Young people whoHave made a difference

Malala Yousafzai

Children’s Peace Prize

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who survived a Taliban assassination attempt last year, was honored Friday with the Children's Peace Prize for her work promoting education for girls in her homeland.

Information from Global Motherhood – written by Mike Corder

Malala was 15 when she and two of her friends were attacked on their way home from school in Pakistan's northwest Swat Valley. She survived a gunshot wound to her head and now attends school in England after being flown there for treatment.

She Stated:

“In my home country of Pakistan, the Taliban uses terror to try and stop girls going to school," she said. "I was just one target for their violence. There are many others whose names are not known. It is for them that we must continue our campaign to ensure that all children in the world have the chance to go to school."

The U.N.

The U.N. had declared her birthday "Malala Day," but she insisted it was "the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights."

The Children’s Peace Prize

is awarded each year by a Dutch foundation to honor the achievements of an inspirational child activist.

The first prize was awarded posthumously in 2005 to South African youngster Nkosi Johnson for his work on behalf of children in his home country with HIV.

Zach B.

An advocate for homeless youth

He created the Little Red Wagon Foundation, and plans to walk 2,300 miles across America next year to raise awareness.

Ana Dodson

Ana Dodson

Adopted at age three out of her native Peru, 17-year-old Ana Dodsen grew up privileged in the U.S. However, her Peruvian roots always beckoned her, and at 11, her adopted parents took her back to visit the land she barely remembered

. Devastated by the poverty she saw in Peruvian orphanages, Dodsen foundedPeruvian Hearts, an organization that provides much needed support and supplies to needy children in Peru. Dodsen has spoken in front of the UN and her work has been featured on CNN.

Bilaal Rajan

Bilaal Rajan

A modern day Renaissance Man, 13-year-old Bilaal Rajan has raised money for dozens of causes, including disaster relief, HIV/AIDS orphans, and schools for impoverished communities.

To raise awareness for underprivileged young people, Rajan goes barefoot each year for National Volunteer Week.

He was made an official UNICEF ambassador at age eight.

What other youths have done:

Twelve year-olds in Sandwich, Massachusetts testified at their state capitol to help pass a law that would ban smoking on public school grounds. The law was passed and several other states adopted similar laws.

100 letters

Two Sixth grade students in Concord, New Hampshire wrote to all 100 U.S. Senators about a bill the Senate was discussing dealing with the homeless. They had done their "homework" and presented their arguments in a highly professional manner. They received responses from nearly every Senator (or a member of his/her staff) explaining the Senator's position.

Save the forests

 In Chelmsford, Massachusetts a twelve-year old started a petition and testified with friends at a town meeting to protect a wooded area from being destroyed by a condominium development project. The woods are still there.

Christmas

Seventh grade students in South Portland, Maine conducted a program at the Portland Museum of Art entitled "Celebrating The Arts In Honor of World Hunger Education." This same class "adopted" a single parent family living in a local shelter and provided them "with a Christmas they will never forget."

Peaceful protest

A Chicago community health clinic that provides services for poor, pregnant women and infants was about to be shut down for lack of funds. Fifty children organized a protest in front of the clinic drawing the attention of the media and lawmakers. The clinic remained open.

Hungerthon

Students from the sixth grade at a private school in New York City gave up a weekend to help raise funds for World Hunger Year. Some of them were on the phone bank during the annual HUNGERTHON radio show.

What will you do?

What will you do?