Making Childhood
Unstoppable
Meet Holiness
Children are born ready to play, learn, grow and thrive. Ready to run. Burst into giggles. And dive in for seconds.
This is childhood. These moments should belong to every child.
At UNICEF, we work with families, communities, partners and supporters to make childhood unstoppable. We make sure children have what they need – nutritious food, safety, good health and the chance to learn – so they can get on with what matters most.
Take eight-year-old Holiness from Phalombe, Malawi, who is confident, determined and bursting with energy. Whether playing Sakamira with her friends or thriving at school, she radiates ‘I got this!’ thanks to a community working together to make sure she is healthy and well nourished.
Seeing Holiness play and excel in school, you’d never know anything had ever stood in her way. But at age four, she was diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition.
Moderate acute malnutrition is when a child isn’t getting the food and nutrients they need, causing rapid weight loss. It affects children’s health, growth and development and can become life-threatening if not addressed quickly.
“I could see that her health was deteriorating, I was worried about her,” recalls Holiness’ mum, Linily.
Thanks to a community care group, supported by UNICEF, Holiness received the diagnosis and treatment she needed to recover.
Since then, Linily has continued learning about good nutrition through the group so Holiness can thrive.
“She is now strong. I continue to feed her nutritious food because I am happy with the way she is growing.”
UNICEF is working with communities, governments, and partners around the world through our Child Nutrition Fund to make sure more children like Holiness get the nutrition they need for an unstoppable childhood.
When I am playing with my friends, I feel good because it gives me energy.
Holiness
Meet Dylan
Inclusive education is essential to an unstoppable childhood. When children can participate, learn and grow alongside their peers, they gain the skills and confidence to thrive.
Six-year-old Dylan from Caaguazú, Paraguay loves drawing – the brighter colours the better. It’s also a way he expresses himself and learns alongside his classmates.
“He communicates through gestures, signs and symbols. Even though he has speech difficulties, he is very expressive,” explains his schoolteacher, Eve.
When Dylan started school, he found lessons hard and wanted to go home. But things changed thanks to accessible digital textbooks.
Created by UNICEF and our partners, digital textbooks use features like audio narration, video and simplified text to help children with different learning styles learn side by side.
Now, Dylan is learning, making friends and enjoying childhood.
“For me, what he’s achieved is spectacular.” says Eve, Dylan’s teacher.
We are working with the Ministry of Education in Paraguay to introduce accessible digital textbooks in schools nationwide, so every classroom is inclusive for every child.
