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What Kids Want Congress to Know

March 15, 2022

Children care a lot about humanity's future. As those with the most at stake, they have a right to be heard. Yet a poll commissioned by UNICEF USA found that two-thirds of American children feel excluded from policy making and the political process. To change this, we asked kids what they would like Congress to know.ย 

Children have a right to have their voices heard, particularly about issues that affect them. A Harrisย pollย conducted online for UNICEF USA found that only one-third of children in the U.S. feel included in the American political process. The poll also found that girls felt especially excluded: 53 percent of girls said they do not feel included in the U.S. political process, compared to 43 percent of boys.

To address these concerns, UNICEF USAโ€™s Policy and Advocacy Team partnered with UNICEF USA Kid Power to ask children around the country what they would like lawmakers to know. Of those responses, weโ€™ve pulled insights from two third-grade classrooms in Illinois.ย 

From education to climate change to armed conflict, childrenโ€™s perspectives offer unique insight on the issues impacting them and children around the world. The contributions confirm that kids are paying attention to what is going on across the globe โ€” and that they can be part of the solution.ย 

โ€œI think we never have war again. All it does is hurt people! Why do we even join wars?โ€ย 

โ€œLet homeless people and kids try something that they cannot afford. Like an art class or a game of soccer. Whatever it is, I know it will make their day a 1000% better. It will distract them from knowing hard times and make them know how it feels to be a part of something.โ€