I believe we should never underestimate the power of the human mind. Why do I say this? I think the human brain is just capable of so many interesting things, both positively and negatively. Its up to you to tell your mind how its 'supposed' to be programmed. When we (children) read the news we look up to the BIG names that made AMAZING changes in society. For instance, some of us look up to Bill Gates. Why? He's rich and successful and every single one of us wants to be him. I think one of the things that us children don't understand or don't yet know is that we can make a HUGE difference in today's society. Especially when we are the future of this generation.
The International Children's Peace Prize acknowledges children that made HUGE differences in today's society. In 2005, Nkosi Johnson, a South African boy who fought for the rights of children with HIV/Aids. As Johnson said at the international Aids conference in Durban "Care for us and accept us - we are all human beings". I agree with Nkosi. We are all human beings and they are just human beings that need help. Shouldn't we care? Express our concern. Nkosi has set up a project that is set up to help and prevent mothers with HIV from sending their children to orphanages which often is the case. I really admire what Nkosi has done. He has saved tons of children from being sent to orphanages and from feeling that their mothers didn't want them or that they were just alone in life.
Another inspiring story starts with Om Prakash Gurjar who won the International Children's Peace in 2006 for fighting for working against child labour in India. I support Gurjar as he believes that every child has the basic right to education and the key to a better life. He has made sure hundreds of children have received birth certificates to be better protected against child slavery. I truly admire what Om has done. Protecting children against child slavery. No child deserves to work their butt off and to be treated as slaves. I'm glad that there are organizations that back Prakash up to help him continue to fight against child slavery.
The latest winner of the International Children's Peace Prize was won by Chaeli Mycroft, 17 from South Africa. Chaeli is a teenager who was born with Cerebral Palsy which limits the functions of her arms and legs. Chaeli had a positive attitude about her Cerebral Palsy and now, is an inspiration to many kids all over the world. As Chaeli has said, “It’s what keeps us striving for the lives we deserve. I have hope for myself, but I also have hope for all other children with disabilities. I hope that my actions as an ability activist will leave the world more accepting and more accommodating for all people and not just people with disabilities, because we are all different and we all have the need to be accepted regardless of having a disability or not.” I strongly agree with Chaeli, I think that we should all have hope for children with disabilities and I believe that she has changed many lives for many children. Her project is the Chaeli Campaign which started of with herself, a few friends and sister started by raising money for a motorized wheelchair and now helps more than 3000 children with disabilities in South Africa.
These three stories are only three of millions. From these stories, I have learnt how powerful the human mind is and if you put your mind to it you can achieve it. I want to take this opportunity and remind all the other children in the WORLD that we can all make a difference. Maybe not as big, but big enough.
