By Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, June 12, 2020

2020 has been a year that will go down in history. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed fault lines in societies around the world: health care and other key services have had trouble dealing with the virus, and disadvantaged communities have been disproportionately affected. Also, recently, we have seen a wave of protests and people coming together in solidarity against racism, systemic discrimination, oppression and injustice erupting in the United States and across the world. Its been year of so many ups and downs so far.

After months of social distancing, frustrations have been running high — many young activists have called for changes in the areas in which our societies can do better and are determined to make their voices heard. Meanwhile, plans to reopen cities are being unfolded, raising questions about what our new normal will look like.

A cloud of uncertainty hangs above, and I sometimes find it hard to shake. During times like these, however, I try to focus on the silver lining. As we face this crisis, I can’t help but notice the humanity and solidarity that has emerged from various sources: these young movements have arisen from a sense of solidarity with our peers; leaders are trying to listen to and understand the needs of their citizens during these difficult times; and, through it all, selfless and generous acts of support and care permeate our communities. We’re really all in this together, and hearing stories to this effect help me remember that, when times get hard, our true, caring and communal nature emerges.

This week, I am especially proud to introduce the next edition of 10 Young People who are fighting COVID-19 in their communities. These young people saw the current state of things, and responded with action, positivity and compassion. They are an inspiration to us all, and I hope that reading their stories helps you get through these days, as it does for me.