Amidst these
challenging times, children and young people expressed high sense of social
responsibility to fight the spread of COVID-19 in their respective communities
while complying with lockdown measures, research report by World Vision finds.
The research
‘Children’s voices in times of COVID-19: Continued child activism in the face
of personal challenges’ consulted over 100 children and young people in 13
countries to understand the various ways the health pandemic affected them and
the actions they have taken to respond to the crisis.
The study highlights
that social media platforms proved to be useful for children to share
information about the risks of COVID-19 and to offer support to their peers who
are feeling isolated and distressed.
‘Children and
young people asserted that they could play a pivotal role in raising awareness
on COVID-19 and providing information to people because, in many cases, they
had better education and more access to technology and information than their
parents and other community members,’ according to the study.
Rather than
feeling burdened, children also expressed that participating in child-led
online activities is a rewarding experience that ‘helped them transform the
stress and fear they were suffering into something powerful and transformative,
rather than demanding and upsetting’.
One participant
from the Philippines shared, ‘I am volunteering in my community to battle the
coronavirus pandemic and raise awareness about the risks the virus brings to
the population. We want to ensure that the people are following the
instructions and are using masks and gloves when needed. I feel this is an
opportunity to help others’ (Jomarie, age 17, Philippines).
The study
underscores the importance of valuing children’s voices in decision-making
processes throughout the crisis and rethinking modes of participation such as
opting for more digital approach or the use of community-based radio stations
and posters in communities in sharing their messages widely, where internet is
not present.
At the same time,
the study also urges NGOs to help make online spaces conducive and safe for
children’s participation, especially amidst reports of increased risk of abuse
children experience online.
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and
advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families and
communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith
and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people.
It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race,
ethnicity or gender.
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