#CovidUnder19
How do children experience the pandemic, from one end of the world to the other? To find out, Terre des hommes, in collaboration with the UN and around 30 organisations, as well as children and young people, created the #CovidUnder19 initiative and launched an international survey. The results of the survey reveal the opinions of children and young people, so that their voices can be taken into account by decision-makers.
A total of 26,258 children and young people aged 8 to 17 from 137 countries participated in the #CovidUnder19 survey. The results published in December 2020 shed light on their opinions: “Children are not as clueless as you think they are. They have a voice, and no voice should be shut out. Being a child doesn't mean our voices are less credible,” said a 10-year-old boy from the Philippines.
Access to education
More than 60% of children and young people reported that they had access to better education before Covid-19. “I think that during quarantine, the schedule of every child changed for worse, starting with the education, communicating with friends, less time outside, alimentation, spiritual state, etc. First of all, I want to mention the fact that on-line classes did not have the effect and the degree of information and necessary knowledge due to the fact that a lot of children did not have the possibility (financial) to use the internet and the needed device, such as a phone or a laptop. Secondly, the on-line classes done on the mobile phone had a negative impact on our eyesight,” said a 14-year-old girl from Moldova.
“I’m waiting when school will reopen so that I don’t need to work,” said a 13-year-old girl from India.
How do they feel?
Of the children and young people who responded to the survey, 36% feel safer now.
“The best thing about Lockdown is that we are actually being able to understand our family members. My parents used to be busy all the time before this lockdown so now I am getting sufficient time to understand them,” said a 16-year-old girl from Pakistan.
Children told us their three most common feelings during coronavirus were:
Governments, listen to us!
Article 12 of the UNCRC ensures children's right to express their views freely, and to have their views be accounted for and listened to by authorities. However, in the #CovidUnder19 poll, 38% of the children felt that they were not heard when decisions were being made about the Covid-19 crisis. Take young people’s opinion into consideration, because they are also a part of the community and they should have the right to express themselves,” said a 17-year-old boy from Lebanon.
“They [authorities] should pay more attention to children. Some children can't afford to buy face masks which is bad. Face masks on the market are for adults and few being tailored are for children,” says a 15-year-old girl from Zambia.
“I would tell politicians when they are making laws to do that with the heart of mothers and not of politicians,” concludes a 12-year-old girl from Bolivia.
About #CovidUnder19
The logo of the #CovidUnder19 initiative was created and chosen by children and young people.
In April 2020, Terre des hommes launched the #CovidUnder19 initiative by mobilising a group of young people, child rights activists, civil society organisations and UN stakeholders. The initiative set out to understand children’s views and experiences about life under Coronavirus, and amplify their voices to inform policymakers, professionals working with children, and governments.
In the Spring of 2020, the initiative launched the “Life Under Coronavirus” global survey to understand children’s experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic and their views on how they wish to get involved. The survey was designed with children, for children aged between 8 to 17 years available in 27 different languages alongside an easy to read version. A shorter poll focusing on issues of protection, safety and peer-to-peer support was also disseminated via UNICEF’s U-Report leading to additional 5000 responses from children.
The survey was developed in collaboration with international partners including the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children among others and involved a diverse group of children from 28 countries at all stages including drawing conclusions and developing key messages.
The #CovidUnder19 Life Under Coronavirus survey was designed in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child. The Centre for Children's Rights at Queen's University, Belfast, employing their unique children's rights-based methodology, designed the survey and analysed and reported the results, working at every stage with children and young people and other partners to make sure that the survey and findings were produced with children for children.
The global results of the survey are available here.
National data is also available for Pakistan (full and fact sheet), South Korea, and is being prepared for more countries.
Follow #CovidUnder19 on social media:
- www.facebook.com/CovidUnder19
- www.twitter.com/CovidUnder19
- www.instagram.com/CovidUnder19
- Visit our Youtube channel
#CovidUnder19 is spreading the word!
Articles with academics, partners organisationa and & young people
Life Under Coronavirus: Children’s Views on their Experiences of their Human Rights
Children’s rights in a digital world: Can COVID-19 move governments from evidence to action?
