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A CHILD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
A Hear the Children Day of Peace Drama
The following play was written during the 1997 World Summit of Children as an activity to strengthen communication about Hear the Children Day of Peace (HTC Day of Peace) to the world. This short piece can be presented as part of the HTC Day of Peace activities. It can be shown to children and adults participating and celebrating HTC Day of Peace. It can also be video taped and shown anytime during the year to be used as a basis for discussions about children’s rights, the attitudes society holds towards children and/or the abilities of children to bring about positive change.
A CHILD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
A drama written by members of the
1997 World Summit of Children International Summit
Cast of Characters
Alex,a young student
Elsabe, a concerned friend
Diane, A National Council member
Mother
Father
Friends #1--#7
Business Man
Government Official
Narrator
SCENE 1
A Classroom
A classroom is set up on one side of the stage with Elsabe and 9 other students and a teacher. There is an empty desk in the back of the room. It is dark and the actors do not move.
A drunken man’s voice is heard screaming offstage on the opposite side, “I won’t have a bad woman !” A woman’s terrified scream is heard followed by the sound of punching.
Alex: (Enters running and crying onto the side of the stage opposite the classroom. He wipes his eyes and
prepares to enter the classroom. He takes a seat unnoticed in the back of the classroom, rubs his eyes
and falls sound asleep on his desk.)
(Students are seated at their desks writing their lesson.)
Teacher: (Standing with her back to Alex examining the other students work and making comments such as, “Very good, Johnny”, etc.)
Children, may I have your attention. I would like to announce the test scores.
Alex: (Snores gradually getting louder as the teacher speaks)
Teacher: Cathy 80%. Jessica 85%. Alex 27%.... (notices Alex is sleeping. Goes to Alex and shakes his arm to wake him)
Alex ! Your grades are so poor - and you have the audacity to sleep in my classroom ?
Alex: (Awake now, with a bad attitude) I’m awake. I’m awake.
Teacher: You better change your attitude or get out of my class !
Alex: (Gets up and kicks his chair backwards causing a screeching sound)
Fine !
(walks out, slamming the door behind him)
Elsabe: (running after Alex and catching up to him.)
Are you OK ? What’s wrong ? Can I help ?
Alex: Go away! Just leave me alone !
Elsabe: Alex! I really care about you and it troubles me that you look so unhappy ! Please tell me what is wrong.
Alex: (Lowers his head and talks as the two exit the stage)
My father comes home drunk at night and he.........
SCENE 2
Elsabe’s Living Room
Later a group of Elsabe’s friends are meeting and discussing the situation with Alex. Elsabe is explaining Alex’s story as the scene opens.
Elsabe: What can we possibly do to help Alex ?
Friend #5: Maybe there are others like Alex who need our help.
Friend #3: We could write letters to the government and tell them....
Friend #4 No ! They wouldn’t listen to us.
Friend #1: What about the media ? Would it be possible to contact them and tell them what the situation is ?
Friend #2: Oh, come on... Why would they listen to a bunch of teen-agers ?
Friend #6: Fine, then, we’ll do it ourselves.
Friend #3: Yeah, we can form a group of children to help other children. Young people from all over the country who are interested can work together like a...a.. a National Council !
Friend #1 Hey ! That’s a good name - “National Council.”
Friend #2: But how would we help the children solve their problems and improve their lives ? Can we really accomplish anything ?
Friend #5: If we never try, we’ll never know. If we all work together and collaborate our ideas, then we really
can make a difference in the lives of other children.
Friend #3: This Council could provide children with the opportunities to be responsible, active citizens and campaign for the rights of children. We can work with adults and help them to realize that the problems of children should be taken more seriously. After all, we are the future and the decisions of
today affect the world of tomorrow.
Friend #6: I see ! and it would also strengthen mutual respect between the generations !
Friend #7: This Council would be beneficial to the government because it would provide them with children’s views based on love and humanitarian values.
Friend #1: We would be able to present current problems and possible solutions to the government and they can support us in our actions to remedy these problems.
Friend #2: I think this can work ! Let’s get started...
SCENE 3
A Large Meeting Room
Students under 18 years of age are sitting around a meeting room holding their first National Council meeting. Diane is in front of the room.
