To the Editor:

Due to COVID-19, my spring plans changed. This month, I was supposed to travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in Save the Children Action Network’s Advocacy Summit and Hill Day. I was so excited to join hundreds of fellow advocates from around the country to learn more about critical children’ s issues and speak with lawmakers on how to better prioritize their needs.

The silver lining is that the Advocacy Summit was converted to a virtual one. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, children need advocates more than ever before to advocate for them, making this summit all the more important.

Here in the U.S., our schools and early learning centers have closed, resulting in widespread learning losses, increasing educational disparities, and leaving many children – who rely on school for food – hungry. On top of this, childcare centers are closing due to lack of funds and low enrollment, leaving parents and families with little or no options. And, without childcare, the economy will have a hard time opening back up.

Abroad, the coronavirus adds on the suffering of the juvenile population. Children in refugee camps, poor urban neighborhoods and war zones face more exacerbated challenges – like losing their parents, going hungry and confronting increased risk of exploitation.

Therefore, it’s more important than ever to ensure that the children’s issues are central to the decision making in order to guarantee their future during this time of crisis. Children don’t have a voice in the political process – they need us! Join me today in urging the Rhode Island Assembly – together with candidates for public office – to prioritize children.

It’s undoubtedly that our recovery will be so much stronger if we make our children the priority.

Aniece Germain, Cranston