CHILDREN OF TODAY, FUTURE OF TOMORROW

Children are the future citizens of the nation. The children of today will be the adults of tomorrow. They can build the nation sound and strong. They have unlimited stores of energy, enthusiasm, passion and capability to mold the destiny of the nation. Thus, their quality and personality will determine the future of the nation.

Celebrating children’s month reminds us about the importance of children being the creators and shapers of a nation’s tomorrow. The wealth of a nation lies more decidedly in the kind and quality of the wealth of its children. It is important for every nation and every society to nurture strong, healthy and intellectual children so that the future of the nation will not be ruined.

First and foremost, children of every nation must be in good health. Children’s health encompasses their physical, mental, intellectual, social and emotional well-being from infancy to adolescence. Children cannot achieve optimal health alone. They are dependent upon adults in their family and community to provide them with an environment in which they can learn and grow successfully. There should be a balance between healthy eating and regular physical activity. Having a healthy lifestyle helps children to build strong bones, grow and develop properly, improve their concentration in school, be alert and active and will have a healthy adulthood less likely to suffer from chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart diseases.

Secondly, quality education is also a must for every child. Why is there a need to educate our children?

Educating children empowers the next generation with the life skills to transform their lives. When children are educated, they are armed with the courage and self-confidence to better themselves and their families, their communities and ultimately the next generation. With education, they learn how to prevent illness and improve overall health, manage personal and professional relationships, understand and fight for their rights and secure a livelihood. And these tools help pull families and communities out of the cycle of poverty.

Children of today are bombarded with different malevolent factors like being a witness to different crimes, drug abuse, sex, prostitutions and poverty among others. More often than not, these children are victims of uncertainties because of their being young with immature decision making and lack of proper education. Hence, proper education plays a vital role in a child’s life. And it’s inspiring to remember that there was a 12 year old girl named Malala Yousafzai who once fought for this right and was given a Nobel Peace Prize for being an advocate for girl’s education. Four years ago, she was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen when they issued a warning that all female education had to cease and this young school girl courageously went out of her way and spoke up for her rights. She was an extraordinary young woman, wise beyond her eyes, sensible and focused. She has experienced the worst of humanity and the best of humanity. She held the lamp of hope and told the world that education is not a crime but indeed a right to see the future.

Lastly, children must be nurtured with love and compassion. More than anything else, they need unbelievable and unconditional love. A lot of times, parents love their children but they don’t express it in the way their children understand it. Children understand love in three ways: affection, affirmation and attention. Affection is when parents hug and kiss their children because in doing so, children feel that they are truly loved. Affirmation is when parents tell their children that they care and that they love them. And of course, the greatest gift parents can give to their children, time and attention. Parents should always find time to talk to their children, to know how they feel, to find out what their problems are, or simply, and to share stories with each other. When children are noticed, loved and celebrated for who they are, they become balanced, caring, loving and giving human beings and will be able to experience the joy of living a full life.

As a child of two doctors who consider the hospital as their second home, I know how it feels like to have only your nanny by your side. There were times that I wanted to throw my parents’ cellphones out of the window because every time their phones would ring, it would mean that patients would get my parents away from us. I sometimes feel I can’t properly connect with them because of the lack of time I’ve had with them. But as I grew up, I came to understand that the sound of their cellphones, day or night, their absence, my having to share them with other people, and their being exposed to sickness and death were just part of my life. It may seem really hard without a doubt, but once you actually understand the life they go through each day, the balance they have to maintain between their profession and family, you get to know how thankful you are for the gift of life. Overall, I am proud to be a child of two doctors who really taught me the value of hard work and education and the knowledge of profound kindness, compassion and generosity.

To end this talk, I would like to borrow Kofi Annan’s quotes that “There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace”.

Thank you!