Save the dates 19 & 26 July 2021: Eco-seminars & Book Launch

Free online Eco-Seminars organized by The Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Initiative and the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council.


The Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Initiative and the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council are organising two free 60 minutes Online Eco-Seminars to raise awareness of key sustainability challenges and solutions. Children, students, families, and public members can register for free over Eventbrite and participate online over Zoom. Each Online Eco-Seminar included student and expert speakers. 

The first eco-seminar focuses on Emerging Environmental Technologies: Eco-technology and Clean Energy to Protect the Environment from 9-10 GMT on Monday 19 July 2021. The second eco-seminar focuses on Nature-Based Solutions: Mangroves & Wetlands from 4-5 pm GMT Monday 26 July 2021! 

Both eco-seminars are hosted by the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council and the Voices of Future Generations Children's Rights Initiative.  

  Register here: 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/eco-seminar-july-series-tickets-162037507547.                                                                   

Let other people know! Families with children or youth interested in local and global challenges and solutions related to climate change and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

They might enjoy a fun, short, interactive online eco-seminar with other kids (and adult leaders) as speakers during the holidays!

July 2021 Free Online Eco-Seminar Mini-Series for Students!

Together with the Voices of Future Generations Children's Initiative, the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council has been organising free 60 minute Online Eco-Seminars to raise awareness of key sustainability challenges and solutions. Children, students, families, and public members can register for free over Eventbrite and participate online over Zoom, 9-10 am (UK time) on 19 July and 4-5 pm on 26 July. 

Each Online Eco-Seminar focuses on two key sustainable development goals, such as Clean Energy (SDG9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11), Climate Change (SDG13) or Life on Land (SDG15). Each Online Eco-Seminar includes student and expert speakers.


Eco-Seminar 1: Emerging Environmental Technologies: Eco-technology and Clean Energy to Protect the Environment - Monday 19 July 2021 

Focus: How eco-technology contributes to the SDGs to promote green growth and improve sustainability?

Bonus: Launch of the UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) book:

Stanley and EPIC by Jasper Chin Moody (Oceania)

Chairs: 

Nico Roman, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council Co-Chair, Voices of Future Generations Child Ambassador, Kings College School Eco-Society Co-leader.

Freya Tikva, Gold Award Laureate, UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Children's Rights Initiative for Europe and Child Author of The Girl Who Changed Everything, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council Deputy Chair and Co-Chair of Eco-Activities Committee.


Speakers:

Sanjiv Fernando, Research Associate, Resolve

Jona David, founding Eco-Councillor of the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council, award-winning UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Children's Rights Initiative Alumni and Child Author of The Cosmic Climate Invention and other books, and

Jasper Chin Moody, Gold Award Laureate, UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Children's Rights Initiative for Oceania and Child Author of Stanley and EPIC.

Eco-Seminar 2: Nature-Based Solutions: Mangroves & Wetlands - Monday 26 July 2021 

Focus: What are nature-based solutions to climate change? How can we protect mangroves and wetlands?

Bonus: Launch of the UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) books:

The Children Who Saved the Mangroves by Rehema Kibugi (Africa)

Journey for Tomorrow by Andrea Wilson (North America)

Chairs: 

Nico Roman, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council Co-Chair, Voices of Future Generations Child Ambassador, Kings College School Eco-Society Co-leader.

Freya Tikva, Gold Award Laureate, UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Children's Rights Initiative for Europe and Child Author of The Girl Who Changed Everything, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council Deputy Chair and Co-Chair of Eco-Activities Committee.


Speakers:

Expert*


Darlene Coyle, Policy Project Coordinator, Canadian Youth Biodiversity Network (CYBN), Associate Fellow, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL).

Thomas Langford, Eco-Councillor in the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council, and winner of the Rotary Young Environmentalist Award for East Anglia.

Rehema Kibugi, Gold Award Laureate, UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Children's Rights Initiative for Africa and Child Author of The Children Who Saved the Mangroves.

