Please RSVP to ruthemilyhanson@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
Ying-Xuan Lai speaks at Taiwan Forum
Gold winning Child Author from Asia, Ying-Xuan Lai had a wonderful opportunity this month to speak at the Taiwanese "Children, Environment, and Sustainable Development Forum", with EQPF, which was a huge success. She presented her story "A Path to Life" alongside the other awarded Child Authors and their families.
Child Authors, pictured with Ying-Shih Hseih, VoFG Goodwill Ambassador for Asia
Internship Vacancy
JOB DESCRIPTION: SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN
Voices of Future Generations is seeking a social media intern to assist in taking ownership of a social media campaign to support primarily the launch of a book series and educational outreach programme, but more broadly the social media launch of a youth sustainability movement.
You’ll have the chance to give your input on and execute social media and video content, as well as suggest partnership ideas.
You’ll get to be a part of our team and play a big role in establishing and developing the social voice for our organisation. And, most importantly, you’ll get the opportunity to be part of an optimistic movement that believes in the power of youth as change makers for good.
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
You’re currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme, or you have been involved in social media as a starter job. You are organised, motivated, and have excellent communication skills.
You have an active social presence and are very familiar with social media.
You are a writer.
You’re creative and ready to use your creativity to not only produce social media content, but to pitch and help work on ideas for videos, engagement ideas, and partnership initiatives as well - ones that could help raise awareness for the campaign and the movement.
You’re a multitasker, and can thrive in a not-for-profit where people often wear multiple hats.
You’re web-savvy.
You’re curious, and are excited to learn about things like influencer marketing and tracking content through Google Analytics.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Internalise campaign strategy, campaign audiences and become knowledgeable about the content assets that have already been produced.
Research comparative campaigns that support movements such as VoFG.
Itemise content assets and identify uses for social media for various audiences.
Identify gaps in content assets against goals of the campaign.
Draft social media content and execute on social channels.
Respond to mentions and proactively engage with users on behalf of the organisation.
Identify social influencers within audience sets that could be good “brand” partners and manage those relationships.
Regularly compile key performance metrics and provide insightful feedback in order to improve performance.
Assist with partnership efforts to amplify awareness of campaign.
This is a home-based/flexi-working position.
Please contact Global Programme Co-ordinator, Ruth Hanson: ruthemilyhanson at gmail dot com with a CV and covering letter.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Mexico Events
The Voices of Future Generations initiative, under the delegation of UNESCO, ran events in México during December 2016. From 09-10 December, Voices of Future Generations Child Authors and UN Child Ambassadors of the Sustainable Development Goals were invited to participate in a number of ways at the COP13 Convention on Biological Diversity in Cancun. On 09 December, the children were asked to attend a side event hosted by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), where Jona David, one of the Child Authors shared his stories with an international network of youth individuals and organisations from all over the world, whose common goal is to prevent the loss of biodiversity. Youth representatives were very impressed, and it was wonderful to see the Voices initiative gather lots of interest.
On 10 December the Child Authors launched their short film worldwide at the COP13 Convention. The children spoke confidently about how their work for the project relates to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goal agenda, and how they wish to engage other children to join them in working towards the future they wish to see. The film was met with rapturous applause, many thanks, and even a few tears, which is an indication of just how impactful it is. Our thanks go to the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law for hosting the children at the Biodiversity Law and Governance Day. Thanks, too, to Gabrielle Bacon of the Moore Foundation for all of her support in making the film a reality.
On 12 December, the Child Authors, as well as 75 children from schools in México City were invited to the Papalote Museo del Niño (the prestigious children’s museum in México City) for a day of learning about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. All children interacted brilliantly, offering their thoughts about how they can use their rights under this convention to make the world a better place for every child. They interacted with exhibits in the museum, relating them to various articles in the UN CRC, and thinking insightfully about the issues. The host committee, Marcela Orvañanos (Goodwill Ambassador for Latin America), Octavio Lievano and Hazel Gomez, along with the host Child Author from México, Allison Hazel Lievano-Gomez, and with the support of Christian Skoog, representative from UNICEF México, ensured a wonderful day. We are extremely grateful for all of their support.
On 13 December, the México host committee organised a day at the famous Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Anthropology Museum) of México. The Child Authors were invited to participate in special tours of Mayan and Aztec exhibits, with brilliant, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides. Following the museum tour, a workshop was put on for the children, during which they engaged in traditional Mexican crafts. Many thanks to Alejandra Cervantes Mascareño, director of the museum, for hosting us. It was a truly enjoyable day.
Farewell to HE Judge CG Weeramantry
His Excellency Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry was an extraordinary and international inspiring jurist, an insightful scholar, a talented educator, a kind and gracious gentleman, and a deeply beloved mentor. He sadly passed away on 5th January 2017, surrounded by family and friends.
Judge Weeramantry was instrumental in the launch of the Voices of Future Generations initiative and one of our most passionate supporters. It is very hard to imagine him gone - he will be deeply missed and honoured by many.
His creativity, engagement and deep sense of responsibility, ethics and history were well known and deeply appreciated in this field. His vision, insight and dedication has made a lasting impression on international law, inspiring many young scholars and jurists to work towards peace, justice, and sustainable development. Across the world, and across generations, his works will be remembered and cherished. The Judge truly made a difference to our world, advancing peace, education and research, and reminding us of the spirit of the law, with our responsibilities towards the most vulnerable peoples and our Earth.
We are sending all our deepest condolences to the Judge’s wife, his children and grandchildren at this time, along with our respect for a life very, very well-lived.
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.
