WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Voices of Youth: bi-monthly newsletter
		
		December 2005 no. 19
		
		
		
		Excluded and Invisible Children: Reaching the most vulnerable
		
		Millions of children today are at risk because of discrimination, poverty 
and inequality, conflict and poor governance, and HIV/AIDS. Though the 
international community has made a series of promises to children and 
young people over the years, many children still lack access to basic 
services such as clean water, health care, schools and hospitals. Still 
others are denied their right to a formal identity, face early marriage, 
or are forced into armed combat or dangerous work. As a result, many 
children face multiple levels of exclusion. In honor of the 2006 State of 
the World’s Children report on excluded and invisible children, Voices of 
Youth held discussions on how young people think these children can be 
reached.
		
		OVerview
		Young people are aware of the extent to which poverty, HIV/AIDS, conflict 
and discrimination negatively impact on the lives of children and 
adolescents. They are speaking out on Voices of Youth on behalf of their 
peers around the world who don’t have the opportunity to speak out 
themselves. Whether children and adolescents are being excluded due to 
physical, social or political barriers, young people are insistent that 
action must be taken to restore basic rights. 
		
		Voices of Youth members have also discussed the challenges of reaching out 
to those who are excluded and vulnerable, and have offered intelligent and 
practical solutions toward achieving this goal. Their solutions are 
holistic in approach, ranging from equipping and training individuals to 
educate children and adolescents about HIV/AIDS in villages, to initiating 
mentoring programs, to educating young people about their rights.

		 china
		“Think of the riots in France; although what concerns these young people 
is not basic needs such as food, shelter and medication, they have been 
denied rights to speak out. That's why they feel agitated, and [have] 
sought ways to attract attention from the government and the general 
public. It is important that we reach out to these people actively.” girl, 
18
		
		The following is a summary of what young people are saying about the root 
causes of exclusion—poverty and inequality, conflict and poor governance, 
HIV/AIDS, and discrimination—and about how we can reach out to the most 
vulnerable. Their comments speak to governments, international 
organizations, civil society organizations and other young people.
		
		For more information contact: Amber Oliver, Coordinator, voy@unicef.org
		

Poverty and inequality

Children who are victims of poverty and inequality are most at risk of 
exclusion. Voice of Youth members recognize that children in poverty often 
have no choice but to work and support their families, and thus miss out 
on an education, which might eventually offer them an escape from 
hardship.  

 colombia
“Poverty is not an excuse to force children to labour. I wish parents 
would not make their small children work; it should be the parents' 
responsibility to provide their children's needs & not the other way 
around. Children should be in school learning and having friends. They 
should be free from the hardships and the difficulties of life.” girl, 15

Young people have used the discussions as a place to offer creative 
strategies for reaching children in the poorest countries, including those 
in rural areas. 

 morocco
“I have always thought that one of the root causes of poverty is those 
resources which are unequally distributed in some countries. Establishing 
democracy and transparency should be one of the challenges of 
less-developed countries…. There are many interdependent issues that have 
to contribute to erasing poverty from the earth.” 
girl, 16 

 australia
“Growing up in poverty may make children think that there is no hope for 
the future; that there is nothing better for them in the world. I think 
that bringing in mentors, who have come from a 

poor background themselves and have achieved success, to talk to poor 
children would be a good strategy. It would instill self-confidence in the 
children, [and make them believe] that they can shape their futures.” 
young person, 17

 india
“It is difficult to reach out to poor people living in the rural areas of 
the developing countries, but nothing is impossible. In rural areas, they 
do not even have radios and the children there have too little knowledge 
of the ways they can communicate with outsiders. But it is possible if we 
all go there ourselves and spend time with them so that they open up and 
talk to us. So hope for some organisation to plan our trip to some of the 
rural places.” boy, 16

Conflict and poor governance

Armed conflict robs young people of their youth, and poor governance 
increases their risk of exclusion. Voices of Youth members understand that 
young people who are denied protection from conflict and lack basic 
services become victims of their environment, and as a result may even 
become perpetrators.  

