"I wanted to expand that reach and
listen to more young people."
Every child and young person has the right to participate and have their opinions included in decision-making processes that affect to their lives, according to Article 12 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
UNICEF is dedicated to listening to and lifting up the voices of children and young people from across the world and here at home in Australia.
Each year, UNICEF Australia Young Ambassadors meet with thousands of children and young people in their communities to find out what matters to them. They then raise these issues with our nation’s key decision-makers to create meaningful change.
Former Young Ambassador Franklin Hooper joined the program to gain experience in talking to young people.
“I’d been doing activism in my local community and I’ve been listening to people in my local community,” he says.
“I wanted to expand that reach and listen to more young people, learn more about what life is like for young people in Australia and then really make a difference with that knowledge.”
From climate change to mental health, children and young people have opinions that deserve to be listened to.
3. Recovering from crises