MUCH TO LEARN FROM THEM

These inspiring people may be young in age, but their contribution to the world is nothing short of legendary.

One of William Shakespeare’s greatest quotes from the ‘Twelfth Night’ says, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” For those who have been listed below, this sentiment fits their lives to a T. Some chose the path to greatness, while others turned their lives around at the hardest of times not only to redefine themselves, but also make a difference to the world – and all this before even becoming an adult. These fearless, mighty souls changed the world by taking little steps with their huge heart and made the world a better place.

This Children’s Day, we celebrate achievements of nine gems who have made significant contributions to the world, and the life lessons we can learn from them.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI

Even before the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to this little Pakistani girl at the age of 17, she fearlessly fought for right to education against the Taliban. She voiced her opinion and wrote a blog under a pseudonym “Gul Makai”. Later at the tender age of 11, she started writing on BBC Urdu, describing how girls were being forced to stay at home, and questioned the motives of the Taliban. It was her fearless questions and attitude that startled the Islamist militants who shot her in the head, while on her way to school. As a 15-year-old, she survived the massive injury and became a global icon. Not restricting her the fight for her ideology to just Pakistan, she fought for girls in Nigeria against Boko Haram, who stop girls from going to school as well. She is a global youth icon fighting hard for girls and education.

Life lesson >> Education is more important than anything else in life, even life itself.

NKOSI JOHNSON

Life lesson >> Everyone needs love, and needs to be loved equally and without prejudice.

Born to an HIV/AIDS-positive mother, Xolani Nkosi was had the deadly virus from birth. The young child, born on 4 February 1989, was adopted by a volunteer worker Gail Johnson when he was three years old, and later became to be known as Nkosi Johnson. He gained media attention when a school in the Johannesburg suburb of Melville refused to enrol him because of he was HIV-positive. After a series of fights, he was accepted in the school. As a result, he became an advocate for HIV/AIDS victims, rallying for awareness and equal rights for those suffering with the virus. His heart-wrenching but poignant speech at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban in 2000 is oft-quoted in the struggle for equal rights for HIV-positive patients. He ended the iconic speech with the words: “Care for us and accept us — we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else — don’t be afraid of us — we are all the same!”

He passed away at the young age of 12, but his memory lives on in the form of a safe haven that his adoptive mother built – Nkosi’s Haven. Even Nelson Mandelamourned for his death and said, “It’s a great pity that this young man has departed.” He was posthumously awarded the first lnternational Children’s Peace Prize in 2001.

ANNE FRANK

Life lesson >> “Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.”

Born on June 12, 1929, Anne Frank was a German-Jewish teenage girl who was forced to go into hiding during the Holocaust in Amsterdam. She lost her life at the tender age of 16, at a Nazi concentration camp. However, through her diaries, the world was exposed to the history of the Holocaust. Published by her father after her death, the book has been translated in over 65 languages. Frank’s writing has not only raised awareness about the dark Nazi tenure, but also revealed that positivity and hope can never be defeated. Her message of courage and hope in the face of adversity is relevant even today.

OM PRAKASH GURJAR

Life lesson >> Always speak up for your rights, even if you’re a child; you deserve to be heard.

Om Prakash Gurjar was forced into working as labourer from the age of five until he was eight years old. In 2006, Gurjar became the first child to win the International Children’s Peace Prize. He was just 14. He is regarded as one of the prominent figures in liberating child slaves in the country and fighting against child labour. With the help of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, he was intrigued at the idea of freedom—a concept that was foreign to the Gurjar family. Gurjar has been campaigning for children’s rights, and has garnered over 500 birth certificates to poor children, providing them with the right to a free education. He is a staunch crusader of child’s right protection and has even represented India at the United Nations.

IQBAL MASIH

Life lesson >> Even the smallest of voices can move the biggest mountains.

Sold as a bonded labourer by his father when he was only four years old in exchange of 600 Pakistani rupees, Iqbal Masih worked as a slave in a carpet factory. Tightly bound with chains to prevent escape, his growth was impacted and as a result of immense malnutrition is looked way shorter than boys of his age. At 10, he and others managed to escape and came across Bonded Labour Liberation Front and discovered that child slavery was illegal. He not only got himself free but even helped 3,000 others. He travelled the world and became a voice against child servitude. An eloquent speaker and fearless crusader he wanted to become a lawyer before it all came to a hasty end. Shot at an age of 12, it is still a mystery as to who exactly killed him – his immense popularity among the BLLF or by the carpet mafias. In 1994, he received the Reebok Human Rights Award in Boston.

YUSRA MARDINI

Life lesson >> Life is uncertain, and no matter how turbulent the sea, you don’t stop swimming.

The world was shocked and pained by the heart-wrenching picture of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi washed ashore when their boat toppled. The miserable picture turned the world attention to the devastating Syrian war and its fallout. With thousands feeling daily, only to escape from bombs and falling into the mouth of deadly sea. Amid this, two sisters saved 20 such refugees by swimming in the fierce Aegean Sea for hours, helping the overloaded dinghy reach ashore. At the age of 17, she and her sister Sarah braved the waters and without thinking about their own life jumped out of the boat to help others. After reaching Turkey, they along with their family reached Germany and have been settled there since 2015. She represented the first ever Refugee Olympic contingent at 2016 Rio Olympics. Though she failed to win a medal at the games, she has won hearts and become and inspiration for millions

SAMANTHA SMITH

Life lesson >> Living in peaceful world and not having to worry about wars is every person’s right, even if s/he is a child.

Born in the US, Smith was the prominent peace activist during the cold war. She was the country’s youngest “goodwill ambassador” participating in peacemaking activities in Japan in between USSR and the USA. Smith rose to fame when in 1982 she wrote a letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov asking what she could do to stop the nuclear advancement and war between the two countries. Receiving a direct reply from Andropov, she was applauded for her bravery and honesty. She was also invited to visit Soviet Union at that time when she was just 10. Sadly, in 1985 she was killed in a plane crash at the tender age of 13.

ALEX SCOTT

Life lesson >> When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!

Fighting with cancer, Alexandra Scott decided to change life for children fighting the deadly disease. She had her first fund-raiser when she was only four with a lemonade stand. Thus the name Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation that helps paediatric cancer patients in the USA. He lost her battle to the disease when she was eight, but before that she had successfully raised over $1 million for cancer kids. Her legacy of determined and courage fighter is being continued through her family and foundation even today.

YASH GUPTA

Life lesson >> “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” (Dr Seuss)

The young boy, who went on to gift vision to others, literally. At 17, Gupta broke his glasses and struggled to get a new one for weeks. Realising the difficulties he faced, he wondered about how many children like him across the world suffered for a pair of proper glasses. Committed to help those with troubled visions, Gupta set up a foundation Sight Learning. The organisation collects and distributed used eyewear among children with dire need. Started in 2010, the NGO has distributed over 31,000 glasses in five countries in last six years.

AKRIT JASWAL

Life lesson >> You’re never too young to save a life, and keep learning!

A child prodigy, who went on to become India’s first child surgeon, at the age of 12, is the youngest student ever accepted by an Indian University. Akrit rose to fame at the age of seven when he successfully did an operation and helped a eight-year-old girl’s burnt fingers. With his high IQ level, he was considered the smartest in the country at his age. With a dream to cure cancer he is continuing his studies in biology and hopes to enrol at Harvard soon. He was also invited to Imperial College in London to share his thoughts about his cancer research.

http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/children-who-changed-the-world-and-what-we-can-learn-from-them-4373725/