 Viet Nam
“Young people might have no other option but to become foot-soldiers at a 
very young age. After witnessing their loved ones massacred, their 
innocence will be lost forever and they may turn to the thirst for 
revenge. What is more brutal than when a child, whose family was killed, 
starts to kill others?” girl, >21

 colombia
“Quisiera a traves de este espacio invitarlos a conocer que la violencia 
colombiana no es solo lo que muestran en otros paises, no es un conflicto 
de guerrillas solamente, ni es un conflicto que solo se da entre los 
grupos al margen de la ley. Hay un conflicto mucho mas crudo que nos 
acerca mas y nos amenaza mas a los que vivimos en las ciudades y es la 
violencia de la pobreza, No es una guerra de adultos es una guerra de 
niños de 13 y 14 años saben empuñar un arma en ves de estudiar, han metido 
vicio y saben que es vivir en al calle, esa violencia nos toca mas, porque 
esta mas cerca a nosotros, por que esta en nuestras ciudades.” girl, 17

Young people are calling for better, more attentive governments and the 
guarantee of basic rights, as well as more empowered civil society 
organizations.

 canada
“Young people are only an obstacle to peace when the adults in their world 
exploit them.... If those in political power guarantee basic fundamental 
human rights, then children are provided with the tools to be positive 
players in peace movements. Civil society and public institutions can help 
give the right tools to young people. Otherwise, they are victims of their 
own violent environment and will ultimately become perpetrators of human 
rights violations because adults condone it.” girl, >21

HIV and AIDS

The HIV/AIDS pandemic makes children and young people vulnerable on a 
multitude of levels. Not only does HIV/AIDS threaten the survival of 
children and young people, it is also wiping out their parents, family 
members, teachers and health workers. 

 United states
“One major effect of HIV/AIDS is the negative impact on a region's 
economic development. Most people who are affected by the virus are young, 
active adults. Their inability to work obstructs productivity while 
placing strain on limited health programs. Many children are orphaned 
because their parents die from AIDS, and enrolment in school declines.”  
girl, 19

Still, young people remain hopeful; many agree that improved education is 
the first essential step to preventing the spread of HIV. They stress the 
importance of extending these efforts to rural and marginalized 
communities and of getting young people involved.

 nigeria
“In my country, most of the awareness and education is focused in the 
urban areas. If we are given the opportunity to fully propel this fight 
against the HIV/AIDS epidemic we are going to strive where many dare not. 
And for the Millennium Goals to be achieved, the youths have to be 
actively involved in programs that are going to be youth oriented and 
managed. I am saying this with experience in my country: any program 
managed by youth succeeds better than most other projects. Let’s make our 
voice heard. Now is not too late, but tomorrow might be.”  boy, 18

 United kingdom
“In China when they implemented the one child policy they came up with the 
idea of "barefoot doctors"…. Perhaps the same thing could be implemented 
and they can train an adult (or several) in how to run youth clubs.”  
girl, 18

  uganda
“I think young people can help to fight AIDS by acting as voices for AIDS 
workers in society. This can be done by encouraging them to educate their 
families on true facts about AIDS. Merely talking and not implementing is 
not enough. We young people can also act as voluntary workers and be 
willing to educate our people about AIDS. In societies where it is 
considered taboo to talk about AIDS we can team up with other 
organisations at work. This might sound difficult, and I know it is, but 
the motto is, ‘never give up.’” girl, 16

discrimination

Discrimination according to gender, ethnicity or disability often leads to 
the exclusion of young people from important services and creates in them 
a profound sense of marginalization. Young people in the discussions on 
Voices of Youth are particularly concerned with violence as a result of 
discrimination.

 serbia & montenegro
“Here in Serbia I met discrimination and bullying based on ethnicity. It 
was forbidden to resist. The teachers even said: ‘we can not do anything’. 
Only the most brave parents could stand up, but of course only for their 
child. I am not quite sure how things are nowadays in Serbia when you 
compare to the past, because I am older and stronger now and no one dares 
to bully or discriminate against me. It was impossible to take action 
before, but now I do, by speaking out.” boy, 19

 United states
“Out of all the children, disabled children [find it] especially hard to 
express their opinions about abuse or violence. Many of them are kept in 
their homes. I think abusing disabled children is one of the cruelest 
actions that humans can do because they are one of the weakest people.” 
young person, 17

Young people are also concerned about the stigma associated with HIV and 
put out a strong call for acceptance and tolerance.