Partnerships with Children as Core to Partnerships for the Goal (p.10)
Children as agents of positive change (UNSRSGVAC)
Children’s Right to be Heard: We’re Talking; Are You Listening? (Joining Forces)
Virtual events in 2020 and 2021
Children’s Voice: Maintaining and Adapting for Safe Child Participation during COVID-19 (GPC)
What should aid actors focus on to make data collection processes & tools more child-friendly? (GEONG)
#CovidUnder19: Co-creating with Children to Inform CP Policy and Practice (The Alliance)
Digital by Default: The Covid-19 Generation (LSE)
Global Mobilisation for Generation Disrupted (World Organisation of Scouts Movement et al)
Data4Youth (UNDP / Restless Development)
Experiences, Interventions and Reflections for Protecting Children during a Pandemic (GPEVAC Solutions Summit Affiliate Event)
UN high-level event on the impact of violence on children's mental health (UNSRSGVAC)
We speak up! A youth-led event during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (#CovidUnder19)
Building solidarity with young social justice activists (EADI Conference)
Podcasts, videos, and more
Inspiring ways to end violence (GPEVAC)
YouthTalks (State of Youth)
Covid 4P Log - Child Friendly Invitation to Participate (Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures)
Meet some of us
Meet some of us
Ali is a Pakistan based 17 years old passionate Human Rights Activist with focus on promoting the plight of Child Protection and Child Justice. Alongside with that, he also is a young Cricket analyst at Local Television in Pakistan. Ali is a member of the Child Rights Movement Network (CRM) and the Human Rights Children and Youth Task Force (HRCYTF).
He was part of the Child Advisory Group for shaping the World Congress 2021 on Justice with Children. He aims to create impact around the globe with his untiring efforts and impactful advocacy. He has fervent experience of column and feature writing on different topics, mainly focusing on child protection and justice for children.
Meet some of us
Amrit is a Child Rights Activist from Nepal. He is the chairman and convenor at Nepal Youth Network for Sustainable Development District Committee and President of Hamro Aawaz Baal Sanjal (Child Club Network). He is also known for his work as the facilitator for Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG). Apart from this, Amrit is the founder of campaign Lakshyadeep, which focuses on enhancing co-curricular activities among children and youths. He is working as an advisor of the Municipal Child Club Network of Itahari sub-metropolitan. Amrit believes in diversified unity and dreams to build a safe and child-friendly Nepal.
Meet some of us
Januka, 18 years old, is a Child Rights Activist from Nepal. She is a facilitator for Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) and is currently working as a Provincial Vice-President of Nepal Youth Network for SDGs. She is a volunteer of Covid Crisis Child Protection Support Group (National CFLG Forum, Nepal). Besides this, Januka is a former President of the Municipal Child Club Network of Itahari sub-metropolitan. She is one of the founders of campaign Lakshyadeep, which focuses on enhancing co-curricular activities among children and youths. Januka loves new experiences as she believes practical knowledge is more powerful than academic qualifications.
Meet some of us
Prathit is an 18 year old advocate for rights of children from India. He has been involved with #COVIDUnder19 and has been advocating for intergenerational partnership between children and adults and community awareness for rights of children. He is also a researcher, a public policy enthusiast and a student of political science at University of Delhi.
Meet some of us
Reece is an advocate for children’s rights from Cape Town, South Africa. He is the founder of Earth Kids Org, an organisation that provides early childhood development equipment and recycling education to under-resourced preschools in his city, and was the runner-up to the Turner Social Change at the World Summit for Nobel Peace Laureates 2019. He is a Circle of Youth member and 2021 Global Teen Leader.He currently lives in Ireland, studying Economics and Sociology at Trinity College Dublin.
Meet some of us
Splendour is a peer-mentor for the #CovidUnder19 initiative. And is the founder of CommunitiesWillConnect a small initiative that empowers young ones living in rural communities with digital skills, and connects them to global opportunities.
He is a World Literacy Foundations Ambassador currently advocating for literacy in his community by teaching young ones how to read, and write. He is also helping to curb malnutrition by educating as well as empowering mothers with little entrepreneurship skills.
He just graduated from Global Citizen Year Academy where he was equipped with leadership skills that are helping him give back to his community positively.
Meet some of us
Vio is an 18 years old Child Rights Activist based in Indonesia. She is the national youth coordinator of Voice For Change Indonesia (A Down to Zero Initiative), the chairman of Anti CSEC Adolescence (RAEKSA), and an intern at Youth Voices For Change focusing on making content on CSEC. Her work involves advocacy at the regional, national, and international level mainly raising the issue of Violence Against Children. She is looking forward to leverage her knowledge and experience into the role of an activist. She lives through the phrase ‘Semper ad meliora’ and plants it in mind that there’s always room for improvement and striving to be better, either in herselfs or externally.
