Lost Generation of Children
By OTTO VON C. FORTUN
Teacher II
Ong Yiu Central Elementary School
Have we ever imagined what would happen to our children in the future given the situation of today?
Schools are closed, streets are off-limits to children, and staying at home is the new normal. Keeping our children safe against the virus is indeed one of the priorities. The pattern which children are accustomed to such as going to school, connecting with others through playing, and enjoying life being a child has been stripped off to this generation.
Children are forced to do home-schooling through various learning modalities. Reconnecting with others has been through online or what we call virtual meetings.
This problem cuts children skills to do interpersonal activities and could probably be affecting their future, our future.
More problems arising since many families have been exposed to difficulties making children more vulnerable to worries – becoming uncertain to their future.
To address these, UNICEF recommends a Six Point Action Plan that calls on governments and partners to prioritize children’s needs:
1. Ensure all children learn, including by closing the digital divide.
2. Guarantee access to health and nutrition services and make vaccines affordable and available to every child.
3. Support and protect the mental health of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence and neglect in childhood.
4. Increase access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene and address environmental degradation and climate change.
5. Reverse the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery for all; and
6. Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through conflict, disaster and displacement.
UNICEF Ambassador of Goodwill Gary Valenciano calls to reimagining a better world for every child. A world where they are healthy, educated, safe, and protected. A world where they enjoy all of their rights. Let’s make this reimagined world a reality for every child.
Together, we can do this! ###
