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When a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day 2024, more than 590 people lost their lives and tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Eighteen months later, people in this rural part of central Japan are still recovering, and many still live in temporary shelters. But they are helping each other to rebuild their lives. French photographer Vincent Tremeau spent a decade documenting the dreams and hopes of children affected by crises, often travelling with staff members. In February 2025 he visited schools on the Noto Peninsula and met some of the children. Here are their stories.
Violence against children in armed conflict is rising, with education increasingly under attack. In the past year, attacks on schools surged by 44%, causing deaths, abductions, and trauma among students and teachers. These violations endanger lives and the future of communities. The UN urges nations to ensure safe access to education, invest in resilient systems, and uphold the . To mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack (9 September), UNESCO and partners host a high-level event in Geneva under the theme “Challenging Narratives, Reshaping Action.”
Digitalisation is reshaping learning, work, and social life, offering new opportunities while also deepening inequalities. Despite its potential to improve education access, 739 million people still lack basic literacy, putting them at risk of further exclusion. Digital literacy now includes critical engagement with digital content. This year, (8 September) focuses on “Promoting literacy in the digital era,” stressing inclusive policies for empowerment and sustainability. To mark the occasion, a is being held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Severe violations against children have become a deadly new norm. highlights the six most serious violations affecting children in armed conflicts.
. Tiny cries, big hope: incubators are giving Somalia’s newborns a fighting chance. Imagine holding your breath, waiting for your newborn’s first cry, and hearing only silence... That was Faduma’s reality in Mogadishu, until a simple incubator gave her baby the breath of life. In from UNFPA, discover how a handful of life-saving machines —incubators, oxygen units, and surgical gear — are transforming hospitals once teetering on the edge of despair. Meet the unstoppable health workers defying the odds, mothers who turn fear into joy, and the miracle of modern care in places where even electricity isn’t a guarantee. It’s a story of survival, love, and why funding matters — because every breath counts.
Over half of parents and pregnant women are exposed to that violates international standards and undermines informed feeding choices.
is celebrated every year in the first week of August, championed by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Ministries of Health and civil society partners around the globe. It’s a time to recognize breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity. Breastfeeding delivers a hopeful future not only for children, but for societies. It reduces healthcare costs, boosts cognitive development, strengthens economies, and sets children up with healthy beginnings.
“One Day, I Will” is a photography series by Vincent Tremeau that portrays children in crisis-affected areas dressing up as who they want to become, revealing their dreams and resilience.
In 2025, following a , the project highlighted local children’s hopes and strength, and is featured at the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
Parenting may not always be easy, but it's filled with meaningful, lasting moments that shape both .
The Smurfs, alongside the UN’s ActNow campaign and , are inspiring children worldwide to speak up for fairness, empowerment, and a more inclusive future, with support from global stars like Rihanna and Hannah Waddingham.
As global aid declines, vital services for children, like healthcare and immunization, are collapsing, threatening millions of lives and undermining progress in humanitarian and development efforts.
When conflict dominates the news, children often feel scared or anxious and look to their parents for reassurance and a sense of safety.
When parents and children connect through play, it’s magical. Choose play every day because every moment matters.
The 2025 World Day Against Child Labour (12 June) marks a critical moment in the global fight to end child labour. Under the theme “Progress is clear, but there's more to do: let’s speed up efforts!”, the International Labour Organization () calls on all countries to fully ratify the , and to effectively implement the , which includes all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery. Now’s the time to make the elimination of child labour a reality.