Lily has drawn a picture of someone receiving the vaccine for COVID-19. She writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is for no more COVID-19 so families can be together and safe and for people to get along in peace.
21 Wishes for 2021
This theme chronicles 21 wishes made for the world of 2021 by 8 and 9 year old children from Roots of Empathy programs. We are humbled by their insights, their empathy, and their hopeful generous spirits. Children sitting in the classrooms of today are the citizens, the leaders, and the parents of tomorrow.
Dalton has drawn a picture of the world and two small figures. One figure is saying “Hello” and the other is saying “Hi”. Dalton writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 (is) no more COVID and people have joy and love and no more war!
Listen to Dalton’s Wish
Caleb has drawn a picture of the world. It has a large heart drawn in the center. He writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is for no littering around the world.”
Listen to Caleb’s Wish
Jia in grade 4 writes, “My hope for 2021 is that COVID-19 ends and racism stops, wildfires end, death threats stop, the COVID-19 vaccines come, and the world just becomes a better place.
Listen to Jia’s Wish
Sofia has drawn a picture in two parts. The first part shows a market where there are fruits and vegetables for sale. A sign says, “Sale on healthy food”. The second part shows a volunteer collecting money for a hospital. A donation kettle has a sign that reads, “Donate to hospital”. A volunteer rings a bell. On a small table is a Christmas tree. Sofia writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is that people stop getting COVID-19 and get good food”.
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Charlotte writes, “My hope for 2021 is for COVID-19 to end and for all the elderly people that are sick to get better and for everybody to stay safe, and for the vaccine to get made so no one gets sick anymore”.
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Lyndsie has drawn a picture of the world with an equal sign on it. Beside it, she has drawn three people who must stand far apart to avoid catching COVID-19 from each other. Over them, a red X has been placed. Lyndsie writes her wish: My hope for the world in 2021 is that COVID ends. I also hope that the world is equal and fair to everyone.
Listen to Lyndsie’s Wish
Téa, age 8, writes, “My hope for 2021 is there is NO COVID. Also NO pandemic, NO masks, NO online and we are allowed to go to our friend’s home”.
Listen to Téa’s wish
Angelica in grade 4 writes, “My hope for 2021 is that I can become a better person and think about how others feel and that COVID-19 cases will finally hit 0. I also hope everyone will become kind, loving, and caring people and for everyone to get along”.
Listen to Angelica’s Wish
Ajay, age 9, writes, “My hope for 2021 is for COVID-19 to go away and have a good life and get rid of the masks and social distancing and to play with my friends”.
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Ellie has drawn a picture of a surgical mask. Above the mask she has written “NO MORE”. Ellie writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is everybody is loved and equal, people are OK during COVID. Oh, and that COVID-19 is over”.
Listen to Ellie’s Wish
Michael C, age 9, writes, “My hope for 2021 is for there to be a cure for COVID-19 so everything can go back to normal”.
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Carly has drawn a picture of a polluted pond. There are people observing the trash, and another group declares they are going to go help clean up the pond. Carly writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is for people to take care of our planet. My hope for the world in 2021 is for people to be happy”.
Listen to Carly’s Wish
Kassandra in grade 4 has drawn a picture of her mom picking her up to go visit her brothers. She writes, “I’m giving him a piggy back ride” and has a picture of her holding her younger brother. In another drawing, she is holding her brother and writes, “I’m holding my youngest bro”. In another drawing, Kassandra has drawn her older cousins holding her hand. Kassandra is in the middle and they swing her. She writes, “They are swinging me”. Kassandra writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is for COVID-19 to stop so I can see my mom, brothers, and cousins”.
Grace has drawn a picture of a family. There is a mother, father, and child. Behind them is a sun and around them are flowers, green grass, and a small pond. Grace writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is it’s the end of COVID and people get freedom and no war…lots of love for family”.
Listen to Grace’s Wish
Sheena, age 9, writes, “My hope for 2021 is that there is no more corona(virus), and that everything can go back to normal. I don’t want things to keep closing down. I want to go back to playing normally and so I don’t have to wear this mask anymore. It is not that comfy”.
Listen to Sheena’s Wish
Logan has drawn a picture of a coronavirus spore with an angry face. Over the coronavirus, Logan has drawn a circle with a line through the middle, and has writes, “NO COVID!” Logan writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is for people to be happy and for people to get along in peace”.
Cash in grade 4 has drawn a picture of two people standing in the rain. They say, “Bonjour” to each other, which is French for “Hello”. Cash writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is that people respect others differences”.
Listen to Cash’s Wish
Lily has drawn a photo of people doing activities like skateboarding. Lily writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 (is that we) will have world peace and for humans to be happy doing what they like”.
Vivian has drawn a picture of two people. One girl is white and the other is black. Vivian writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is that people respect diversity”.
Listen to Vivian’s Wish
Lily in grade 4 has drawn a picture of herself with her cousins. They are in a sunny field. Nearby is a circle with a red cross through it. Inside the circle she has written “COVID-19”. Lily writes, “My hope for the world in 2021 is for no more COVID so I can see my cousins and for people to respect diversity”.