“It is our responsibility to prepare children to take on future challenges with knowledge, integrity, and care,” Alexandra, a ONE youth ambassador from Italy, believes. That’s why investing in and preparing future generations now is the key to creating a better future for everyone, regardless of age, around the world. World Children’s Day does just that by promoting children’s rights. Having started in 1954, every year on 20 November the world comes together “to promote international togetherness, awareness among children...
ONE Champion Hewan Goitom Berhane shares how today’s youth can use history to create a dialogue for a more inclusive Ethiopia in the future. “Where did we go wrong?’’ In the midst of this crisis in Ethiopia I find myself asking this question. I also wonder how we can turn back the clock and go back to how it used to be. We cannot go back to “How it used to be.’’ But then another reality hits me — was...
Celestina Obiekea is a ONE Champion alumni and consultant with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Celestina Obiekea has seen first hand the impacts of COVID-19, working as the laboratory network advisor at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. She wants all Nigerians to know the pandemic is real: “While a lot of people will likely get infected and recover without even so much as a headache, there’s no magic wand to tell who will survive and who will not, and at...
In light of the current global pandemic, Hewan Berhane, a ONE Champion in Africa, is sharing why COVID-19 is the wake up call we all need to take global action. Exasperating; is it not? The overwhelming spread of a virus in all corners of the world. How do we stop it? We will stick to the World Health Organization’s recommendations. But here is another essential question to ask: What is our take away from this health crisis? Our reaction during the...
As ONE global activist from Africa and Europe, our commitment to global action is real. We are Senegalese, Gambian, Tunisian, French, and in Africa and in Europe. We have seen youth show their bravery and undertake many actions in solidarity during this pandemic. Our conversations about the management of this multifactorial crisis have highlighted the increase in solidarity within our local communities. This has inspired us to write to a diverse and changing youth. The mobilisation of young people in...
Eseosa Iyagbaye, a ONE Champion in Nigeria, has a message for young people on why they need to get involved in activism. Many people may believe that we are all propelled towards contributing to societal change or that we all have social causes we are passionate about. But it is not that simple. Although it may seem like a thing common, not everyone is currently moved towards pursuing a socially oriented cause, nor does everyone possess an area of passion. Some...
Written by Hileleule Getachew On 16 June in 1976, Soweto students marched in protest against Apartheid inspired non-inclusive education system and were met with a brutal police response. The event made a lasting mark, and the African Union decided to commemorate the courage of these children by instituting the “Day of the African Child” in 1991 in their honour. Since then, the day has been celebrated annually by African countries and people everywhere in the world. The Day of African Child...
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed every corner of the world. Everyone has been pushed to action, in protecting themselves and their community, whether it is by wearing masks themselves or by social distancing. The global and community outreach during this pandemic have been crucial in keeping everyone safe and reminding us that we’re all in this together. At ONE, our activists and champions are exemplifying the leadership and service we need to tackle this global pandemic. Carine Umutoniwase is a youth...
The world has recently been plunged in the deep end of this temporary but indeterminate new way of life. The pandemic has forced adjustments not only at institutional levels but in our personal day-to-day lives. Although a sense of an undetermined future has made the world feel unsettled, we cannot lose hope in fighting the virus. It is also important to acknowledge and appreciate those taking the big bold steps in ensuring, individually or as a community, that humanity doesn’t...
On the sidelines of a recent African Union Summit, ONE brought together young people from nine countries for the African Youth Consultation on Job Creation.  The 20 participants discussed how to mobilize young Africans’ opinions on key policy commitments and reforms that can enable African countries to create 1 million decent jobs annually by 2021. The meeting set the stage for reaching out to 1 million young Africans to drive the campaign. Join the discussion with Africa Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi...