The Finalists Of Int'l Children’s Peace Prize

    • rohit.david@timesgroup.com
    • Publish Date: Nov 24 2016 4:29PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Nov 25 2016 11:15AM
The Finalists Of Int'l Children’s Peace Prize

KidsRights has announced the three finalists for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2016. From a record number of 120 international entries. This year, Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2006 Muhammad Yunus will present the prize in the Hall of Knights (Ridderzaal) in international city of peace and justice The Hague on December 2nd. 


 
Divina Maloum
(12 years old, Cameroon, theme: Peace)

 
 
‘My work has given me an opportunity to live for others’

Q Why did you form I am standing up for peace movement in Cameroon?
I form I am standing up for peace movement in Cameroon because I notice that war begins in the spirit of human being and it is in the spirit of human being that war must be fight and that’s why I used that slogan to stimulate children, encourage them to consolidate, to promote culture of peace in their communities in order to be resilient to extremist speech

Q How have you rescued kids in your region?
I rescued kids in my region through sensibilisation campaign and capacities building in fight against violent extremism in order for them to not be a victim of terrorist group. 

Q What makes you stand out amongst the other nominees to win the prize?
I stand out amongst others nominees because that wonderful work gave me the opportunity to live for others, inform about 5000 children about the dangers of radicalisation.  

Q How can kids change the world?
Kids can change the world by engaging themselves in the resolution of problems of their communities. 

Q How has your movement been successful?
My movement has been successful because I realized it in the whole country.

Q What were some of the challenges you faced in the process?
During that campaign I faced some challenges such as: lack of money, lack of support, lack of visibility.

Q What do you plan to do next?
I would like to extend my campaign out of my country and defend the children’s rights of my country in United Nations.
 
 
 



Kehkashan Basu

(16 years old, UAE, theme: Environment)


‘ I stand to win this award because my work encompasses environmental conservation, the right to education for every child, a gender equal world - free of violence against girls and women and a life of dignity for all’



Q You have been campaigning to save the environment at an early age. Can you tell us about that? 

My green journey began at the age of eight, when I planted a tree on my birthday with the gift money that I had received. I have always seen my parents doing their bit for the environment and the community which had a very positive impact on me. I am born on 5th June which is World Environment Day. It was around this time  I realised that 5th June , my birthday , was celebrated globally as World Environment Day and so I felt that it was pre-ordained that I should grow up to be an eco-warrior. Thereafter, I was deeply involved in neighborhood awareness campaigns on recycling and waste management, going door to door, talking to businesses and shops urging them to reduce wastage and recycle. This led to me being chosen to represent the country at the 2011 TUNZA Children and Youth International Conference at Bandung, Indonesia, where, as an 11 year old, I spoke at the children's plenary on the role of young people in making a difference in environmental conservation. This was my first step into the global arena. Thereafter, in 2013, at the age of 12, I was elected as the Global Coordinator for UNEP's (United Nations Environment Programme) Major Group for Children and Youth, making me the youngest person in the world and the only child to hold this position.


Q Can you tell us about 'Green Hope'? What difference has it had on the society? 

In 2012, I was privileged to be invited as a delegate to the Earth Summit or the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil, where I was the youngest person to speak at a press conference. There were 50,000 delegates at this conference, mostly adults, with only a handful of children like me. The future of our planet was being discussed yet those whose future was being decided i.e. children, had hardly any say in the proceedings. I found this to be very odd and on my return from Brazil, I founded Green Hope to provide children and youth a networking platform through which they could be educated, engaged and empowered to take actions on various aspects of sustainable development. In the four years since its inception, we have reached out to thousands of young people, through our educational workshops -- which we call "environment academies”. We now have over 1000 member volunteers working in several countries. These workshops are conducted "by children - for children" thus establishing a peer-to-peer communication. We conduct beach cleanups, recycling campaigns, mangrove cleanups, mangrove planting, tree planting events (we have planted over 5000 trees across several countries), organise relief campaigns for victims of natural disasters, visit schools and universities to hold workshops on sustainable developments. We have also conducted workshops for several corporates and hotels. We constantly strive to educate and engage all sections of civil society to achieve the future we want.


Q Why is it necessary for kids to raise their voices against climate change? 

Climate change is the biggest threat to our survival. For too long we have ignored it, shrugging it off as a myth. Rising global temperatures, as a consequence of climate change, is already causing havoc. If the earth's temperatures continue rising at current rates, the polar ice caps will melt, flooding and killing millions. As children, we stand to be the most affected by climate change -- since it affects our future the most. Therefore the onus is on us to take action before it is too late. We do not want to see polar bears under palm trees.


Q You have addressed various conferences, can you share your experience with us? 

Public speaking comes naturally to me, especially on matters which I am passionate about -- the environment, children's rights and gender equality. Since 2011, I have had the privilege of speaking at over 50 international / United Nations conferences travelling to 20+ countries in the process. Addressing a press conference during Rio+20 in Brazil was a memorable experience as was being a keynote speaker at the 2015 World Bank Youth Summit in Washington DC. I have also spoken at the European Parliament on girl's rights during the 2015 European Week of Action for Girls. Every speech of mine at different conferences enables me to reach out to more and more people and rekindles "HOPE".


