Winning submissions from UNA Westchester's 2023 Media Contest
Theme: Child Labor Around the World and in the U.S. - what can we do to protect children from exploitation?
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by Kate Barton
Author's statement: I made this art piece to represent how small Yemeni kids' worlds feel because of child labor. The ball and chain attached to the child's feet show the rights that are being violated in parts of Yemen, and how it is extremely had for children to escape the burden and struggles of child labor. Children working in Yemen have extremely limited rights and spend each day in harsh and dangerous conditions. The brick wall represents the type of work many Yemeni children face. Young children spend several hours a day making bricks in terrible conditions for truly little pay. 400,000 children were forced to leave their schools and work at an early age - ranging between 5 and 17 years old. The measures children go through are barely enough to keep their families afloat, even combined with the amounts their parents make. These conditions are a brutal reality for millions of Yemeni children every day. The FLY campaign wants to spread awareness about this issue to hopefully decrease the number of children that are forced into child labor in Yemen. We have partnered with UNICEF because their mission is "to relentlessly pursue a more equitable world for every child." Across all of Yemen, UNICEF is working to save children's lives, assist them in adjusting to the effects of the conflict, and aid in their recovery. |
"On the Road to Horizon" by Kennedy Hines
Why don’t people care?
That there are children who spend their day in the mines stuck to the confines of putting
Food on the table even when there are adults who are able
Why don’t people see?
That these lands are not free
That children cannot walk alone on the street to their home for they risk getting snatched
Backpacks still attached as they are dragged away from the vibrancy of life
The colors fading away into a somber gray as bracelets turn into chains
School rooms turn into auction tombs and suddenly the lesson is not times tables
It is how to rake stables quietly or risk getting beat, heads bowed to feet that
Shuffle towards escape, fingers almost reaching the light, the sun is in sight and the white wings grow from their back lifting them from this hell only to be caught and put back in a cell.
The escape is fraught with despair
Why do the old men in suits cheer?
As they watch the young men, no younger than ten
Don their muddy uniform and slip on their helmets
As their tiny fingers clasp the butt of a gun and when their first bullet splits the air
Striking the uniform across the field the old suits cheer
Pat the boys on the back and say “never fear, there's a reason they’re here”
And give that oily smile and send them back to the bloody battlefield with no skills to show
Only the ability to let silence hide away their tears, even blanket the tears.
But the old suits smile as they kick back their legs and watch these boys beg for their life,
As the Wars without reason pass season by season and the boys wither away into
Shells of bodies that have grown burly with time yet
That place where the soul breathes is dead inside
Why can't they see us?
Why can't they see me?
When will they free us?
How has this come to be?
The children across the world whose life have become an ungodly swirl
Wait in wonder for a time in life—here the day does not end in strife
A day when the laughter is not forced, rather so bountiful that their throats turn hoarse
With Bright yellow Joy pouring from their chest
And smiles so grand that the children can hear a band playing in the distance
As they one day march towards the horizon, chasing the bright orange rays
Of the effervescent sun
Towards this light they march to freedom so bright they can touch.
Why don’t people care?
That there are children who spend their day in the mines stuck to the confines of putting
Food on the table even when there are adults who are able
Why don’t people see?
That these lands are not free
That children cannot walk alone on the street to their home for they risk getting snatched
Backpacks still attached as they are dragged away from the vibrancy of life
The colors fading away into a somber gray as bracelets turn into chains
School rooms turn into auction tombs and suddenly the lesson is not times tables
It is how to rake stables quietly or risk getting beat, heads bowed to feet that
Shuffle towards escape, fingers almost reaching the light, the sun is in sight and the white wings grow from their back lifting them from this hell only to be caught and put back in a cell.
The escape is fraught with despair
Why do the old men in suits cheer?
As they watch the young men, no younger than ten
Don their muddy uniform and slip on their helmets
As their tiny fingers clasp the butt of a gun and when their first bullet splits the air
Striking the uniform across the field the old suits cheer
Pat the boys on the back and say “never fear, there's a reason they’re here”
And give that oily smile and send them back to the bloody battlefield with no skills to show
Only the ability to let silence hide away their tears, even blanket the tears.
But the old suits smile as they kick back their legs and watch these boys beg for their life,
As the Wars without reason pass season by season and the boys wither away into
Shells of bodies that have grown burly with time yet
That place where the soul breathes is dead inside
Why can't they see us?
Why can't they see me?
When will they free us?
How has this come to be?
The children across the world whose life have become an ungodly swirl
Wait in wonder for a time in life—here the day does not end in strife
A day when the laughter is not forced, rather so bountiful that their throats turn hoarse
With Bright yellow Joy pouring from their chest
And smiles so grand that the children can hear a band playing in the distance
As they one day march towards the horizon, chasing the bright orange rays
Of the effervescent sun
Towards this light they march to freedom so bright they can touch.