Meet some of us
Ojaswi is a 12th grader from India and Youth Advisor with CovidUnder19. She’s been closely involved with the International Justice Mission (IJM) - working on various projects and founding youth groups aimed at protecting children of all socioeconomic strata from human trafficking and other forms of violence. She represented India at the SAARC-South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children Summit. She’s also currently working on publishing an article under Covid4PLog for the Journal of Participatory Research. She served as a moderator and co-host in the first ever United Nations Human Rights Council Event for Children and Youth, hosted by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children. She also delivered statements at the United Nations Human Rights Council Event on investing in integrated services to prevent and respond to violence against children. She takes a keen interest in paediatric clinical psychology, and trauma-informed care. She hopes to work towards the holistic rehabilitation and social reintegration of child victims of violence in the future.
Meet some of us
Tajdar is Child rights and human rights activist from Pakistan. He is the first ever child member of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child NCRC Pakistan. He is a student of grade 12 and also studied at the religious Islamic School where he memorised the Holy Quran.
He is an honorary member of NGOs and works with different non government organisations for child rights awareness. Other than human rights, he studies music, philosophy, literature and religious studies. He is a poet and writer as well. In the #CovidUnder19 initiative, he is working as a peer mentor. Tajdar wants to help the children in crises with law and justice throughout the globe by using his experience in the Governmental Body NCRC Pakistan.
Meet some of us
Brian is a 17 year old Kenyan based child rights advocate as well as climate change activist and change pioneer. “I am a trained journalist and I believe in the power of the media to influence positive change especially to children who are often undermined and their opinions ignored.
With the help of my peers and organisation, we have been able to start working on projects that are going to help reverse the impact of climate change in Africa and the world. Through the #CovidUnder19 initiative we are making sure policy makers and influencers listen to the voices of children and young people.” #ForUsWithUs.
Meet some of us
Dhruv is a 17-year-old child rights and climate justice advocate from Uttarakhand, India. He began his climate advocacy in grade 7 when he wrote his first essay on combatting climate change. He has since written several poems and articles on the intersectionality of social inequalities and the climate crisis.
His emotive work has been recognised by international charities such as the Trust for Sustainable Living and Bow Seats Ocean Awareness Programmes. His engagement in climate discussions through debates, panels, and online workshops has refined his voice as an advocate from the Global South. Through #CovidUnder19, Dhruv plans to use his skills to develop engaging content for children from marginalised communities, such as the pride community, indigenous traditions, and religious communities.
Meet some of us
Renatta is a 17-year-old advocate for the UNCRC and SDGs from Trinidad and Tobago. She is working with the Pan American Health Organization, Unicef and Rotary International. She has been on the media in Trinidad and Tobago promoting and advocating for the betterment of the lives of children.
She has recently been a panellist for the Caribbean Child Conference with Unicef and the University of the West Indies, Mona. With an extreme, never dying passion for human rights, she has set out to continue her fight for children by joining the #Covidunder19 international advisory group.
Meet some of us
Tin is a 14 year old primary school student in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has been involved in the #CovidUnder19 initiative since September 2021, and lately as a peer mentor on the programme.
Tin has participated in many events organised by #CU19 and partners, and has represented the programme in events organised by the European Commission. He has been most involved with the work of the communications field, creating and sharing posts on behalf of the programme and its members.
Meet some of us
Usually called by the name Satria, he is a student at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia majoring in Special Education. Satria likes organisational matters, especially volunteering. His hobbies are observation and research as well as writing.
Satria is a #CovidUnder19 child advisor. His favourite topics are education and environment. Satria comes from Indonesia, from the city of Bandung to be precise. Special education is his main focus because it has an important role in advancing equality in the SDGs on universal rights and a sense of belonging.
Meet some of us
Mothibi is a 17 year old IB student from Lesotho who is passionate about raising awareness about climate change and helping her community devise mitigation strategies that will allow the community to preserve their culture. She is chairman of the Model UN Club at her school, a club whose newfound purpose is to ensure that their local community is equipped with adequate knowledge about global issues which govern the world.
