ON World Children’s Day, children all over the world are taking over key roles in media, politics, business, sports and entertainment to voice their support for millions of their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted. These are four articles written by children about issues close to their hearts.
BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS
SHASMEETHAA NAIR, 17
THE topic of gender equality is not foreign to us. Everyone seems to be talking about it and everyone seems to have a different opinion about it.
Being a teenager, my generation is often the subject of this stereotypical belief that classifies boys and girls into two separate groups, instead of embracing us as equals.
If girls and boys were given the same opportunities, I am sure we would all excel, be it politically, economically or socially.
Every gender can excel in whatever they choose to do because at the end of the day, we are all equals.
The society we live in, sadly, expects girls and boys to act a certain way due to the stereotype moulded for us ages ago.
As a girl, I can honestly tell you many of us spend an excessive amount of time putting on makeup, doing our hair, and finally picking out the right outfit. As for boys, the pressure of being looked at as “macho” has been something that everyone seems to expect from them.
Teenage boys are often involved with bullying cases as it is their natural way of trying to fit into a society that expects boys to be tough, and girls to be dainty.
We do this to fit in because we think it is the only way people will like us.
Society fails to realise that girls and boys are not limited to these traditional gender roles because in order to progress, we have to break this stereotype.
As Emma Watson said in her ‘He For She’ speech, gender equality is not just a woman’s issue but men’s too. Every boy, man, girl, woman in this world has a right to gender equality.
In a progressing country like Malaysia, the government has already done all it is capable of doing to address the issue. However, as a society itself, very little is being done.
To address this, our society’s perspective against girls and boys must change. Instead of subjecting children or teenagers to the traditional idea of what a boy should do or how a girl should act, parents, teacher and members of the society should embrace them for what they are. We are all unique, all special and all flawed in our own ways.
BEING ALMOST INVISIBLE
MOHAMMAD, 17
I was born in Malaysia to a father who is holding a Permanent Resident status (PR), and a mother who is an Indonesian immigrant. I am the eldest among four siblings.
In 2012, I joined Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK), enrolling in YCK’s Alternative Literacy Programme in the Pusat Aktiviti Kanak-Kanak; and I was later promoted to the Alternative Literacy Programme at the Kuala Lumpur Krash Pad.
Growing up amid poverty, illness and exploitation, I saw my very own family, and other families and friends suffering from being undocumented; chased by authorities; dealing with their parents’ unemployment; and the lack of national and recognised educational opportunities.
I was denied enrolment into primary school and access to treatment because I did not have a birth certificate.
I can’t travel, attend government school or use the public health system. Without documentation, I am also at risk of detention.
As I am writing this, I struggle to hold back tears. I was born, I live and unless I can solve my situation, I will die as an almost invisible person. I am afraid my six-year wait for citizenship might not come to any end.
Without documents in Malaysia, I am not able to do anything. I would not be able to access many of the services that citizens take for granted such as getting a job and legally marrying, a vicious cycle where illegal children in Malaysia remain illegal.
I love studying. I feel like it’s a really powerful thing to derive a great deal of pleasure and excitement from studying.
But without documents I face an arduous road ahead.
However, I can participate in opportunities provided by YCK through literacy programmes and other skills-based programmes such as performing arts (theatre), sports (football and taekwondo) and other team building activities.
I have worked on developing a positive behaviour including how to regulate and control my emotions and frustrations.
I constantly strive to see the positive in every aspect of my life. I am empowered with the knowledge and education that I am receiving in YCK, but when it comes to the issue of citizenship and documentation, it leaves me with an uncertain future that can appear hopeless.
If my citizenship remains unresolved, I will forever be an alien in Malaysia with no records of my existence in Malaysia other than my birth certificate.
Thus, I am liable to be deported.
I do not even think of becoming a citizen elsewhere and I love to say that Malaysia is my home; I was born and raised here.
STAND UP FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
SHAMILA IBRAHIM, 17
DEAR Adults, Why is it so hard for you to understand our feelings, thoughts and our problems? We may be naughty and stubborn; we may misbehave, we may make mistakes all the time!
But just like you always tell us, “Nobody is Perfect”, why is it so hard for you to accept us the way we are?
We only want your attention, love and a lending ear so we will feel safe and happy.
If adults have the right to speak out about something they don’t like, why then are we deprived of the same rights to give opinions on the things that make us feel unhappy? Is this fair? Why can’t our rights be respected?
Standing up for our own rights and voicing out our views will also boost our confidence. If we don’t stand up for our own rights, will you stand for us?
Making an adult realise that we have the same rights as they do, is like making the world wake up from a nightmare.
Adults, please LISTEN to us. If you dislike being mistreated, then don’t do the same thing to us. I just feel it takes two hands to clap to make a sound.
Respect our thoughts and opinions and give us a chance and we will respect and love you more!
Accept us the way we are, listen to our stories, listen to our cries, listen to our dreams, even how big or silly it may seem. Support us and make us feel that we are one of the most luckiest children on earth. Trust me when I say we need you (parents) more than anybody else in this world.
I feel lucky to have many people who support me but it’s not the same when I don’t get support from my parents. My parents are divorced and I used to stay with my mum for a few years but it didn’t seem to work out well.
So I decided to stand up on my own two feet, and I am only 17.
I really don’t like the feeling of being “unloved” and having no rights because it‘s all just too painful and hurtful. I just pray and hope other children won’t suffer the same experience.
IF I WERE THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS
ZARA NUR SHASMEEN NUR AZMIR, 10
IF I am the head of the United Nations, I would tell world leaders to visit schools more.
Why? Because of bullying. I want to try and get the world leaders to stop bullying because bullying makes children feel bad and it is not nice. Bullying can also lead to suicide, and suicide leads to unlimited sadness. I want everyone to be happy.
Also, I would ask the world leaders to take a walk around any street and feed the homeless, give them some clothes and possibly even a home for them to stay in.
As world leaders are great examples, maybe other people would follow them and help the poor and needy to live a better, more enjoyable life… because while you are sitting in your house reading a newspaper, the homeless can’t even afford to buy new clothes.
Lastly, I would try to ask the world leaders to stop racism. Racism was a big problem in the past, and it still is now.
Racism has caused wars, imbalance of power and disharmony. Racism basically means judging someone by their skin colour or judging a book by its cover.