From: Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 935)
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
Psalm 35:1
Today, I saw a report on Security Dimensions for Children and Adolescents (I’ll add the link in the comments). The research was conducted on behalf of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform and aims to determine the level of key threats to the well-being of children worldwide. They interviewed children and their parents in 15 countries – Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Qatar, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, the UK, and the USA.
Some issues are global, and almost 80% of parents agree that their children face greater threats than they did. However, looking at countries individually gives you a better understanding.
89% of children are aware of at least one war or armed conflict going on in the world today. 1 out of 4 children in the surveyed countries is directly affected by war. For Ukraine, this number is strikingly different – 99%! A child affected by the war worry more about feeling unsafe at home, their looks, getting through their exams, not having many friends, feeling unsafe when out and about, conflict in the family, their physical health, and not being able to go to school or get higher education.
And when you look at other questions in this research, you see how war affects every aspect of life. It was incredibly sobering when you look at the children’s answers to the question, “What do you think are the biggest problems facing children and young people in your country in the next two years?” grouped by country. For Denmark and Estonia, it’s AI replacing jobs. For Lithuania and Finland, it’s loneliness. For Ukraine, it’s the war, landmines, and the risk of a nuclear war. And I’m not saying those other issues are unimportant or pose a lesser threat. No. For me, it highlights how the war overshadows everything.
Please pray for the children of Ukraine and the world. May the Lord protect them from the enemy and bring them up to be the generation of world changers.
Voice of Ukraine 