Andrea Wilson, Gold Award Laureate, UNESCO Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) Children's Rights Initiative for North America and Child Author of Journey for Tomorrow, blog post author on the Sustainable Development Goals and Child Rights.

Over zoom, after a 15 mins for tech testing and interactions from 8:45 to 9am on July 19 and 3:45pm to 4pm on July 26, student Eco-Councillors and UN Voices of Future Generations Child Authors / Ambassadors, together with world-class experts, will launch 3 new VoFG Books and discuss creative local and solutions. For a further 15 minutes, participants can ask questions and discuss potential solutions and ways to raise education and awareness interactively, followed by a 10-minute closing from the experts and youth speakers.

To join the session on 19 July at 8:45 for 9:00 am (UK time) after registering, use this Zoom Meeting Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/eco-seminar-july-series-tickets-162037507547.

To join the session on 26 July at 3:45 for 4:00 pm (UK time) after registering, use this Zoom Meeting Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/eco-seminar-july-series-tickets-162037507547.

For a flavour of other activities of the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council, please see https://www.cambschoolsecocouncil.uk 

To know more about the Voices of Future Generations Initiative, please see https://www.vofg.org/ 

Please note: Students participate with permission under the supervision of parents/guardians from their homes.

*to be confirmed 

The search is on for Voices of Future Generations Middle East Region

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VoFG Arabia is running cycle two of the writing competition.

Be ready to write your ideas for a better tomorrow!

WHO CAN ENTER?

The creative writing competition is open to all children aged 8-12 years old, whether in private education, government schools or for those who are home-schooled. Entries open for the second year to all children resident in the Gulf Region and in full-time education, including our children of determination. Students, parents and teachers can submit stories – and each submission is free of charge. A Voices of Future Generations Gold Winner will not hold eligibility to re-enter the competition.

WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES?

  • Please write stories that will appeal to children who are 6 years or older.

  • Write a story that is between 600 and 1,500 words long.

  • Submit your entry online in a single-spaced word document in size 12 font, divided into clear paragraphs, in either Arabic or English.

  • Include themes around children’s rights and sustainable development, and your own vision for a sustainable future.

  • Your story must be original and written for this competition only.

  • The story submissions will be open from January 2021.

  • The deadline for the story submissions is 31 May 2021.

HOW WOULD THE STORIES BE JUDGED?       

  • The stories meeting the story format criteria will be accepted upon submission through the Voices of Future Generations website.

  • A panel of educators at the Voices of Future Generations team for the Middle East Region will shortlist 20 stories from 10 Child Authors in Arabic and 10 in English.

  • The 10 short-listed stories in both languages, Arabic and English will be sent to an International Commission of leading experts and agencies, and Goodwill Ambassadors will select the winning entries for key regions of the world.

WHAT IS THE PRIZE?         

  • Winning child authors will be awarded gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates.

  • Winning stories (gold medalists) will get published at the International Commission's discretion, and their stories will be disseminated globally.

  • Teacher volunteers as Voices of Future Generations Champions will receive certificates and awards at the Voices of Future Generations for the Middle East Region Awards Ceremony.

  • The shortlisted stories will get published in a regional anthology by the Emirates Literature Foundation.

Deadline: 31 May 2021

For more information and to submit your story got to VoFG Arabia

FREE ONLINE ECO-SEMINARS FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND THE WORLD!

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REGISTER NOW AND SPREAD THE WORD

Cambridge Schools Eco-Council is organising a mini-series of free 60 minute Online Eco-Seminars to raise awareness of key sustainability challenges and solutions, while schools have been forced online in many countries. Children, students, families and members of the public can register for free over Eventbrite and participate online over Zoom, 4-5pm (UK time) each fortnight from Tuesday 21 April to Tuesday 16 June. Each Online Eco-Seminar focuses on a key sustainable development goal, such as Climate Action (SDG 13), Protecting and Restoring Life on Land (SDG 15) or Agriculture and Food Systems (SDG 2). Each Online Eco-Seminar includes student and expert speakers.

