Activities in South Africa

Between 7 and 10 November, a road-show exhibiting the titles in the Voices of Future Generation’s Children’s Book Series took place in South Africa.

Over 560 school children and their Principals received donations of all the published books in the series. These donations were preceded by in-depth discussions on the Voices initiative and the rights-conscious themes in each of the book titles. Various talks on the Voices mission to assist children all over the world to lead the way in promoting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Post-2015 SDGs and the right to education and literacy globally also took place.

The children who received the book donations were very inspired by the series and enthused by their own potential to lead in the area of children’s rights and sustainable development. They were also excited to learn of the Voices of Future Generations Children’s Declaration on Children's Rights and Sustainable Development, the UN Child Ambassador for the SDGs programme, and the various inter-generational learning circles that children affiliated with Voices have led and attended at the UN Headquarters in New York and the House of Lords in London.

Some of the schools pledged to incorporate the books in the Voices of Future Generations Children’s Book Series into their English Literature and Creative Writing and Social Sciences curricula. 

 

Tyra in the Media Spotlight

We were delighted to see the article about Tyronah Sioni, author of 'The Visible Girls', published in Paradise magazine, the in-flight publication of Air Niugini, Papua New Guinea’s national airline. It is wonderful to see Tyra - Child Author with the Voices of Future Generations initiative and a UN Child Ambassador - highlighted as a child campaigner! In the article Tyra, age 10, talks about her wish to “make people aware of what’s happening in the world, so they can be alert and ready”. Tyra has many thoughts about how children can add their voices to the dialogue. Indeed, it was whilst she travelling to London to help contribute insightful and intelligent ideas to the 2016 Inter-generational Learning Circle at the Houses of Parliament that she learnt about her feature in the magazine.

The feature is a credit to Tyra, and her family and her goodwill ambassador, Melinda Manuel, for all of their support. Many congratulations!

 

Jona David, Child Author, at the Perimeter Institute, Ontario

Jona David, whose children's books feature eco-science and innovation, enjoyed the most amazing 11th birthday experience ever: a personal tour of Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario.

From the inviting welcome hall with images and equations covering the walls, to the ever-present chalkboards for maths and physics discussions and proofs, to the state-of-the-art lecture halls, library, and work spaces featuring modern architecture, natural light, pools of water for contemplation, and copies of Euclid casually left on coffee tables, Jona was in his element! It will be no surprise if quantum physics, general relativity, or gravitational waves appear in Jona's next books.

Jona David, 11, enjoying his birthday visit.

The informative and engaging visit, hosted by gracious guide Angela Robinson of the Institute’s External Relations & Public Affairs team, included an invitation, deeply appreciated, to engage in the Perimeter Public Lecture Series online, and to apply for the International Summer School for Young Physicists once he’s just a little bit older. All thanks are due to the Perimeter Institute for their world-changing work and kind welcome to a small author fascinated by science. In the spirit of sharing ideas and innovations, Jona has expressed his thanks for the tour with a gift of his autographed books for researchers to enjoy with their families.

Child Authors meet Mrs Mary Robinson

On 08 July 2016, child authors, goodwill ambassadors, and representatives from the Voices of Generations initiative and Bloomsbury Publishing assembled at the Landmark Hotel, London, to meet with Mrs Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Founder and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice.

The child authors introduced themselves and presented Mrs Robinson with autographed copies of their books to Mrs Robinson who was inspired and thrilled by their work. Over dinner, the children engaged in an inspiring and engaging roundtable discussion with Mrs Robinson, about the issues addressed in their books and how they relate to the CRC and Post-2015 SDG’s. Conversation also turned to intergenerational equity and how this can be addressed and achieved.

A 2016 Future Generations Inspiration Award was presented by the child authors to Mary Robinson, to thank her for being an inspiring global mentor to both the children present, children around the world and for future generations, on whose behalf she campaigns for a better future.

 

© 2025 The Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VoFG CI) is a charitable initiative of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), a registered non-profit organization