces exceptional human development figures. It highlights the inherent defects in the channelization...
A Special Right
I am trying to look for something… Do you know where I can find it? Will I find it in a huge school building? Or in a big brick house? If you know, then please help me out, for I have searched all around! Can I find it in books to study? Or in fancy clothes to wear? Oh, it leaves me in so much despair! I’ll beat the drums in my little slum… …and all my friends will come running… …to find what it is, that we have been missing! I will look for it in my small school building, and in my warm and tiny hut. I will look for it in the scrap of paper and in the broken pen, which will write my future… I...
The future of legal education lies in our hands
When I visualise the status quo, I see a legal education system that holds a world of possibilities waiting to be explored. As I sit and listen intently to my professor lecturing us on the fundamental rights enshrined under Part III of our Constitution, my mind wanders. I cannot help but think about countless students just like me, who have never come across these rights; students who do not have the privilege to have an education of their choice. I believe that the problems that face our legal education system today, can be classified into ‘urban’ and ‘non-urban’ problems. When late Professor...
Preparing for college as a first generation student
Heading off to college is an exciting adventure, and the more prepared you are for college, the easier that transition to school will be. If it’s your first time going to college or you’re the first in your family to go to college, you may not know what to expect. Sometimes this can impact your success in school. Data by the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that first-generation students have a tendency to graduate at lower rates than their peers with parents who earned a four-year college degree. Experts agree that the reasons for this are twofold: social and economic. "Many...
A glance into a Batey through love
A Batey is a community home to sugarcane workers in the Dominican Republic, mostly migrant Haitians. I arrived into Batey Monte Coca knowing little of what I would encounter, nevertheless I can say that from the moment I stepped foot into the Batey I felt loved and welcomed. The Bateyes are the poorest regions in the island, where sugarcane workers are practically exploited. They work long hours under the sun and receive an extremely low pay. The conditions in which they live and work in are inhumane. However, they always have a smile on their faces, they sing and dance through life and are...
I use spoken word to give voice to the voiceless
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...
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...
Every human being should be treated equally according to their human rights
Zero tolerance to FGM - how youth are making a difference
The fight against FGM in Djibouti has existed for many years. The commitment of the authorities and civil society means that today the rate of girls aged 5-9 who endure excision is 37.7% (PAPFAM 2012). A law prohibiting the practice of female genital mutilation also exists but its application remains difficult, particularly in rural areas. As young people we are in front of a practice deeply rooted in mentalities for generations, and this is where community involvement becomes crucial. It’s not our mothers fight only… Many say that the battle against female genital mutilation is a matter of...
As youths lets be the change we want to see
The fourth industrial revolution is unfolding before our eyes, forever changing the way we connect and interact in this hyper information era. At the same time, we are living in a world faced with huge social challenges for young people. As per the Human Development Report 2019, the world reached a historic milestone with 7.7 billion people, 1.8 billion of which are youth aged 10 to 24. Of this young population, 90 percent live in developing countries. This generation, the most interconnected generation ever, continues to grow rapidly, and the challenges they face are ever more daunting I am...
What does the CRC30 mean for children and adolescents in Djibouti?
The Government of Djibouti ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, its two optional protocols in 2011, as well as, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in (2009) all without reservations. The country has thus committed to protect children’s rights and to work towards providing all children with the opportunities to fulfill their rights. Since then Djibouti has made tremendous progress in advancing children’s and women’s rights. The was established in July 1981 and this year it turns 38 years as the Convention on the Rights of Children turns 30 years...
I advocate to put smiles on the faces of children
The power of words
Can you imagine a world without words? It would be chaos. Many times we take them for granted, just as a way of communicating what we want or need. And they actually do that, but at the same time they do something bigger. Words are powerful. Whether you write or speak them, they do have an impact on you and the others. They express feelings and share knowledge. They can change someones mood completely and ignite a spark in them. That´s why writing is an extraordinary experience. It´s not just jotting down symbols that form words, it’s a way of expressing what you feel or think. Hence why you...
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...