Diane: Welcome to the first meeting of the National Council. It is nice to have you all here trying to solve the problems of children. Without your involvement and enthusiasm this would never have been possible.
We hope to discuss different problems at each of our meetings. Today the first issue is domestic
violence.
Friend #2: But what can we do to solve the problem ?
Friend #3: We could write letters to the government and tell them....
Friend #4 No ! They wouldn’t listen to us.
Friend #1: What about the media ? Would it be possible to contact them and tell them what the situation is ?
Friend #2: Oh, come on... Why would they listen to a bunch of teen-agers ?
Friend #6: Fine, then, we’ll do it ourselves.
Friend #3: Yeah, we can form a group of children to help other children. Young people from all over the country who are interested can work together like a...a.. a National Council !
Friend #1 Hey ! That’s a good name - “National Council.”
Friend #2: But how would we help the children solve their problems and improve their lives ? Can we really accomplish anything ?
Friend #5: If we never try, we’ll never know. If we all work together and collaborate our ideas, then we really
can make a difference in the lives of other children.
Friend #3: This Council could provide children with the opportunities to be responsible, active citizens and campaign for the rights of children. We can work with adults and help them to realize that the
problems of children should be taken more seriously. After all, we are the future and the decisions of
today affect the world of tomorrow.
Friend #6: I see ! and it would also strengthen mutual respect between the generations !
Friend #7: This Council would be beneficial to the government because it would provide them with children’s views based on love and humanitarian values.
Friend #1: We would be able to present current problems and possible solutions to the government and they can support us in our actions to remedy these problems.
Friend #2: I think this can work ! Let’s get started...
SCENE 3
A Large Meeting Room
Students under 18 years of age are sitting around a meeting room holding their first National Council meeting. Diane is in front of the room.
Diane: Welcome to the first meeting of the National Council. It is nice to have you all here trying to solve the problems of children. Without your involvement and enthusiasm this would never have been possible.
We hope to discuss different problems at each of our meetings. Today the first issue is domestic
violence. Many children deal with it every day of their lives. One of our members is here to tell you his
personal story. Please welcome Alex.
Alex: Hello everyone. My name is Alex. This is a hard subject for me to talk about, but I think that talking about problems is a good way to help solve them. Besides, it is important that you know how badly the children of this country need our assistance. Ever since my father lost his job in the factory things have become worse and worse. Our family used to be so close. Now all we do is fight. My life is a nightmare. My Dad drinks and gets really violent. My Mom is very sick and since my Dad doesn’t work, we can’t afford to help her get well. We also can’t afford basic food and clothing, so I have to work after school.
But I cannot support the whole family on my own. I have little time to study. I go to school hungry
almost every day. My grades are dropping and I used to be at the top of the class. I love to learn, but
things have changed so much I just don’t know what to do anymore. (Alex becomes very emotional and
sits down.)
(A friend gives him a hug.)
Diane: Members of this Council, how can we assist Alex in solving his problem and to enjoy a better life ? Remember his is just one story out of hundreds, perhaps thousands, even more.
Elsabe: My proposal is to set up affordable counseling and provide food and clothing for children in similar situations.
Diane: I agree. How are we going to come up with the necessary funding ?
Friend #6: We can seek funding from non-governmental organizations and the government. We can do this through media coverage: putting in newspapers, on television and in flyers.
Friend #5: I move that we draft a proposal and send it to all our local businesses to support our endeavors.
Diane: Does the majority accept this proposal ?
All: Aye !
Diane: Let’s get to it !
SCENE 4
NGO (non-governmental organization) Office
An office is set up on stage with a desk, chairs etc. The National Council members Diane, Friend #1, Friend #2, Friend #3 and Friend #7 are talking in the hall outside the office.
Friend #1: Well, this is our last chance.
Friend #2: I thought that last business was going to give a donation, but he said that it wasn’t a big enough problem.
Friend #3: And the one before that said they didn’t have enough money.
Friend #7: Well, I tried to convince the other successful businesses to contribute and they all said maybe another time. Its like they don’t trust us because we’re children or something.
Diane: We have got to make them realize that this is a serious problem ! The future depends on it.
Friend #1: Well, we might as well go in.
(The five enter the office where the Business Man is seated.)
Friend #3: Good morning.
