top of page

Children. The Unsung Heroes of the Pandemic

Gradient Ocean

Terry Cullen

Sep 28, 2022

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan

Categories:

Children, Volunteerism, Schools

This article comes from UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) South Asia, dated July 12, 2020. Though the article is a little dated, it carries an important message for positively impacting our world.


There is no question that COVID-19 abruptly and negatively affected humanity, and its toll is still not fully understood. In the depths of the pandemic, the uncertainty, and the fear, our youth became unsung heroes. As so happens in many tragic events, children raise our spirits and give us hope for the future.


This UNICEF article spotlights seven children from seven countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Each child did something creative and remarkable to help others during the pandemic told in a short video embedded in the article.


Learn how then 14-year-old Rashad created a video diary from one of the largest refugee camps in the world located in Bangladesh and showed people how to stay safe with COVID-19, including handwashing and social distancing. Or, an 18-year-old from Bhutan, Sonam, who wrote and recorded a song, CHIKHAR (meaning ‘Together), to inspire resiliency in youth and challenge them to become leaders in times of trouble. Or 6-year-old Saira from India, who created a home video diary (viewed over 54 million times) to give them ideas on how to spend their time in lockdown. Or 13-year-old Huzair, from Pakistan who created a video (viewed over 2 million times) to encourage people to feed stray dogs throughout the country that were starving with the pandemic.


Children do not often get recognized for the contributions they make to humanity. Inspiring children to make a positive difference in the world right here, right now in their hometown, has many benefits for the child and their community. It can help emotionally develop empathy and compassion in a child and a greater understanding of our connectivity to each other and the planet. Working towards a goal helps a child develop patience and perseverance. These qualities are part of emotional intelligence, a vital aptitude for healthy, thriving adults. Will your children be ready cognitively and behaviorally to start life as adults and succeed? This could help them.


Make a difference in your hometown with your youth. Consider partnering with the school system and local sponsors and developing a program that inspires, encourages, and helps children do something to make a difference right where they live. Or, start with something much smaller with a few parents, a few children, and an idea for a project, such as collecting clothing for homeless people, visiting the elderly in a nursing home, or creating a community garden. Get it up on the internet. Give children the creative flexibility to do something extraordinary. Be supportive. Help them and let them lead with a gentle assist. You will be amazed at what is possible.


Watch television tonight and every night, or get started on a different adventure. You can make this happen.

Photo by Yannis H on Unsplash
To learn more about UNICEF, visit the link below.

Source:

Source:

Where_in_the_world_is_Syria_.png

Catalog #:

0922.100.03.0928.22

bottom of page