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3 Poems About Child Labor by Gabriella Singh
A Child's World of Work 9:00 a.m Time to wake up and start the day No matter how tired I am, I must work today. My family is struggling with money, I am afraid of what our future holds. I must make enough to supply for my family I must work today. Leaving my home to walk to the big factory It roars as I get closer to it My heart pounds as I ger closer, Fearing for what the day will hold. A week ago my co worker hurt her arm, I pray that never happens to me Not because it would hurt, But because I would not be able to work if that happened. I would not be able to get money to provide for my family. 12:00p.m There is a giant pit in the bottom of my stomach A break is what I crave I also want food Just five minutes to myself with a bite to eat But I must work today I lift heavy objects everyday You would think it would make me stronger, But my back breaks. Every step I take a part of me aches Teardrops fall from my eyes But I push through the pain and continue to work 5:00p.m Work is done I rush to get out of there Now I must provide dinner for my family with the profits I made today. Walking home with the food on my back Tired and ready to give up I get home and take care of my family Making sure they get everything they need. Giving them majority of the food and saving those scraps for me Putting everyone to bed to sleep peacefully By the time this is over its 8:00 p.m Finally, time for myself Yet I don’t even have time for myself because I need rest Long days, and I crave sleep I lay my head down and finally rest To do it all over again tomorrow |
Child Labor in the US Children all over America are victims of child labor Pain, agony, stress Just because they need to help their families who are struggling Feeling the pressure to step up to the plate These dangerous jobs jeopardize their health, And stunts their growth These jobs come with extreme harm In some cases, it could even lead to death And the worst part Is these kids can be as young as 10 years old These kids should be in school learning and getting an education Most children drop out of school The work takes away from their fundamental rights These are things kids should not be doing until adulthood Kids are starting to get used to feeling pain and stress all the time, In normal circumstances children are worries about what color their nails are and who wins the basketball game Not ways about how to help their family survive Things need to be done to stop this Multiple organizations work hard every day to put a stop to child labor Get children from labor to love Forever? Carrying the heavy weights on my backs Hoping that each day enough will be made for a meal on the table Is this how it's going to be forever? Looking for ways to make this abnormal childhood better Dreading waking up and working all day Listening to the cries of other workers Always trying to do the best I can Being brave because I must for my family Outside where the sun shines is where I crave to be Resting, only something I hear in fairytales |
Fairmont Preparatory Academy Student Jacob Zhang on the Water Crisis
Hello! My name is Jacob Zhang. I am a senior at Fairmont Preparatory Academy. Having lived in California for 3 years, I have come to realize that it's suffering from a severe water crisis. I embarked on a journey in June 2022 to find viable solutions that anyone can take to tackle this crisis. I am thrilled that I was able to present my findings to the United Nations Westchester Chapter, and I hope that I raised awareness in the general public so that we can work together to make water cleaner and more accessible in not just California, but around the world.
Winning submissions from the "New Normal" Media Contest - Spring 2022
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"Reflections of Covid" by Kennedy Hines
8th grade, Riverdale Country School 
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"How Covid Exploded" by Cameron Lucas and Ryan Lodewick
6th grade, Mildred E. Strang Middle School |
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"The Pandemic" by Ryan Bateman
7th grade, Somers Middle School |
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Winning submissions from the "New Normal" Media Contest - Spring 2021
by Kalila McDonald, Mt Vernon High School
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By Mia Mendoza, Isaac E Young Middle School
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By Amanda Ramos, Mt Vernon High School
By Harshita Shet, Woodlands High School
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By Angel Charles, Mt Vernon High School
By Valentina Wallin, Albert Leonard Middle School
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Quote from a student awardee's parent:
"I read your email last night and tell the good news to my daughter Mia, we jump she dance it was a great way to end the day!
Working on this contest was a great help for Mia she was upset and sad about the way she will start Middle school but this opportunity makes her think about acceptance, about the positive and have hopes, and now she starts going 5 days to school here in New Rochelle and goes to soccer after school, so the hopes she wrote about come true...
...Thank you so so much for doing this for the kids in times like these.”
"I read your email last night and tell the good news to my daughter Mia, we jump she dance it was a great way to end the day!
Working on this contest was a great help for Mia she was upset and sad about the way she will start Middle school but this opportunity makes her think about acceptance, about the positive and have hopes, and now she starts going 5 days to school here in New Rochelle and goes to soccer after school, so the hopes she wrote about come true...
...Thank you so so much for doing this for the kids in times like these.”
"The World I Want" Video Contest
Winners of "The World I Want" video contest from Westchester Middle and High School students. All of the winners of the Southern NY State contest were from Westchester County!
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