Ali is a Pakistan based 17 years old passionate Human Rights Activist with focus on promoting the plight of Child Protection and Child Justice. Alongside with that, he also is a young Cricket analyst at Local Television in Pakistan. Ali is a member of the Child Rights Movement Network (CRM) and the Human Rights Children and Youth Task Force (HRCYTF).
He was part of the Child Advisory Group for shaping the World Congress 2021 on Justice with Children. He aims to create impact around the globe with his untiring efforts and impactful advocacy. He has fervent experience of column and feature writing on different topics, mainly focusing on child protection and justice for children.
Amrit is a Child Rights Activist from Nepal. He is the chairman and convenor at Nepal Youth Network for Sustainable Development District Committee and President of Hamro Aawaz Baal Sanjal (Child Club Network). He is also known for his work as the facilitator for Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG). Apart from this, Amrit is the founder of campaign Lakshyadeep, which focuses on enhancing co-curricular activities among children and youths. He is working as an advisor of the Municipal Child Club Network of Itahari sub-metropolitan. Amrit believes in diversified unity and dreams to build a safe and child-friendly Nepal.
Januka, 18 years old, is a Child Rights Activist from Nepal. She is a facilitator for Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) and is currently working as a Provincial Vice-President of Nepal Youth Network for SDGs. She is a volunteer of Covid Crisis Child Protection Support Group (National CFLG Forum, Nepal). Besides this, Januka is a former President of the Municipal Child Club Network of Itahari sub-metropolitan. She is one of the founders of campaign Lakshyadeep, which focuses on enhancing co-curricular activities among children and youths. Januka loves new experiences as she believes practical knowledge is more powerful than academic qualifications.
Prathit is an 18 year old advocate for rights of children from India. He has been involved with #COVIDUnder19 and has been advocating for intergenerational partnership between children and adults and community awareness for rights of children. He is also a researcher, a public policy enthusiast and a student of political science at University of Delhi.
Reece is an advocate for children’s rights from Cape Town, South Africa. He is the founder of Earth Kids Org, an organisation that provides early childhood development equipment and recycling education to under-resourced preschools in his city, and was the runner-up to the Turner Social Change at the World Summit for Nobel Peace Laureates 2019. He is a Circle of Youth member and 2021 Global Teen Leader.He currently lives in Ireland, studying Economics and Sociology at Trinity College Dublin.
Splendour is a peer-mentor for the #CovidUnder19 initiative. And is the founder of CommunitiesWillConnect a small initiative that empowers young ones living in rural communities with digital skills, and connects them to global opportunities.
He is a World Literacy Foundations Ambassador currently advocating for literacy in his community by teaching young ones how to read, and write. He is also helping to curb malnutrition by educating as well as empowering mothers with little entrepreneurship skills.
He just graduated from Global Citizen Year Academy where he was equipped with leadership skills that are helping him give back to his community positively.
Vio is an 18 years old Child Rights Activist based in Indonesia. She is the national youth coordinator of Voice For Change Indonesia (A Down to Zero Initiative), the chairman of Anti CSEC Adolescence (RAEKSA), and an intern at Youth Voices For Change focusing on making content on CSEC. Her work involves advocacy at the regional, national, and international level mainly raising the issue of Violence Against Children. She is looking forward to leverage her knowledge and experience into the role of an activist. She lives through the phrase ‘Semper ad meliora’ and plants it in mind that there’s always room for improvement and striving to be better, either in herselfs or externally.
Ojaswi is a 12th grader from India and Youth Advisor with CovidUnder19. She’s been closely involved with the International Justice Mission (IJM) - working on various projects and founding youth groups aimed at protecting children of all socioeconomic strata from human trafficking and other forms of violence. She represented India at the SAARC-South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children Summit. She’s also currently working on publishing an article under Covid4PLog for the Journal of Participatory Research. She served as a moderator and co-host in the first ever United Nations Human Rights Council Event for Children and Youth, hosted by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children. She also delivered statements at the United Nations Human Rights Council Event on investing in integrated services to prevent and respond to violence against children. She takes a keen interest in paediatric clinical psychology, and trauma-informed care. She hopes to work towards the holistic rehabilitation and social reintegration of child victims of violence in the future.
