Challenges confronting children in developing countries to be discussed at G8 Summit

A student from Moldova will represent the Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the Junior 8 Summit, an international youth conference with an agenda that mirrors that of the G8 Summit taking place on June 6 in Heiligendamm, Germany. According to a press release from UNICEF Moldova, Adriana Solovei is a 14-year-old girl studying at a lyceum in Chisinau. Besides school, Adriana together with other children prepares radio programmes and broadcasts at the Youth Radio Studio. At the same time she is a volunteer of the “Speranta” Centre for children with disabilities. Before her departure to Germany, Adriana said that she will try to bring to the Junior 8 Summit some of Moldova’s most urgent problems: poverty and a high level of migration by the population in search of a better job abroad. “I have friends and colleagues who are living with their relatives and who really need their parents next to them. Also, many families are destroyed because of the permanent migration of mothers and fathers who do not return. All children deserve to grow up in a family. I hope we will find solutions at the summit and after my return I will do as much as possible to improve the situation”, Adriana said. The young people taking part in the Junior 8 Summit already met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and discussed issues confronting children and youth in developing countries. After the meeting, the young people held a press conference with UNICEF Goodwill ambassador Sir Roger Moore. The Junior 8 Summit is a joint initiative sponsored and spearheaded by UNICEF and the Morgan Stanley International Foundation (MSIF). It aims to strengthen the voice of children and young people and enhance their ability to influence decisions at the G8. In addition to direct interaction with world leaders at the G8, the J8 program empowers young people to discuss key global issues and to advocate for urgent solutions and actions by G8 leaders, by fostering a global youth movement around issues on the international agenda.