Have you thought about your greatest wish for every child? It’s something we think a lot about in the Global Moms Challenge community, and there is no better time like the present to focus on children. According to UNICEF, more than 50 million children worldwide have been displaced due to conflict, poverty and climate change. A staggering 263 million children are out of school around the globe. Last year alone, nearly 6 million children under the age of 5 died from mostly preventable diseases.
I think about the rights of my children, and of all children, often. As a mother, I take the responsibility of parenthood very seriously and understand fully that it’s my role to protect my children as much as I can, ensure that they get a good education and have access to healthcare and adequate standard of living. What I want for them in their lifetime, is a loving and kind upbringing, but one that is also safe. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child recognized these rights for children and it’s important to make sure these are upheld. Our partner, UNICEF does, too.
To celebrate the treaty’s 70th anniversary this year, UNICEF challenged more than 200 authors from around the world to each compose a tiny story, just seven lines long, addressing the theme, “What I want for every child”—including well known writers such as Paulo Coelho, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Christina Lamb, and Nuruddin Farah.
The Tiny Stories campaign comes at a time when threats to children’s rights are only intensifying. Each story is full of hope, survival and depict the inequalities children face in compelling ways. Below, just two of these exquisite stories – go to www.unicef.org/tinystories to read each and every one.
I want every child to go to sleep well-fed
And not worry about the next meal
Or the next.
I want every child to have primary healthcare.
I want every child to be protected by adults
And to take for granted the kindness of adults
And never to be treated like adults.
My dream for every child
My dream for every child is for them to want to dream to achieve the talent they are good at.
And I wish every child can go to school because education is important.
And I wish for every child a peaceful home, and when a child is sick I wish a person can take care of him/her.
And I wish every child can have fun with no wars and that all the children who don’t have blankets, socks, jerseys could keep warm.
And I wish every child who wants to write a book does not go off-track.
And I wish every child can feel safe at home and outdoors, and I don’t want anyone to be harmed.
And I want every child to inspire others with their talents and to be themselves without showing off.
Take Action Challenge
- Read more of the beautiful Tiny Stories campaign here.
- What do you want for the world’s children? Tell your story! Share stories from the Tiny Stories campaign that inspire you, and join by sharing your own tiny story on Facebook, using the hashtag #foreverychild.