Tajdar is Child rights and human rights activist from Pakistan. He is the first ever child member of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child NCRC Pakistan. He is a student of grade 12 and also studied at the religious Islamic School where he memorised the Holy Quran.
He is an honorary member of NGOs and works with different non government organisations for child rights awareness. Other than human rights, he studies music, philosophy, literature and religious studies. He is a poet and writer as well. In the #CovidUnder19 initiative, he is working as a peer mentor. Tajdar wants to help the children in crises with law and justice throughout the globe by using his experience in the Governmental Body NCRC Pakistan.
Brian is a 17 year old Kenyan based child rights advocate as well as climate change activist and change pioneer. “I am a trained journalist and I believe in the power of the media to influence positive change especially to children who are often undermined and their opinions ignored.
With the help of my peers and organisation, we have been able to start working on projects that are going to help reverse the impact of climate change in Africa and the world. Through the #CovidUnder19 initiative we are making sure policy makers and influencers listen to the voices of children and young people.” #ForUsWithUs.
Dhruv is a 17-year-old child rights and climate justice advocate from Uttarakhand, India. He began his climate advocacy in grade 7 when he wrote his first essay on combatting climate change. He has since written several poems and articles on the intersectionality of social inequalities and the climate crisis.
His emotive work has been recognised by international charities such as the Trust for Sustainable Living and Bow Seats Ocean Awareness Programmes. His engagement in climate discussions through debates, panels, and online workshops has refined his voice as an advocate from the Global South. Through #CovidUnder19, Dhruv plans to use his skills to develop engaging content for children from marginalised communities, such as the pride community, indigenous traditions, and religious communities.
Renatta is a 17-year-old advocate for the UNCRC and SDGs from Trinidad and Tobago. She is working with the Pan American Health Organization, Unicef and Rotary International. She has been on the media in Trinidad and Tobago promoting and advocating for the betterment of the lives of children.
She has recently been a panellist for the Caribbean Child Conference with Unicef and the University of the West Indies, Mona. With an extreme, never dying passion for human rights, she has set out to continue her fight for children by joining the #Covidunder19 international advisory group.
Tin is a 14 year old primary school student in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has been involved in the #CovidUnder19 initiative since September 2021, and lately as a peer mentor on the programme.
Tin has participated in many events organised by #CU19 and partners, and has represented the programme in events organised by the European Commission. He has been most involved with the work of the communications field, creating and sharing posts on behalf of the programme and its members.
Usually called by the name Satria, he is a student at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia majoring in Special Education. Satria likes organisational matters, especially volunteering. His hobbies are observation and research as well as writing.
Satria is a #CovidUnder19 child advisor. His favourite topics are education and environment. Satria comes from Indonesia, from the city of Bandung to be precise. Special education is his main focus because it has an important role in advancing equality in the SDGs on universal rights and a sense of belonging.
Mothibi is a 17 year old IB student from Lesotho who is passionate about raising awareness about climate change and helping her community devise mitigation strategies that will allow the community to preserve their culture. She is chairman of the Model UN Club at her school, a club whose newfound purpose is to ensure that their local community is equipped with adequate knowledge about global issues which govern the world.
We would also like to thank the former child advisors for their commitment in the past: Diana, Fariha, Firman, Jeffrey and Naval.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Co-leads of the initiative
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Terre des hommes is the leading Swiss child relief agency, improving the lives of millions of the world's most vulnerable children: www.tdh.ch/en
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Inspiring Children's Futures is a joint initiative at the University of Strathclyde.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Terre des hommes is the leading Swiss child relief agency, improving the lives of millions of the world's most vulnerable children: www.tdh.ch/en
Inspiring Children's Futures is a joint initiative at the University of Strathclyde.
Partners
ChildFund Alliance is a global network of eleven organisations working in the field of childcare. Together they aim to create opportunities for children and young people, their families and their communities.
The Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) is a network of ten national organisations with headquarters in Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland (comprising two organisations: the Terre des hommes Lausanne Foundation and Terre des Hommes Switzerland). TDHIF is working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
> www.terredeshommes.org
ChildFund Alliance is a global network of eleven organisations working in the field of childcare. Together they aim to create opportunities for children and young people, their families and their communities.
The Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) is a network of ten national organisations with headquarters in Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland (comprising two organisations: the Terre des hommes Lausanne Foundation and Terre des Hommes Switzerland). TDHIF is working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
> www.terredeshommes.org
