This year, children around the world stood up for their rights and made their voices heard—from the halls of the UN to their own communities. Here are 10 incredible moments that show just how powerful young people can be when they take action.
1. Standing Up at the UN Security Council
Earlier this year, 17-year-old Sila* from Syria spoke at the UN Security Council about growing up in conflict. Sila shared her powerful experience of growing up amidst conflict in Syria for almost her entire childhood. Supported by Save the Children and partners, she’s raising awareness about landmines and unexploded ordnance to protect her community.
Her powerful words were later published in Arab News.
2. Making Schools Safer in Nigeria
In Nigeria's Katsina State, 16-year-old Fadila led the first sitting of the state's Children’s Parliament, an initiative supported by Save the Children. The Parliament urged the state government to domesticate and implement the National Policy on Safe Security and Violence-Free Schools – which will see the implementation of early warning systems and awareness raising among communities as well as heightened security around schools in a country that has seen at least 10 school kidnappings in less than two years.
Thanks to their advocacy, four ministries and departments agreed to fund these initiatives in 2026.
3. Speaking Out on Climate Change in South Sudan
After a heatwave that saw temperatures of 42 degrees and above closed schools, campaigners Naomi and Maxwell shared their experiences on BBC Africa Daily podcast, a World Service output that is broadcast all over the world. The programme dedicated the entire episode to hearing about their experiences and their calls to action on climate change.
4. Fighting Deforestation in Niger
Every year, Eid al-Adha – known in Niger as Tabaski - involves the mass grilling of sheep, which in the capital city Niamey alone typically requires nearly 50,000 tonnes of wood, or the felling of about 25,000 trees.
To combat this devastation, a group of young activists, supported by Save the Children, launched the "Tabaski Ecolo" - or “Eco Eid” - campaign to promote the use of alternative energy sources to grill the celebratory food. These included the use of mineral charcoal, as well as encouraging tree planting, throughout the holiday period.
Jafar, a climate change activitist who is part of the campaign, 17, said:
“It is possible to celebrate our traditions while protecting our planet, reducing waste and taking care of our city. I like the idea of contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable world, even during key moments for us like Tabaski.”
5. Speaking Up for Girls’ Education in Lebanon
In November, Lara, 16 and Ali, 19, members of Save the Children Lebanon Child and Youth Advisory Committee, represented the voices of children and young people in Lebanon at the World Summit for Social Development in Qatar. They addressed an audience of international leaders about the importance of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Lara also gave a speech about her own experience in a session on the barriers to girls' education. She spoke about issues she sees in her community such as a lack of safety for girls on the way to and at school and economic pressures leading to girls dropping out of school early to get married.
On the sidelines of the summit, Lara and Ali also met with Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs (MOSA), who invited them to her office to consult on the MOSA national strategy.
6. Defending Education in Yemen
In November, Samah, 14, from Taiz, Yemen, delivered a testimony on the impact of attacks on education at the Safe Schools Declaration conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Samah has grown up amid years of conflict that disrupted her education and endangered her safety, with her school repeatedly damaged by shelling. Samah is a member of the Children's Council, where she received training in advocacy and child rights from Save the Children in collaboration with our youth-led partner Youth Without Borders.
Samah said: “I want to defend children’s rights and demand their right to a dignified life, full of learning and joy, far from sadness, death and destruction.”
7. Innovating for Sustainability in Bangladesh
For the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok in February this year, the Generation Hope Goals competition – co-led by Save the Children and partners – invited teams of children and young to submit ideas for climate solutions in line with selected Sustainable Development Goals.
The Generation Hope Goals competition winner, Ecolery from Bangladesh, said it was trying to save oceans ‘one bite at a time’ with edible, zero waste cutlery and cups. Nafesa Anzum Helaly from Ecolery Bangladesh said: “Zero waste has never tasted so good. Winning the Generation Hope Goals competition means we can expand beyond cups and cutlery and make sustainability accessible to everyone.”
8. Singing for Child Rights in Ukraine
In Ukraine, Save the Children runs Safe Schools Committees in co-operation with partner organisations. Through these committees children, parents and teachers receive awareness-raising sessions on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, psychological and emotional support, and skills development based on each school’s needs. These regular meetings strengthen communication between students, parents, and teachers, helping children feel valued and ensuring they can take part in decisions that affect their present and future.
Each committee identifies one priority area in their school – such as a space, facility, system, or practice – that Save the Children then support to improve or create, making school safer and more comfortable for everyone.
In some areas of Ukraine this year, the project has also included a creative competition on child rights. Among the winners were students of a school in Poltava who wrote a song: “I am a child. It matters”. One of their lyrics is: “I have the right to learn, to smile, to play, to laugh, to grow.”
Save the Children supported them with a professional studio recording, which was released on World Children’s Day and promoted on social media. Several Safe School Committees later created their own videos using the same audio.
Kateryna*, who was involved in the project, said: “The project helped me make new connections, I found new friends, learned to communicate more.”
9. Using Music to End Child Marriage in Malawi
Child marriage. More than 100 children out of school. Lack of community engagement.
Instead of sitting back, children in the Ntcheu District of Malawi told their community they would not stand for this. Thanks to SHIFT, a campaign accelerator model for young activists supported by Save the Children, five groups of children and young people were supported to campaign against school drop-outs, early pregnancies and child marriage via music and dance, leading to a trailblazing “SHIFT song” and a music video that got significant community attention, spreading key messages on education, protection and positive behaviour change.
The campaign resulted in 64 out of 155 school dropouts returning to school, and the nullification of five child marriages in one village, as well as long term commitments by communities to protect children from abuse, exploitation, neglect and harm.
10. Influencing Climate Action in Peru
A group of child campaigners in Peru, supported by Save the Children, took part in the “Children and Youth Voices for the Climate” event, where they met with Peru’s Vice Minister of Environment ahead of the country’s official delegation travelling to COP30. They highlighted the need for an intergenerational approach to the climate crisis. Their ideas, including an Emergency Fund for climate-related emergencies, helped shape the Peru Local Conference of Youth Declaration, which included children’s perspectives and later feed the Global Youth Statement delivered at COP30.
Kamila, 16, said: "We want a clean Peru with sustainable opportunities for all children. We shouldn’t pass on a problem, we should pass on a better future. Let’s use money responsibly to protect balance, care, and environmental conservation”.
Children Are Leading the Way—Will You Stand With Them?
Children everywhere are speaking up for their rights and shaping a better future. But they can’t do it alone.
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