Q What makes you stand out amongst the other nominees to win the prize? 

All the nominees are exceptional as each one of them crusades for children's rights. My work encompasses environmental conservation, the right to education for every child, a gender equal world - free of violence against girls and women and a life of dignity for all. I try to be fearless in my approach and not be daunted by the cynicism of adults that I sometimes face. It is an honor for me to chosen as one of the nominees and is a huge motivation for me to carry on the work that I am doing.


Q What do you plan to do next? 

My current aim is to spread the Green Hope message of environmental activism across geographical boundaries and establish it in as many countries as I can. I have recently established Green Hope in Canada and the response has been amazing. We, the children, of all the countries must join hands to get the "Future We Want". At Green Hope, we believe that the battle for conservation cannot be won by one soldier; you need an army.


 

 

Muzoon Almellehan

(18 years old, Syria, theme: Child refugees)



‘Education is one thing that you can take with you as a refugee - it gave me hope’


Q How hard was it for you to flee from Syria? 

It was a very hard decision to leave. We had a good life in Dara’a - my father was a teacher and we had many friends and family there. I loved going to school and was studying hard for my exams. I was so worried when we left that I would lose my education. In fact I carried all my books with me to Jordan even though my father told me not to carry so many heavy things! I was very happy when I found out that I could go to school in the refugee camp. I was able to continue my studies for the three years that we lived in Jordan. 


Q You have stood up against forced marriage of young girls, can you tell us about that?

When I was in Zaatari and Azraq camps in Jordan I saw that many girls were not going to school and they kept talking about getting married. Some of them were only 14 or 15 - the same age as me. I was shocked and I started to talk to them about the importance of education. I am not against marriage - but girls should first get an education. Some parents think they protect their daughters by letting them get married. But what happens if the marriage is not successful? Then there are a lot of problems for the girl. If she first gets an education, then she can do whatever she wants in her life. Without education, we cannot do anything. Also - Syria needs us to be educated. If we are ever going to rebuild our country, we need engineers, doctors, teachers and many other educated and qualified people. 


Q Tell us how did you manage to convince parents to send their kids to school? What were some of the obstacles you faced in the process? 

When people arrived in the camps, they often felt that they had no future - which life was over. So they did not think that education was important. I think that education is the one thing that you can take with you as a refugee - it gives me hope. So I tried to share that message and did many activities in the camps to try to persuade children to go to school. I used to talk to girls and boys in class, and sometimes I would go to activities centres to talk to them. Sometimes I would go from tent to tent to talk to their parents - and I often spoke to the media as well. I think I spoke to thousands of girls and their families. They did not always want to hear what I had to say, but I felt that I had to try. 


Q You have met various world leaders on the issues people face in the refugee camps. What was the most striking thing anyone told you? 

To be honest I have been rather disappointed by world leaders. Last February, with my friend Malala, we met many leaders who promised that they would ensure all Syrian refugee children could go to school. But there has been very little progress on the ground and I cannot be sure that the money promised for education for refugees is being delivered.  We are watching what is happening closely and keep telling leaders that it is so important for millions of children that they keep their promises. 


Q What makes you stand out amongst the other nominees to win the prize? 

I don’t know - they are extremely talented and impressive. I feel very honoured to be nominated.  


Q What do you plan to do next?

I am currently at school, studying for my A levels which will take 2 years. I am also continuing to work with the Malala Fund as a campaigner to ensure every girl has access to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Because of my own experience, I often speak about the importance of education for refugee girls. That is the most important thing for me right now - to keep working for the right to education for all children. In the future, I hope to go to university and I would like to be a journalist. 


 

 

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Comments

Bhavana Jaison Atomic Energy Central School No 2

Inspired and taken a pledge that i will be doing my share for saving the environment from pollution and promise to protect the green cover of our mother earth.

Aneesh Kv nal

I think Muzoon.almellehan as we student , don''t even care about others as mother Teresa says give your hands to serve and your heart to love I think she is the next mother Teresa of the world.

Vishakha Bhalla BOSCO SR.SEC.SCHOOL( PASCHIM VIHAR)

They are our inspirations and by looking at their hardwork, dedication and determination we can also make our ideas confident and will do good for nation.

Himanshi Dhawan Saffron Public School

Despite of wars, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, narcissism it''s good to see that still the world is not completely strived off all the nobility, generosity and magnanimity. Still we can see teenagers coming up with solutions to grave problems. Hats off to them!

Brenda Marshal PADUA HIGH SCHOOL-MANKHURD

Congratulations to all the finalists.. Inspired by you..

Darshil Shah ST. XAVIERS - LOYOLLA -2 LOYOLLA 2

Truly inspired and motivated by all the finalists!

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