Over zoom, after a 15 mins for tech testing and interactions from 3:45pm to 4pm, student Eco-Councillors and UN Voices of Future Generations child authors / ambassadors, together with world-class experts, will provide a 25-minute introduction to a sustainability challenge, and discuss creative local and solutions. For a further 25 minutes, participants can ask questions and discuss potential solutions and ways to raise education and awareness interactively, followed by a 10-minute closing from the experts and youth speakers by 5pm.

 Upcoming Eco-Seminars: 

Eco-Seminar 3: Climate Change, Energy Policy and Sustainable Communities - Tuesday, May 19

Register here

- Child author speaker: Jasper, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative 

- Eco-Council speaker: Harry, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council

- Experts: Prof Laura Dias Anadon, University of Cambridge and M Helene Kotter, Eco-Architecture

 

Eco-Seminar 4: Nature, Biodiversity and Sustainable Landscapes - Tuesday, June 2

Register here

- Child author speaker: Addy, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative 

- Eco-Council speaker: Nico, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council

- Experts: Dame Fiona Reynolds and Ms Hawa Sydique, University of Cambridge

 

Eco-Seminar 5: Consumerism and Waste - Tuesday, June 16

Register here

- Child author speaker: Andrea, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative 

- Eco-council speaker: Luana, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council

- Experts: Ms Naomi Klein, Journalist and Dr Markus Gehring, University of Cambridge

 

Past Eco-Seminars:

Eco-Seminar 1: Global Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and Local Solutions - Tuesday, April 21

- Child author speaker: Jona, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative 

- Eco-council speaker: Virginia, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council

- Experts: Prof Cristina Voigt, University of Oslo and Cllr Rosy Moore, Cambridge City Council

Eco-Seminar 2: Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Resilience Tuesday, May 5

- Child author speaker: Rehema, Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative 

- Eco-Council speaker: Magnus, Cambridge Schools Eco-Council

- Experts: M Ayman Cherkaoui, CISDL and Dr Amy Munro-Faure, The Living Lab


Please note: Students participate with permission and under supervision of parents/guardians, from their homes.

For more information click here

For a flavour of other local activities by the Cambridge Schools Eco-Council, please see www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/...06343/.

Results of the 2019 Indigenous Child Author Competition

With warmest thanks to Ms Monique Gray Smith, Goodwill Ambassador for indigenous child authors, the Voices of Future Generations Children's Initiative congratulates the winners of the 2019 Indigenous Child Author Competition:

Gold and Child Author - Adelyn Sophie Newman-Ting, The Stories of Hope

The Stories of Hope tells the story of children meeting and talking to animals, figuring out how to save the environment and native languages at the same time. The story highlights inter-generational justice, demonstrating how the elders, as repositories of knowledge about environment, culture and language, can assist young people towards sustainability.

Adelyn "Addy" Sophie Newman-Ting lives in Victoria, British Columbia with her mother, a schoolteacher, and her father, a master carver, professor and First Nations artist. She wrote The Stories of Hope at age 9. She is Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish, also English, Irish and Scottish, and Chinese from Taiwan. Her Indigenous name is Kesugilakw meaning leader of people, and her Chinese name is Ting Li-Wen meaning pretty flower cloud. Addy enjoys dancing, brownies, jump roping and singing, and is an avid reader, writer and artist, working on her first book about carving a totem pole for Oaklands Primary, her school.

Silver (tie) and Child Ambassadors for the SDGs - Bella Morrisseau Whiskeyjack, Honor the Treaties and Sydnee Wynter Aime Nisyok, The Important Message

Honor the Treaties tells the story of Treaty 6 in Canada and the impacts it has had on First Nations communities as well as their lands and customs. It explains the ways that children are impacted by the residual impacts of the Treaty and suggests how children and young adults might be involved in addressing these impacts. Bella Morrisseau Whiskeyjack was born in Edmonton, Alberta and is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She lost her father at an early age, and is raised along with her brother by a loving Grandfather of the Grand Rapids Cree. Bella loves school and spending time with her family and friends. She has been recognized for her outstanding writing talents through school awards and wishes to be a writer in the future. She also is interested in veterinary sciences and construction.

