We talk a great deal about how important it is to hear the voices of children, but can they actually have an influence on political changes?
Here are just a few.
Greta Thunberg:
I think we only have to look at youngsters such as Greta Thunberg, to see how they can awaken the world. I suspect everyone knows who she is and what she is an advocate for. She is focussing on the most important thing humanity has ever faced, hers and all of her generations future.
She says, we can all make a difference, indeed we have to.
Malala Yousafzai:
As a result of being educated in her Father’s school,something that was not available to most young girls in Pakistan under the Taliban regime, she became a target and was very badly shot on her way to school. He determination to survive enabled her to fight for the rights of girls to have an education. July 12th is now Malala day, after she addressed the UN on education being a human right.
She became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Jaylen Arnold:
Jaylen was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome, OCD and Asperger’s and sadly was badly bullied in school. He advocates for Bullying Prevention in the US. IN 2014 he was named World of Children honoree.
Marley Dias:
When she was 11 she became aware that there were few books were culturally diverse, so she started a campaign on Twitter #1000BlackGirlBooks to collect and donate books that would allow Black grils to be seen.
She donated more than 9,000 books.
“I’m working to create a space where it feels easy to include and imagine Black girls and make Black girls like me the main characters of our lives.”
Nicholas Lowinger:
Nicholas set up a community service for people to donate shoes for the children who are homeless, Gotta Have Soul.
Over 100,000 pairs of shoes have been donate to the Shelters across the US.
Sophie Cruz:
Sophie wrote a letter to Pope Francis she wrote, “I have a right to live with my parents. I have a right to be happy… Immigrants just like my dad feed this country. They deserve to live with dignity. They deserve to live with respect. They deserve an immigration reform.”
She is now an advocate on Immigration Rights.
Jasilyn Charger:
Jasilyn grew up in South Dakota and became aware of the mental issues suffered by teenagers who are part of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, so she founded the One Mind Youth Movement, to give support and resources to help.
She didn’t stop there she then set up the International Indigenous Youth Council, a space for young people to come together as leaders addressing their specific needs and having their voices heard.
Orion Jean:
Orion was only 11 when he founded the Race to Kindness. A 100k race event provided 100,000 free meals, he was named as Times Kid of the Year.
The organisation now donates books in the Race to 500k books.
Param Jaggi:
Param is an inventor, he invented a device that can convert carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles into oxygen.
He has a passion for the environment.
Abigail Lupi:
When Abigail was visiting her grandmother in a nursing home, she was aware how isolating and lonely that environment can be for some residents.
She set up CareGirlz, and she matches up volunteers and residents, to make them feel less alone.
She says, “I like to brighten up people’s days and help them have a fun time,if I do my best, they’ll have a smile on their faces by the end.”
(I think we can all learn something from that last sentence alone.)
This is just a small sample of trailblazing young people.
I find these stories inspirational, and it shows that children do have voice and can influence so many things, not least they can and do put pressure on political leaders.
They raise awareness over so many vital issues, that directly affect their generation.
It is the children and their voices who can alter the way we deal with unjustified estrangements.
They are the ones who find themselves in the middle of adult behaviour, that can have a long lasting impact on their lives and family relationships.
One estranged grandchild said,
“In 2013 I ran away, to my grandparents who were very supportive helping me through my exams. During the 3 years of me not being able to see them, I had constant contact without my mother knowing, seeing them on a nearly every day basis!”
We always say out of the mouths of babes, and in this statement the P.S is very powerful.
“ The experiences that I shared with my grandparents each summer are the most memorable, looking back through the photos. From early morning walks to evening games, I absolutely adored spending time with my grandparents. However, things changed when I was 9 . When my parents’ relationship became a bit rocky. I’ll spare you the details because I don’t like to think of it myself…My grandmother still sends letters and occasionally we speak on the phone…I do miss them very much, and hope that someday I will be able to go visit them again, and share more wonderful memories with them. P.S. It’s not just hard on the grandparents, it’s hard on the grandchildren too.”
We know that denying contact with a caring and loving grandparent has life long effects as shown in this email.
“My parents separated when I was 6. I have wonderful childhood memories of my paternal grandparents, they were fun and had so much to offer.
For whatever reason though, things went sour. The last time I saw my paternal grandparents I was 11. My grandmother died a year later..
We were not allowed to go to her funeral.
I remember my grandfather tried the legal route, and as is the case now, I believe found he had no rights whatsoever.
My grandfather died when I was 17, again we were not allowed to attend the funeral. I remember asking my mum if I could see him before he died.
I was not allowed.
I love my mum to pieces, and maybe she had her reasons for the decisions she made, but I never knew what those reasons were.
I implore the parents of any child to think again if wishing to distance their children from loving grandparents . It is not only the grandparents that suffer, but also the child.
As parents, they have absolute power over who the child will see. As a child you are powerless to insist that you see your grandparents, however much you may love them and want to see them.
These feelings have stayed with me all my life, and I’m sure they always will. I feel a sense of deep loss, guilt and regret. I truly hope that my grandparents still knew of our love for them, and that we were powerless to do anything. The scars run deep.”
For decades there have been many good people advocating changes to no avail, maybe it is time for the grandchildren to take control.
For grandchildren to raise their voices and to stand up for their rights, a right to know about their family history, to have their identity respected, a right to that special relationship with their extended family.
Children are the future, and some of that future is in their hands.
