Dear adults

"To the adults of the world.

My name is Andrea, 17 years old, from the city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I'm a child with star-filled dreams, a child on the threshold of adulthood. And I'd like to share my thoughts with you.

In the world of tomorrow, the world you are leaving us, I would like to see a place where every child is loved, every child is happy.

A clear sky, with no clouds of smoke. I'd like to see trees and flowers in abundance. A world of brilliant colours.

In the world I want, school is a gentle refuge; a kind of cocoon where children learn and grow; a place where every little dream becomes a big one.

A world of peace, where conflict is extinguished, where we know how to love. A world where peace shines, sweet and comforting. I'd like to see anger transformed into dialogue.

Imagine a tomorrow without cries or tears, where every child plays without weapons. A united future where every child has his or her place, a circle of happiness, a gentle embrace.

In this world, I see hope that adults will take care of our history, of the land we have inherited.

So, dear adults, listen to my voice, the voice of a child filled with dreams and hope, dreams that she wants to see come true.

May these childlike wishes, simple and powerful, carry you forward.

Thank you very much.

Andréa"

"Dear adults, 

I am Camila, I am 13 years old, and I am from Caracas, Venezuela. 

I write this letter to remind each of you how important the safety and health, both physical and emotional, of your little ones is. I wish for a better future for every child who touches this earth, that they have a roof and a home, that they are respected and loved as each one deserves, that they do not look at the night sky with cold while they ask for a plate of food, because every night they will go to bed with a full stomach and a happy heart.

Please listen to the children and respect our rights, every child deserves the best in this world, one where I hope they never lack anything.

In the name of the future of children,

Sincerely: Camila, 13 years old, Venezuela"

"Dear leaders,

My name is Emmanuella, I'm 14 years old, and I'm in 6th grade.

I'd like to become a nurse.

For that, I have to go to school, but unfortunately the conditions just aren't there.

I would like my parents to leave the area where they are so that I could continue my studies.

I want to learn what I want, just like the other children. Because going to school is a right, and as adults, it's their responsibility. Protect children, send them to school, they also have to talk to children.

I want children's rights to be respected, and that we take good care of them, because all children have the same rights.

I would have liked to see my wishes come true for all children, so that we can achieve our dreams.

Emmanuella"
 

"Dear Adults,

Namaste! My name is Gauranshi and I am 17 years old. I am writing to you from India. I am an international-level badminton player and a UNICEF India Youth Advocate. Like my parents, I have hearing and speech disabilities, and their love and support has helped me follow my dreams.

I am writing because I believe all children, no matter their abilities, should feel included and valued. Sadly, many children with disabilities face barriers every day that stop us from going to school, playing sports, or even getting the health care we need. There are over 240 million children with disabilities around the world, and many of us feel left out.

Badminton has taught me confidence and teamwork, but many children with disabilities never get the chance to play. I dream of schools and playgrounds where every child can learn, play, and just be a child. We need a world where every child is treated fairly and given the support they need to succeed.

Please listen to us - we have hopes and dreams for a better world. Thank you for reading my letter.

Yours sincerely,

Gauranshi, 17 yrs, India"

"Letter to the adults of the world.

My name is Majd, I am 10 years old.

I wish to live in a country where there are no wars, and play with my friends, and sleep without fear, and see my relatives soon.

Thank you, 

Majd"

"Dear leaders,

My name is Nahum, I'm 14 years old, I live in Haiti and I'm in the 6th grade.

I'd like to become a doctor, and to become a doctor I need a good education.

I need adults to listen to us, to take care of us, to support us morally, to talk with the children about what life is.

I would like adults to give us the opportunity to enjoy our rights: the right to security, the right to education,
the right to protection... like children all over the world.

Thank you for all the things you have already done for me and will continue to do for me.

Nahum"

"Dear adults of the world,

My name is Polina, I am 15 years old, and I'm writing to you from Okhtyrka, Ukraine.

I dream of a future where every child is safe, heard and respected. I want a world where there is no war and every child can go to school, have friends, and live happily.

Unfortunately, many children today are suffering from violence, poverty and injustice.

We all want to live in a world where our rights are protected and our voice matters to adults.

I dream of a future where everyone is equal no matter their nationality, skin color or where they were born.

Please, listen to us, respect our rights and help create a world where we can grow up in peace and equality.

Children are your future, and it's up to you to make a better place for all of us.

Yours sincerely, 
Polina, 15, Ukraine"

"Dear Adults, 

My name is Sittanah, I am 15 years old, and I write to you from Juba, South Sudan.

As I write this letter, I am filled with both hope and concern about the future. 

I dream of a world filled with hope and possibilities for every child. 

Dear adults, I want you to create a world where every child’s rights are respected, where children have access to quality education, where they are protected from harmful practices like abuse, violence, and exploitation.

A world where children accused of breaking laws have the rights to legal help and fair treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children become good members of their communities.

A world where children with disabilities will enjoy best possible life in the society.

Conclusively as I sign out, I want you to know that I have faith in your ability to create a better world for all of us, and I believe that if we continue to work together, we can overcome these challenges and build a better future for all.  

Yours faithfully 

Sittanah"

"Hi, my name is Susan. I’m 16 years old, and I’m from Pucallpa, in Ucayali, a region in the Peruvian Amazon.

Where I live is really beautiful—there’s a lot of vegetation and big rivers, and the tropical weather makes every day feel different. But even though I love living here, I’m worried about the future, not just mine but also that of my siblings and friends.

I know about the environmental problems our Amazon faces. There have been many forest fires recently, and now we’re dealing with droughts. The news showed many images of the fires, but not much was said about how children and adolescents like us got sick or how our schools, streets, and even the sky were filled with smoke and ash.

I’m also concerned that children in my region aren’t learning as much as in other places. We don’t have much access to technology, scholarships, or opportunities to learn different languages, even though Peru has many others besides Spanish.

I would ask adults to ensure we have access to health care, education, and a healthy, sustainable environment—not just for us, but for future generations too.

Sending you a big hug from Pucallpa, the Red Land, in the Peruvian Amazon. 

Susan"

"Dear grown-ups,

I’m Yaoyao, and I’m 9 years old. I’m writing to you from Chengdu, China.

Grown-ups, do you know? We kids have lots and lots of little secrets and big ideas in our minds. We want a fantastic future, a future where we can be happy and healthy. I hope you can care more about what we’re thinking, for example, not giving us too much pressure with schoolwork, and not always blaming us.

I wish you could listen to us carefully, be more patient with us, and respect what we love to do. More importantly, I want you to spend more quality time with us. If you ask me what I want the future to be like, I’d say I want it to be super safe, everyone is equal, and peace is everywhere.

That way, I can visit anywhere in the world, and make lots of friends. I can enjoy all kinds of yummy food from different countries. That would be super awesome. I could grow up with my friends.

Please, grown-ups, create such a world for us. Pay more attention to our inner thoughts.

Let’s work together, to make the world for the better.

Yaoyao"