What are the biggest concerns facing children today, and how can adults truly support youth-led movements and initiatives?
These were the questions explored at the recent International Roundtable for Children’s Rights and Education hosted by Voices of Future Generations. Among the young speakers was Zachary, a 12-year-old from Ottawa, Canada, who is passionate about advancing children’s rights and raising public awareness about climate change.
Zachary strongly believes in amplifying children’s voices and ensuring young people are meaningfully included in conversations that shape their future. At just 10 years old, he became a Child Ambassador for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – Voices of Future Generations, a worldwide initiative supported by UNESCO, after winning a silver medal for his story on children’s rights, Reda’s Little Village. As a Child Ambassador and a member of Children First Canada’s Youth Advisory Council, he has participated in national roundtables, met with senators and Members of Parliament, and spoken at a press conference on Parliament Hill to advocate for issues affecting children and youth.
In the article below, Zachary shares his perspective on the urgent issues affecting children today—and explains why giving youth a real seat at the table is more important than ever.
Children’s Present Struggles, Tomorrow’s Heavy Burdens
by Zachary Fathally
Climate change and protecting children from online harm are, in my opinion, the two main concerns of children today. We, as young people, are worried that by the time we become adults, the planet and the economy will be too messed up to fix. We need adults to be more responsible with climate change, the economy, and the well-being of children. We need adults to let youth speak up and actually listen to their concerns. In fact, adults can best help by letting children be their partners and allowing them to participate in the making of some big decisions. We need them so they can help us get legal tools and funding for our projects (clubs, awareness campaigns, etc.).
In fact, children today face multiple challenges, but if I had to choose the two main concerns, they would be climate change and everything that pertains to AI, technological change, and, ultimately, online safety.
Climate change and protecting the environment:
Let’s be honest: a lot of young people today are very anxious about the state of our planet. I fear the long-term effects of environmental damage and feel frustrated by the slow action of governments and institutions. We will be the ones to deal with what adults have failed to do, and the burden will be very heavy on us. I don’t know if you’ve heard this adage, but it says that small actions every day make a big difference in the long run. It is better to act now than to let problems accumulate and try to fix everything later. This is a quote I have seen many times on social media: “When small is big.”
Recently, I read a short article about water scarcity. It is mind-boggling to realize that water is not infinitely renewable, so we must take care of what we have and use water responsibly. Water is only one aspect of climate change, but it is extremely important because it is the source of life on Earth.
“So, how can adults support youth-led initiatives? It is actually very simple: by giving young people a seat at the table. ”
Online safety:
The second concern affecting children is online safety, as AI is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, AI has become so common that I sometimes find myself watching a video and questioning whether AI created it. This is worrying. Children may not be able to differentiate between what is real and what is fake. Also, online harm is something many children experience alone. Today’s children are much more comfortable with technology than any previous generation, and this constant use of technology can have serious effects on them. These issues are being addressed to protect children. For example, we have seen legislation in Australia that bans social media for children. Moreover, social media and social gaming can be very addictive and have serious repercussions on young people's mental health. If we take care of our mental health, we will create a safer society for all.
So, how can adults support youth-led initiatives? It is actually very simple: by giving young people a seat at the table. Adults can invite youth to participate in parliamentary committees, speak up, and allow them to express their concerns in formal and informal meetings about children’s issues. There are also many youth advisory councils on various issues where young people can share their thoughts and ideas.
Zachary is a 12-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario. He is an avid reader who seizes every opportunity to learn about history, geography, and science. Zachary is passionate about advocating for children’s rights and raising public awareness about climate change. He is a VoFG Child Ambassador for the SDGs and a member of Children First Canada’s Youth Advisory Council. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, swimming, cycling, and reading. He is also a member of a regional football soccer team.
