L’Aquila (Italy) July 10: Fourteen youngsters from countries attending the G8 Summit, including a schoolgirl from India, on Thursday appealed to their leaders to act fast on combating climate change and ensure high-quality education for children.
The representatives of the UNICEF Junior 8 (J8) met leaders of G8 countries and non G-8 nations invited to L’Aquila, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. They presented their recommendations at the meeting.
The 14 youngsters were chosen by their peers — 54 young delegates in the age group of 14 to 17.
They told the 14 top world leaders that they wanted high-quality post-primary education for all children and a safe trip to school.
“If I could ask the world’s leaders to prioritise one thing to help children, it would be education,” said 16-year-old Sanjukta Pangi, a Class XII student of a government school in Koraput, Orissa who represented India in the J8.
The J8 also appealed to the leaders that they should get tough with countries not meeting climate change targets and sign a meaningful agreement in the December climate change summit in Copenhagen that will emphasise participation of young people in combating the problem
–Agencies