The Important Message tells the story of a young girl who becomes an inventor to help stop climate change and its effects. The story highlights imagination, teamwork, a supportive family and community for countering climate change and generating innovation. Sydnee Wynter Amie Nisyok is from the Ganada (frog) Clan of the Nisga’a Nation and Haisla Nation in Northern British Columbia. She wrote her book at age 8, while in the 3rd grade. Sydnee loves learning science and being with her best friends. She also has a love of animals, especially her three pets, and is an Earth Ranger, where she enjoys completing environmental saving missions to help save the animals and the planet. Sydnee also loves to play soccer basketball dance swim horse riding and the guitar. One of Sydnee’s dreams is to become a scientist to help the planet.

Anisa Daniel-Oniko will be appointed as an SDG Ambassador

Anisa Daniel-Oniko loves writing, reading and words. In 2017, at age 10, she drafted her first book, Double ‘A’ for Adventure, and she is currently working hard on her next story to be considered for the next African child author selection.

Each of these stories represent the inspiring perspectives of child authors on the unique sustainable development challenges facing their local communities, regions and the world, as voices of future generations in decisions that concern them.

Jona David speaks at YouthStrike4Climate in Cambridge, UK

YouthStrike4Climate brings climate activism to streets of Cambridge

Jona David, who at 13 has already had four books published and is an award-winning UN child author, spoke at the YouthStricke4Climate.

"I'm Jona David from Kings' College School here in Cambridge. It's brilliant to see so many other pupils out today! I'm a UN child author my 4th book is coming out this spring. 'The Cosmic Climate Invention.' I'm speaking against the risks and terrible impacts of climate change, today!

If temperatures rise beyond 1.5 degrees, kids all across the world will be hurt or even die in floods and typhoons. It’s urgent. We must speak truth to power. We must raise our voices for future generations. We must act now, locally and globally to stop climate change."

Around 400 school and college pupils took part in climate strikes in Cambridge on February 15, 2019 to call for urgent action to protect the environment against rampaging ecological destruction.

They were part of a national YouthStrike4Climate day of protest which saw thousands of children and teenagers take to the streets in around 60 towns and cities across the UK. The campaigners came from schools and colleges across the region including Chesterton Community College, Impington Village College, Parkside, Coleridge Community College, King's School, Hills Road Sixth Form College, Witchford Village College and Cambourne Village College.

Check the full story by Cambridge Independent here

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“If temperatures rise beyond 1.5 degrees, kids all across the world will be hurt or even die in floods and typhoons. It’s urgent. We must speak truth to power. We must raise our voices for future generations. We must act now, locally and globally to stop climate change.”
—  Jona David, speaking at the Cambridge schools strike for action against climatechange.

Goodwill Ambassador Announcement

It is a great pleasure for the Voices of Future Generations Initiative to announce that Sheikha Hissa Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has agreed to serve as its Goodwill Ambassador for the Gulf Region. Promoting children's rights and sustainable development, this unique programme empowers children to promote the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as Sustainable Development Goals.

 Sharing her love of literature with children from around the region, Sheikha Hissa will support the development of a children’s book series authored by children, for children. These stories from around the world are illustrated and published, and the books disseminated globally to schools and libraries for all children to benefit from being able to read stories told from a child’s point of view. Every story highlights children’s rights and sustainability in creative and entertaining ways.

Sheikha Hissa, a passionate horsewoman and writer, is the author of Tajaarub: From a Horsewoman’s Journey, which explores the powerful connection between humans and horses. She has led her teams of horses in practices and trainings in both England and Dubai. In her position as Goodwill Ambassador for the Gulf Region she is committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people.  

 يسر مبادرة أصوات أجيال المستقبل أن تعلن  بأن سمو الشيخة حصة بنت حمدان بن راشد آل مكتوم قد تكرمت بقبول منصب سفيرة النوايا الحسنة لمنطقة الخليج العربي،  وذلك من أجل تعزيز حقوق الطفل وتوطيد دعائم التنمية المستدامة. وسوف تُسهم الشيخة حصة في ترسيخ اتفاقية هيئة الأمم المتحدة لحقوق الطفل، وتعزيز أهداف التنمية.

