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Muzoon Almellehan: "In the middle of the darkness, learning gives you light"
"How am I supposed to vote if I don't even know what I'm voting for?"
"How am I supposed to vote if I don't even know what I'm voting for?" This is what an 18-year-old friend of mine answered when I asked if she was going to vote for the EU Parliament. Having studied law since my freshman year in high school I had never faced the challenge of studying and understanding the complexity of the Italian politic system, so you can imagine my surprise in hearing those words. I had never thought of how hard the choice between political parties could be when you don't know what a political party is or does. And just like me, most governments in the world seem to be...
Making schools healthier for our children
From fall through spring, school is a full-time job for most children in the U.S. Every day, kids wake up early and get ready for school, rarely realizing that they are preparing to be the next generation that will write our laws and run our businesses — hopefully with an eye toward ultimately improving the environment for the better. With so much relying on how students do while attending school, you might expect the investment into school safety standards to be high. Unfortunately, not all schools offer students the same opportunities for a successful education. In order for children to be...
Thank you
Teachers and counselors are so important. My home life was pretty dysfunctional and at times violent and abusive for most of the time I was in elementary to high school. It was pretty scary and severely damaged my mental health. But school was the one place besides some friends and church, that I felt safe. It was the one place I could go to every day (albiet too early in the morning) that I didn't have to take care of everything. Where hopefully, the adults were obligated to act at least somewhat adult like. They were there for us. There was a structure. They wanted us to learn and some of...
There is something we can do
As a kid I was bullied. For a good few years. Sometimes it was because of my haircuts, sometimes about my glasses, but most of the time only because they were bored. For years I would find flaws in me and excuse people for their bullying...thinking somehow I deserved it. But as I changed, their behaviour didn't and I stopped blaming myself. I actually started to realise it wasn't about me. It was about them. But that period of time left a few marks that I try very hard to erase. It left a shattered self-confidence. It hurt even worse when female students were part of the bullying. Something I...
How to get involved with UNICEF through your communities (Part 1/3)
Hello Voices of Youth! Did you know you are part of a global network of more than 180 countries? As members of Voices of Youth, we have a way to relay messages, dreams, conversations, and dialogues with peers around the world. In 1995, Voices of Youth began as way to relay messages from children in 81 countries to world leaders at the World Summit for Social Development. Today in 2019, it is so much more. Recently, I chatted with a delegate from UNICEF USA's National Council (the High School and Campus Initiative), who had no idea that this platform was available, connecting young people from...
How to get involved with UNICEF through your communities (Part 2/3)
As supporters of UNICEF, we have access to incredible resources at our fingertips. Below are a few action items that everyone can explore to get more involved with UNICEF in his or her community. Like you, I am just a regular citizen with an Internet connection, a passion for UNICEF's lifesaving work, and a commitment to support the cause. WHAT YOU CAN DO Beyond the cross-pollination and exchange of ideas online, there are many ways to get involved with UNICEF on the ground, no matter where you live: Learn First, you can read the organization's annual flagship publication, The State of the...
How to get involved with UNICEF through your communities (Part 3/3)
As supporters of UNICEF, we have access to incredible resources at our fingertips. Below are a few action items that everyone can explore to get more involved with UNICEF in his or her community. Like you, I am just a regular citizen with an Internet connection, a passion for UNICEF's lifesaving work, and a commitment to support the cause. WHAT YOU CAN DO (continued from Part 2 here) Beyond the cross-pollination and exchange of ideas online, there are many ways to get involved with UNICEF on the ground, no matter where you live: Fundraise Many UNICEF nations offer the opportunity to join an...
Bullying: 4 years later #EndViolence
4 years later, and I still believe that "Bullying is not LOL" and if you see it, you can stop it. When I was in high school, I was bullied, and it took me so much strength to get out of this cycle. Then I joined university to see that cycle repeats itself. It's like you spent your whole life building yourself, and then someone has the power to destroy this in one minute, in one sentence and one word. I have to admit that I was naive to believe that once high school was over, it would get better. But it didn't. And it probably won't. We may sometimes think that bullying among adults or in...
My experience at Ocean Heroes Bootcamp 2019
I live on Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. Growing up surrounded by natural beauty, I realized how important ocean conservation really is. I was happy to be at this year's Ocean Heroes Bootcamp to collaborate and connect with other youth activists to learn what they are doing to protect the ocean and their local communities. The bootcamp empowers existing and emerging youth leaders to create their own campaigns to take action against ocean plastic pollution. It was so exciting to learn about ocean conservation with other young people who are just as passionate as me. In...
Why we should support girls' education
How can summer schools help atypical learners?
Did my grandfather and I attend the same school?
Tanzania: The land of opportunities
Born on April 1964, United Republic of Tanzania is the country located in East Africa. With more than 58.1 million people who constitute around 130 tribes, Tanzania has managed to remain in peace and united for 55 years. Peaceful conditions in Tanzania has made it to become one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa with a GDP increase by 6.8 % in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 5% increase in the same period in 2017. Peaceful conditions in Tanzania have contributed to a poverty rate decline from 34.4% in 2007 to 26.8% in 2016 In 2015 Tanzania had a free and fair election which...
The situation of teachers in Turkey
Hello everyone, I'm İdil and I live in Turkey. In my country I believe education is the most needed thing and there are a lot of campaigns to improve education. There are more than 3 three organizations which help girls’ education, there are organizations for the children who have lost their parents, there are also community centres which educate the public. A lot of people dedicate themselves to teach people and change the society in to a better way. I am really proud of these people; but there is a thing that I am not proud of (which is a shame for such a country with great citizens): the...
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...
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...