8 reasons to have hope in 2023
Looking back on the last year, here’s why we’re hopeful for the year ahead.
2022 was full of ups and downs. Millions of children in South Asia were hit with disasters and tragedy. But there were also moments of progress, triumph and change. Here are 8 reasons why we’re hopeful for the year ahead.
1. Health worker heroes showed the world what is possible
Over the past two years, vaccines have made their way across South Asia like never before — powered by health worker heroes.
These heroes stopped at nothing — crossing rivers and scaling mountains — to get 3 billion lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines to every corner of the region. All while helping children catch up on their essential childhood vaccines missed during pandemic disruptions.
The investments poured into healthcare during the pandemic have blossomed into innovations. We now have better means of transporting and keeping vaccines cold than ever before. Investments also helped health workers keep children and their mothers alive. New data shows that there was no increase in the number of child deaths during the worst years of the pandemic, despite fears there could be.
Much more still needs to be done. Measles and polio are still here and we’re especially worried about the millions of vulnerable zero-dose children in the region, who have never had a single dose of lifesaving vaccines. But we’re also hopeful.
Hopeful that by building on (and supporting) the momentum, innovation and heroism of health workers, they can break new ground — once again — to reach every child, everywhere, with childhood vaccines.
2. Children and youth’s voices were heard at COP27
Flooding in Pakistan. Landslides in Bhutan. Melting glaciers in Nepal. 2022 was a year of heartbreaking climate carnage for children in South Asia.
But all hope was not lost. For the very first time, children and youth were formally recognized as agents of change at the annual United Nations Climate Conference, COP27. Here, we saw a historic breakthrough in the fight for climate justice, with the decision to establish a fund for loss and damage to support the countries most impacted by climate change – something children and young advocates have been calling for.
We’re hopeful for more change that comes when young people are included in the decisions that determine their future — and we’re here to support them.
3. Bhutan officially became 100% open-defecation-free
A toilet is so much more than a place to go — it helps children stay healthy and keeps them alive!
Without a safe, private and hygienic place to do their business, children and their families often go outside. This puts them at risk of diarrhoea and disease and can lead to malnutrition.
This year, Bhutan celebrated a win for children’s health, when it became 100% open-defecation-free!
After years of working with communities, especially in remote areas, every child and household in Bhutan now benefits from improved toilets and handwashing facilities. We’re proud to have been on this journey with our partners, working to keep every child happy and healthy. Here’s to healthier days ahead!
4. Young people spoke up on social media for a better world
A lot happened in the world of social media last year. But amidst social media takeovers and misinformation, a wave of young people used their digital skills to raise their voices on the issues that matter most to them.
From climate change to education, youth from across South Asia shared their experiences to inspire others and reach the ears of decision makers.
Here’s just some we had the pleasure of working with.
We can’t wait to see what children and young people get up to in 2023, as they work to shape the world they want to see.
5. First-ever Human Milk Bank in Nepal is giving premature babies the best start to life
In Nepal, tens of thousands of babies are born prematurely every year. One of the best ways to help these (and all) babies survive is by feeding them only breast milk — from within the hour they’re born until they’re 6 months old.
Breast milk contains antibodies that cannot be found anywhere else, helping protect newborn and infant against infection and malnutrition.
Sometimes, it’s not possible for mothers to breastfeed newborns and babies are given infant formula milk instead. But this can lead to serious infections like sepsis, putting their lives in further jeopardy.
Which is why the opening of Nepal’s first-ever Human Milk Bank in August 2022 brought us so much joy. The bank collects, pasteurizes, tests and stores human breast milk donated by lactating mothers, so it can be given to infants in need, as soon as they need it.
UNICEF partnered with The Government of Nepal and the European Union to establish the centre in Kathmandu. We’re filled with hope by the difference it will make by giving infants, especially premature, low birthweight and at-risk ones, the life-saving benefits of breastmilk — and a better start in life.
6. People opened up about mental health
The trauma and experiences of the pandemic are still being felt by children and young people across South Asia. Millions are struggling with their mental health and stigma makes it difficult for them to open up.
So, we were inspired to see young people leading mental health conversations on social media and encouraging others to take the first step towards feeling better.
During Mental Health Month in October 2022, young people from across the region worked with UNICEF South Asia and TikTok, to get young people talking about what’s on their mind. Our own Mental Health Expert Dr. Diksha joined in too. Their content was viewed by millions, with young people setting comment sections alight with thanks.
Every time someone shares their personal mental health journey, it helps someone, somewhere. We’re hopeful for more conversations like this in 2023.
7. The determination of children affected by floods in Pakistan to continue learning
The past few years have been hard on children’s learning. Just as things were feeling back to normal, 2022 had its own set of challenging and climate-induced devastation, threatening learning yet again.
But we didn’t give up hope.
In Pakistan, where catastrophic floods destroyed or damaged nearly 27,000 schools, children continued studying in one of the 700 temporary learning centres UNICEF set up in the flood response. For some children, who have never attended school before, these learning centres are their very first experience of education.
For these children, learning provides a light, especially when all else is lost.
Our hope for 2023 is for every child to return to the classroom, where they belong.
8. The resilience of children and families in South Asia
Finally, the children and families we work for in South Asia give us tremendous hope.
It’s been a year of heartbreak, disaster and upheaval.
An earthquake in Afghanistan. An economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Devastating floods in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
Through it all, the resilience and determination of children has inspired us to keep going.
Their hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow remind us that we must never give up.
No matter what 2023 brings, we won’t stop striving, every day, for a better world, for every child.
