Children say the strangest things sometimes, but a recent World Children’s Day Survey revealed what their priority would be if they were the Head of the United Nations and their answers were really wise. The respondents were comprised of 2,639 children aged between 11 and 13 years old from all across the country.
Of course, it’s food related. A Children4Change survey released in conjunction with World Children’s Day showed that over 76% of students said they would ensure that every child has affordable and healthy food if they headed the United Nations.
“We always say ‘children are the future’, but we must remember that they are also the present – and that means they have the stake in the world today” said Marianne Clark-Hattingh, UNICEF Representative in Malaysia. “The 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is an opportunity for us to reflect on the situation of children’s rights in Malaysia, as we progress towards the implementation of Agenda 2030. Children are agents of change, and we must provide them the space and opportunity to actively participate in building a better and more inclusive world for themselves and their communities.”
The survey also found that 75% of the children surveyed said they would ensure quality education for all kids, while another 73% said they wanted world peace. One pretty surprising result was how the least popular priority was for every child to have a phone and internet access! Given this day and age, that is a rather astounding finding.
When asked which famous living person they would invite to their birthday, 7% of the children said they wanted Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad there. What better than cake and children to keep one youthful, right? One heartwarming finding was that 83% of children believed that being kind and respectful to one another regardless of race, religion, sex or disability will help achieve the world they want to live in. Growing up, we tend to forget all this, or fail to practice it. Seeing children holding firm in this belief is something to appreciate.
Maybe we really should let the kids take over as Head of The United Nations!
By: Celestine Foo
