Who Will Fight for Them? I AM

Many things about children capture my attention. From their cute innocent and laughable antics to those that grip the heart to forever be ingrained in my memory. Two stood out the most. First was the powerful photo taken in 1993 by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Carter. It captured the heartbreaking image of a starving child in Sudan, too weak from hunger, while a vulture lurked nearby, waiting for its prey. Second was a post from UNICEF that said, “When children’s rights are ignored, who is going to fight for them? I AM.”

Carter was praised for his photo but also criticized for not helping the child first. But that image opened the world’s eyes to suffering we wouldn’t have known otherwise. The child, Nyong, was actually rescued but died years later due to illness. Sadly, Carter took his own life just about two months from receiving his Pulitzer Award, haunted by that image of the child and the devastating war he witnessed. That photo left a lasting impression on me. It reminds me how unfair life can be, especially for children who don’t get to choose where or how they are born.

UNICEF’s post also brought back those feelings. It’s more than a slogan. It’s a call to action for every adult, leader, parent, and citizen. Because when we stay silent, we become part of the problem. When we ignore suffering, we allow injustice to continue.

Children don’t choose war. They don’t choose hunger or abuse. Yet, they suffer the most from the decisions adults make—from governments to families. They carry heavy burdens no child should bear.

Every child has rights—to food, shelter, education, protection, and love. These are not privileges. They are basic human rights. But having rights written down doesn’t always mean they are implemented in real life.

In many parts of the world, children wake to bombs, not birds. Some are forced to work instead of going to school. Others are married off too young or made to fight in wars. Some flee disasters, carrying younger siblings on their backs. Many die from illnesses that could be treated if healthcare were available.

And some children are simply forgotten—lost in broken systems, hidden in abuse, or left alone in a world that doesn’t seem to care.

So when we are asked, “Who will fight for them?”

The answer must be: I AM.

I am the teacher who helps a child struggling with his lessons.

I am the doctor who treats all children with care.

I am the leader who changes laws to protect them.

I am the parent who chooses love and safety.

I am the artist who makes sure the world remembers.

I am the helper who believes small actions make a difference.

I am the photographer who shows the world the truth.

Saying “I AM” means not looking the other way. It means realizing that a child’s suffering anywhere affects us all. Whether it’s a child in Gaza losing their home, a child in Sudan starving, or a child in the Philippines being forced to work—it all matters.

Oftentimes, we hear that today’s children are tomorrow’s future. If we fail them now, we fail the world. But if we protect them, we build a future filled with hope and fairness.

The world doesn’t just need organizations. It needs people. People who care. People who speak up. People who act.

That means us.

We don’t need to be rich or powerful. We just need to care enough to learn, speak out, and  support those children.

Maybe it’s giving a meal.

Maybe it’s reporting abuse.

Maybe it’s giving a child a solar light so they can safely do homework at home instead of under a streetlamp.

Maybe it’s just listening when a child needs to talk.

Every small act matters.

So let us ask ourselves:

When a child sleeps on the ground, who will care?

When a girl is kept from school or abused, who will speak up?

When a boy is pulled into violence, who will protect him?

Let the answer be:  I AM. I WILL. I DO. Children are not just numbers. They are not someone else’s responsibility.

They are ours—to protect, to uplift, to love.

So, when children’s rights are ignored, who will fight for them?” 

“I AM.”

(cttos for their inspirational images)