Eight-year-old Burgenländer inspired at the UN summit in New York

Eight-year-old Burgenländer inspired at the UN summit in New York

At the latest UN summit in New York, children worldwide were able to present their visions and wishes for a better future. Among them was eight-year-old Anton Jordan Lichtenberger from Breitenbrunn, who represented Austria at an online event. His participation is not only an enriching experience for him, but also an important step to strengthen the voice of the younger generation in global matters.

Anton is a versatile talented boy: he plays the piano and violin and also has an enthusiasm for sport. During his speech, he emphasized the need to make the world safer for children and demanded that the children's wishes should be heard more. His parents, Christian and Pia Jordan-Lichtenberger, support him and give their children the importance of self-confidence and civil courage. "We want to work for those who don't have such a loud voice," says Christian Jordan-Lichtenberger.

child voices in the focus

The Catholic Youth, along with other organizations, has started to offer children a platform to be heard at the UN summit. Veronika Thaller from the Jungschar explains that more than a third of the world's population consists of children and that their needs should be the focus. During the summit, impressive experiences from other countries were shared, such as the dramatic effects of drought in Kenya. Anton stood for a positive message and showed what children are able to achieve.

The "Bici Bus", a project launched by Anton's family, is an example of how to actively contribute to improving the situation in your community. Every Friday, parents accompany a group of around 15 children by bike to elementary school. This concept came from the idea of counteracting the strong motorized traffic in the region and at the same time encouraging the children to be active and environmentally conscious. In the meantime, the Bici Bus has found not only in Breitenbrunn, but also in other communities such as Neusiedl am See and Eisenstadt.

Participation in the UN event not only enables Anton to stand up for the concerns of children, but also serves to initiate similar projects in their communities as inspiration. The fusion of active commitment and encouragement of young people is a step in the right direction to ensure that the voices of the little ones are also heard in important discourses. This development could have a positive effect on awareness and responsibility towards the next generation in the long term.

For more information about this moving event and other exciting initiatives, you can do the article on burgenland.orf read.