This I Believe
This I Believe Essay ProjectWe invite youth (ages 13 to 25) to submit short essays on your personal philosophies and the core beliefs that guide you day-to-day.
Tell us about a meaningful experience from your life - a person or event that helped shape your beliefs and define who you are.
All essays meeting our guidelines will be posted on our website. Learn More.| I believe in... Every Child's Right to a Future |
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What I saw in these schools changed me forever. I witnessed 75 students cramped into a classroom meant to hold 25. They had no computers, no calculators, and not enough teachers. They were using outdated textbooks (that is, those lucky enough to have textbooks) and paper and pencils were a luxury.     Apartheid had cast a steel shadow of oppression over these students and in its wake they were left with nothing. However, even South Africa’s history of apartheid could not destroy their hopes and dreams. Each student I spoke with knew exactly what they wanted to be when they grew up. They had to. They had to pick one defined goal and work tirelessly towards it, knowing that they had only two options: fail or succeed. Each student I spoke with knew exactly what they wanted to be when they grew up. They had to. They had to pick one defined goal and work tirelessly towards it, knowing that they had only two options: fail or succeed. When my classmates and I were asked what we wanted to be, the majority of us had no idea. We had grown up assuming that no matter what happened to us we would be able to make a decent living doing something. For the students in these shantytown schools our assumption was a ridiculous dream. These students loved to learn and had the greatest appreciation for school. I grew sick in the irony that the most dedicated and inspired students I had ever met were subject to the worst conditions I had ever witnessed. Upon my return home I knew I had to act. I knew I could no longer stand by and let the passion of these students go to waste. Since this time I have involved myself in a variety of different projects fighting poverty and rebuilding African nations torn apart by violence. However, as I went about this work it became continually more apparent to me that in order to prevent these problems from occurring in the future, we had to reach out to the youth of today.
Youth represent the future of this world and if we are to push for a more peaceful tomorrow, it must start by nurturing and providing for them today. As Americans, we so often take for granted the opportunities we have been blessed with, but I believe that these opportunities should be universal. I believe every child deserves a future and I believe that providing for these children is the only way to a more prosperous tomorrow. To learn more about the Voices for Vulnerable Children campaign please visit our website at www.voices.worlded.org. Also, please help us spread the word via Facebook and MySpace. I believe that together we can give hope to children throughout the world.
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by Evan Abrams, 18, USA