Business Man: Hello, can I help you ?
Friend #4: We represent the National Council of children, a group that defends and protects the rights of children. We sent you information last week describing our organization. To fully accomplish our goal, we need your help. Our goal is to provide children from broken, poor and troubled families with the clothes and food that they desperately need. A donation from your company would be greatly appreciated.
Business Man: Yes. I received your information. although I haven’t read all of it, I find it most unusual that teen-agers would be spending their time and energy on such a project. When I was growing up my family experienced a lot of the kind of problems your information describes. I wish that there had been a group like you young people when I needed help. I think that you are doing a wonderful thing. I will be glad to contribute to your cause.
SCENE 5
A Government Official’s Office
Elsabe, Friend #1, Friend #, Friend #7 are talking with an official in a government office.
Elsabe: ...and so you see we are a nationally organized group of children working for children.
Official: That is very good, children. It is reassuring to know that our country’s children care for each other enough to take action. However, the budget has been prepared for this financial year and it does not make provisions for these types of expenses. In addition, these problems are the responsibility of adults and not children.
Elsabe: This problem has greater repercussions than you realize. For example in Alex’s home, his father beats his sick mother and is unemployed which degrades their family life. The effect this has on Alex’s academic life is disastrous. The research we did on this led us to the discomforting conclusion that this is happening on a very large scale.
Official: Well, members of the National Council, I am very impressed. I know some of my colleagues will still have some doubts, but you have convinced me that you have the responsibility and the intelligence to make a difference. I will propose an emergency meeting of high level officials who have jurisdiction in this matter to help you solve this problem.
(The children shake hands thanking the official and leave the office. They stop outside the office.)
Friend #1: We did it ! I knew we could do it !
Friend #2: This is only the beginning. we still have a lot of work to do.
Friend #7: Can you imagine what children could do at the international level ? What if there was an international council--like the United Nations for young people like us ? Young people who want to make a difference ! We could help so many people and give children hope that they can make a difference in a positive way--that the ideas and efforts of children can be taken into consideration with respect !
Narrator: The National Council members contacted other national councils around the world. In time they convinced their respective nations that establishing a United Nations Young General Assembly was
not only a beneficial, but a necessary, course of action. Since children make up approximately one
third of the world population and that percentage is increasing, it is imperative that the United Nations include children’s perspectives and keep their best interests in mind. Remember, no man is an island. Whatever happens in the world directly influences children in their homes because every little part is linked to the whole.
SCENE 6
Alex’s Classroom
Alex, his mother and father are meeting with Alex’s teacher to discuss their family situation.
Father: My wife and I appreciate your understanding in this matter. We still have a lot of things to work out, but things are getting better. The food and the clothes the National Council donated to us really helped to give me hope that things could get better. This hope made it possible for me to attend alcoholism therapy and job training. I am starting a new job next week. This means Alex can spend his time after school studying instead of working.
Mother: We know that Alex’s education is very important. We’re making a commitment to improving our family life so that he will have the opportunity to achieve his goals.
Teacher: I am very happy to see that this situation is turning around. I will continue to give Alex extra help
until he catches up with his school work. His involvement with the National Council seems to have
changed his whole attitude. Congratulations and good luck !
Alex: Actually, it is my friends who deserve the congratulations. They helped to make all of this possible. As long as adults continue to listen with an open mind to children like us, this world can only get better.
FINALE
Whole cast assembles on stage. Narrator steps to the front
Narrator: Children are the most untapped, but most valuable, resource of our society. Seldom are they recognized and appreciated for their intelligence and insight. A child like Alex was unfortunately thrown into a situation that he could not solve on his own. He needed the collaborating force of his peers to help improve the lives of children suffering from the same problem.
(Hear the Children song begins playing softly in the background)
Oftentimes the best solution proves to be the most simple one. The things that we all learn in kindergarten, for instance, give us the foundation for solving everything from simple to complex problems. The members of the National Council worked together and gained the respect and trust of adults through their active, non-violent initiatives. We hope that in reading or watching this play, you will believe in the power of children and will use, not abuse, this worldwide untapped resource.
(The volume is turned up and actors and audience sing the rest of the Hear the Children song.)
Click here to view the song lyrics
Click here to view the song notes
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