 India
“The moment a person is found to be infected [with HIV], he is trashed by 
most [and accused of] having loose morals. Doctors look down upon them and 
make them feel guilty. The HIV+ people and their family members also have 
the right to live, but when their children are denied admissions in 
schools and are discriminated against, this is a sheer violation of human 
rights. Doctors don’t even see them as persons and make them feel that 
they are going to die soon. More than the sensitisation of HIV+ people 
regarding the disease, the sensitisation of doctors towards them is 
important!”  girl, 15

 china
“Everybody is born to be equal. Every one is the same in essence. So why 
do we treat HIV+ people as if they are from another planet? They have the 
right to be treated fairly! If we consider things from the point of view 
of HIV+ people, discrimination against them will disappear. Fairness does 
not rest in charters and covenants alone, it lies in the hearts and minds 
of people.” young person, 17

 united kingdom
“HIV carriers are normal people. Yes we carry a stigma, however I don’t 
[let it bother me]. Everyone knows I have HIV and my true friends are fine 
with it. I have HIV and I don’t choose to keep it a secret, but I also don’
t chose to brag. I don’t want to live in fear that my friend finds out or 
the school bully. I am open and strong enough to deal with what life 
throws at me.” girl, 15

Conclusion
Young people are eager to reach out to excluded and invisible children. 
They have a keen sense of justice and innovative ideas, but they need our 
ongoing support to put their insights to work.

For more information, read past newsletters from Voices of Youth:
October  2005:  “Young people in conflict and recovery: untapped potential”
August 2005: “The Millennium Development Goals”
April 2005: “Young people call for equal rights for all”























































The launch of UNICEF’s Global Campaign: 
Unite for Children. Unite Against AIDS.



Every day, there are nearly 1,800 new HIV infections in children under 15, 
mostly from mother-to-child transmission; some 1,400 children under 15 die 
of AIDS-related illness and more than 6,000 young people aged 15–24 are 
newly infected with HIV.
Millions of children, adolescents and young people in the path of the 
pandemic are at risk and in need of protection. AIDS is redefining the 
very meaning of childhood for millions, depriving children of many of 
their human rights – of the care, love and affection of their parents; of 
their teachers and other role models; of education and options for the 
future; of protection against exploitation and abuse. 
As part of the launch of UNICEF’s global campaign against HIV/AIDS, four 
young activists, all of them affected by HIV, spoke about their 
experiences at a roundtable discussion. 



Nakwan Leknork, 20, has been helping to educate other young people in 
Thailand about HIV/AIDS since the age of 14. She joined the Youth-to-Youth 
Education Project after both of her parents were infected with the virus; 
her father subsequently died of the disease. 

Livey Van Wyk Samaria, 20, is from Windhoek in Namibia. She has been 
living with HIV since the age of 16. The birth of her son inspired Livey 
to seek counselling and support and to speak out about her HIV status. Now 
Livey has trained to be a peer educator and works with young people.


Kerrel McKay is 20 years old and the President of the Portland AIDS 
Committee Adult Group. She also works with the ‘Bashment Bus’, a mobile 
health clinic which will travel around Jamaica entertaining young people, 
offering HIV testing services, and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS.


Irina Kalinichenko, 21, has been living with HIV for three years. She is 
currently working as a deputy director of a non-governmental organization 
providing services for people affected by HIV/AIDS in Ukraine.


See their stories on Voices of Youth at: 
http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_2446.html.

You can also see the work of young journalists from Latin America and the 
Caribbean at the launch of the Campaign in El Salvador: 
http://www.unicef.org/voy/spanish/explore/aids/explore_2518.html.