 

سمو الشيخة حصة من داعمي الثقافة ومحبي الأدب، وتشارك  الأطفال من جميع أنحاء منطقتنا محبتهم للأدب، وستدعم سلسلة الكتب التي يؤلفها الأطفال للأطفال؛ وهي سلسلة تشتمل على قصص مصورة من جميع أنحاء العالم، وسيتم نشرها  وتوزيعها على مكتبات ومدارس العالم  ليتمكن الأطفال من مطالعة القصص التي يرويها أقرانهم بطرق مبتكرة ومسلية.

 

الفارسة الشيخة حصة بنت حمدان بن راشد آل مكتوم، كاتبة مبدعة، وهي مؤلفة كتاب "تجارب مستوحاة من الفروسية"،  الذي يتناول العلاقة الوطيدة المتميزة بين الخيل والإنسان، و يضم التجارب الشخصية التي خبرتها على صهوات الخيل منذ نعومة أظفارها وحتى الآن، فقد قادت الشيخة حصة تدريبات فريقها من الخيول في كل من إنجلترا ودبي.

 

ومن خلال منصبها كسفيرة للنوايا الحسنة سوف تسهم الشيخة حصة بإحداث الفرق المنشود في حياة الشباب.

 

 

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UNESCO Voices of Future Generations Children's Initiative's JustGiving campaign

Weʼre raising £3,000 to purchase books written by the Voices of Future Generations Child Authors to gift to schools in developing countries around the world, help us!

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As 2018 draws to a close, we wanted to thank you for your incredible and instrumental support of the Voices of Future Generations Children's Initiative this past year. Through the support of students, educators, parents, policy makers, and other wonderful local and global community members, children from around the world have been encouraged and enabled to express their voices on global issues relating to children's rights and sustainable development, have become involved in effecting change at the community, national, and international levels, and have worked to shape their futures and that of future generations.

This holiday season, we warmly invite you to share the gift of global education by supporting the UNESCO Voices of Future Generations Children's Initiative's JustGiving campaign. Funds from this campaign will be used to purchase books from the Voices of Future Generations Child Author book series as well as the Bloomsbury Anthology Voices of the Future: Stories from Around the World. Global Child Ambassadors will disseminate these books to schools in need around the world. 

Your gift will have an immediate and positive impact in supporting children's education and empowerment. Spreading these books around the world will help promote greater global awareness, enhance understandings of the world's development challenges, and encourage youth advocacy. Please follow this link to our JustGiving page for more information and to make a donation - every donation makes a difference!https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/vofg

These books can be purchased by clicking on the following links:

Voices of the Future: Stories From Around the World

For Children’s books in English chick here, in Spanish click here and in French click here.

Again, we thank you for your ongoing support and wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year! We have many exciting new activities in store for 2019 and are eager to share them with you.

Best wishes,

The Voices of Future Generations Team

Voices of Future Generations Biennial Intergenerational Learning Circle 2018

The Voices of Future Generations Biennial Intergenerational Learning Circle took place on Thursday 13 September 2018 at the House of Lords at Westminster, London, United Kingdom. This exciting roundtable event brought together the UNESCO Voices of Future Generations Initiative's Child Authors, Child Ambassadors, and delegations of teachers and pupils from leading UK schools, and international mentors, leaders, and experts on children's rights and sustainable development from around the world. Through round-table discussions, youth presentations, and interactive workshops, these children, educators and shared views and awareness of new ways in which children can help to achieve the world's Sustainable Development Goals and promote the rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at global, national and local levels.

Medals and certificates were awarded to school delegations for inspiration, commitment, scientific knowledge, creativity, cultural understanding and other skills demonstrated in the debates. 

This event culminated in a special celebration of Voices of the Future: Stories from Around the World (Bloomsbury 2018), an anthology of eight inspiring stories from the Voices of Future Generations Child Authors, prefaced by Ms. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO.

The prizes and awards at the Intergenerational Learning Circle:

Global Inspiration Award 2018: Bloomsbury Education

Global Inspiration Award 2018: Hon Justice Prof Marcel Szabó

Child Ambassador Medallist: Nico Roman 

Child Ambassador Medallist: Cristina Manuel 

Child Author Gold Award 2018 - North America: Andrea Wilson

Child Author Gold Award 2016 - Asia: Ying-Xuan Lai

Child Author Achievement Award 2018: Jona David 

Gold Medal for Creativity: St. Mary Magdalene CE Primary School

Gold Medal in Environmental Awareness: St. John's College School Cambridge

Gold Medal for Global Citizenship: Millfields Community School

Gold Medal for Promotion of Children's Rights: Haimo Primary School

Gold Medal for Scientific Accuracy: King's College School Cambridge

Silver Medal for Global Citizenship: St. Mary Magdalene CE Primary School

Silver Medal for Creativity: St. John's College School Cambridge

Silver Medal for Environmental Awareness: King's College School Cambridge

Silver Medal for Scientific Accuracy: Haimo Primary School

Silver Medal for Promotion of Children's Rights: Millfields Community School

SDG Teaching Excellence Award: Ms. Helen Barker, King's College Cambridge

SDG Teaching Excellence Award: Ms. Jacqueline Graves, Haimo Primary School

The VoFG team is absolutely thrilled that this event was such a success! It was a joy to witness the children and experts gathered together to discuss ideas on how to implement the world's sustainable development goals, and to celebrate Voices of the Future. A massive thank you to all children, experts, and teachers for their participation which made this event such a success!

Voices of Future Generations Biennial Intergenerational Learning Circle 2018

Voices of Future Generations Biennial Intergenerational Learning Circle 2018 Schedule

The Voices of Future Generations Biennial Intergenerational Learning Circle took place on Thursday 13 September 2018 at the House of Lords at Westminster, London, United Kingdom.

The schedule is as follows: 

  • 11:30-12:00: Arrivals and Registration

  • 12:00-12:30 Welcome and Introductions

  • 12:30-13:15: Roundtable: Children's Rights, the World's Sustainable Development Goals & Intergenerational Equity

  • 13:15-13:40: Break

  • 13:40-14:40: Story Sessions on Children's Rights and the World's SDGs

  • 14:40-15:10: Celebration of Voices of the Future: Stories from Around the World

  • 15:10-15:40: Voices of Future Generations Global Inspiration Award Ceremony

  • 15:40-16:00: Closing Roundtable with Thanks and Acknowledgments

For those attending, please arrive at 11:30 at the Cromwell Green entrance to the UK House of Lords where you will go through airport-style security procedures and then be shown to the event room. Please note that photography and filming in the space are not permitted. Snacks and drinks may be brought, but consumption will only be permitted during the short break, as food and drinks are not permitted in the event space. 

For any questions or concerns, please contact the Event Coordinator Emma Sawatzky: emma.sawatzky@vofg.org

Voices of Future Generations Biennial Intergenerational Learning Circle 2016

2018 Voices Story Writing Competition results from North America and Europe

We are absolutely delighted to announce the results of the 2018 Voices of Future Generations writing contest from North America and Europe! We received many wonderful entries, and the judges wish to commend all of the children who put pen to paper about issues that really matter to them. Well done, everyone!

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“Many congratulations to all of the authors for their abundance of hard work and creativity. We are delighted to announce these winners, whose wonderful stories are sure to inspire us all to band together in support of the SDGs, the CRC and their impact on future generations. These young authors epitomize the true meaning of global awareness and we are so proud to have them represent the mission of VoFG as the Child Authors from North America and Europe.”  - Gabrielle Bacon, North American Goodwill Ambassador

 

Children at Heffers: Jona David and Diwa Boateng

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At 2pm on Saturday 12th May, come along to Children’s at Heffers, Cambridge, UK for an event with award-winning child authors Jona David and Diwa Boateng!

