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Your letters: Thinking of the children
International Childrenâs Day has been celebrated every Nov
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nternational Children's Day has been celebrated every Nov. 20 since 1954. The UN initiated it as a day dedicated to children all around the world, reminding us of all those who suffer exploitation, abuse and neglect every day.
It's 2015. The world has evolved and Children's Day is still celebrated. I like to believe it's because we still need to be reminded of those children and their daily life struggles. While we are safe at home, schoolgirls are being targeted in Africa by Boko Haram. Child abuse is reported to constitute 10 percent of all domestic violence.
One such incident that sparked national attention was the murder of an 8-year-old Balinese girl, Engeline Margriet Megawe. The prime suspect is her adoptive mother.
Having grown up in a loving family, I initially found the case unbelievable. However, the evidence is too sustained to prove her innocence. I couldn't stop myself imagining the fear Engeline must have felt (if reports are true), tears streaming down her face as she looked up at the woman who swore to protect her, set to take her life.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said, 'We cannot build the future for our youth. We can only build our youth for the future.' According to a study conducted by the UN, today's children will make up 90 percent of the coming world population.
Children of a tender age are believed to follow not what they hear, but what they see. They are comparable to wet plaster: Everything that falls on them makes a lasting impression. A constantly negative environment will not only build low confidence, but also cause the child's mental stability to degrade. In order to thrive in today's world, children need support and care, especially from their parents, whose role is to create an environment where their children can learn and find joy.
A child's life journey can be compared to that of a ship. As we set sail, it may get hit. The captain can either let the hole remain, or fix it. Either way, it is still heading for the unmapped future. I think the question parents should ask themselves is: 'Will my ship find port in unknown waters?'
Monique Santoso
Purwakarta, West Java