Jona David’s brightly illustrated books highlight children's rights to a clean environment and education through the magical eco-science adventures of an Eco-Inventor Boy and his Little Brother. His first book, The Epic Eco Inventions, received a gold award from the UN - and now you can come and hear him read from the third book in the series, The Mechanical Chess Invention! 

Diwa Boateng is a UN Climate Justice Ambassador and the author of The Forward and Backward City, a book which shows how inequality in an African city is experienced differently by one poor boy and his rich friend. It is based on research he carried out in South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Diwa will be reading from his book, which is dedicated to his grandfather who always encouraged him to study hard!

The event is free to attend but booking is essential as places are limited. Please book tickets through this page, by calling 01223 463200 or in person in Heffer’s children’s department.

Activities in South Africa

On Thursday 15 February, Ms Vuyelwa Kuuya, on behalf of the VoFG International Commission donated a set of books in the VoFG Children's Book Series to grade six children at the EMFUNDISWENI school located in the heart of Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa. Emfundisweni means "a place involved in teaching and learning" in isiZulu, one of the main languages spoken in South Africa. The books will be placed in library corners in two of the classrooms at the school.  

The book donations were received after a presentation on the Post 2015 Sustainable Develipment Goal's, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and each of the unique issues raised by the child authors in the VoFG children's book series.  

The children at EMFUNDISWENI school were grateful and the head was keen to explore ways in which the children can get involved in current and future VoFG acivities where possible.

2017 Voices Story Writing Competition results from Asia...

GOLD WINNER

This year's Gold winner is Yun-Hung Huang, age 10, who studies at the New Taipei Municipal Zhong-Zheng Elementary School in Taiwan. The story "Small Sparrow, Great Hero" really touched the judges and they were very inspiring to read about one little bird being able to enact so much change with its passion!

Congratulations, Yun-Hung, on winning the Gold prize! The Voices of Future Generations International Commission look forwards to working with you, to form your story into a book that fits the global series.

SILVER WINNERS:

A Green Adventure, by Yun-Zhen Dan, age 10, Kaohsiung Municipal Zih-Guan Elementary School, Taiwan

A Meaningful Lesson, by Chia-Hu Kao, age 11, Changhua Municipal Jiu-Guan Elementary School, Taiwan

BRONZE WINNERS:

The Awakening of the Earth People, by Jui-Heng Chang, age 12, Taipei Municipal Shiu-De Elementary School, Taiwan

To Be a Star Environmental Fighter, by Chih-Yi Chiu, age 11, Kaohsiung Municipal Zih-Guan Elementary School, Taiwan

The Sky That Belongs to the Mangrove Forest, by Tzu-Chuan Huang, age 12, Kaohsiung Municipal Zih-Guan Elementary School, Taiwan

Special Poetry Prize

Who is Speaking? By Hung-Yueh Cho, age 11, Taichung Municipal Wai-Pu Elementary School, Taiwan

The judges felt this was a very carefully and cleverly crafted piece of writing. They unanimously decided that they would like to award Hung-Yueh Cho with a special Poetry Prize, meaning that this piece of writing will be featured on our global website. Congratulations!

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

Fireflies are Angry, by Zhen-You Guo, age 11, Taipei Municipal Guan-Du Elementary School, Taiwan

 Confessions of Little Angel Leopard Cat, by Pei Chen Tsao, age11, Changhua Municipal Chung-Shan Elementary School, Taiwan

Thank you again to all the children who entered, from across Asia. It is always wonderful to hear your ideas and read your creative writing. Thank you, also, to EQPF and their prestigious judges for helping to facilitate the contest. 

 

 

 

London Children's Book Fair

Come and see us at the London Children's Book Fair - next Friday and Saturday 15th and 16th December!

It is taking place at Parasol Unit, 14 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW.

Jona David and Diwa Boateng will be doing special book signings on Saturday 16th, between 11am and 1pm, and 2pm until 4pm. We hope to see you there!

Follow all the action from the fair on our social media (@VoFGChildren), and also @thelondonchildrensbookfair on Instagram, hashtag #tlcbf17.