Earlier this year, UNICEF released their annual report: State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities. As part of this report, UNICEF has some videos from around the world that show innovations, schools, new opportunities, and culture; while some of the other videos show how vulnerable some of the children truly are, show how to get informed to protect children with disabilities, and show how support from their community can help children with disabilities.

Here are a few of those videos (each of these videos is about two – three minutes long):

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: A wheelchair makes Meshak more mobile.
• Mali: School of Hope for children with hearing impairments.
• Viet Nam: A new center brings hope to children with disabilities.
• Jordan: Refugee children with disabilities are the most vulnerable.
• Ecuador: A little boy with a genetic disorder attends school and dreams of flight.
• United States: Hopes and dreams of Deaf students.
•  South Africa: A young woman’s path towards making social change.
• Haiti: The country’s reconstruction offers a chance for a more inclusive approach.
• Disability: Child Protection – Get informed and protect children.

In 2012, UNICEF held a contest that would showcase the perspectives of young people with disabilities. UNICEF has made available the videos made by the finalists and the videos include children of all abilities from across the globe:

• Contest Winner: Equal Right to Dream by Yun Han from China.
• Honorable Mention: Doudejli (Triumph) Evelyn Hassou Sènan from Benin.
• It’s About Abilities: Manon Grimault, France/USA.
• Achondroplasia is Not a Limit, Jon Aristu Garde, Spain.

UNICEF also has a series of short films called “2 Lives: 2 Miles Apart” that highlight crucial issues impacting children. This year, UNICEF is highlighting two young people who live with disabilities in the same country. Where available, we have included the videos with International Sign Language (ISL). Here are just a few of them:

• The short film, Dreams, follows Micah, a fifteen year old keen on acting, and Emmanuel, an 11 year old who wants to be a meteorologist when he grows up. They both live in the United States and share their passion and their aspirations.
• Love is a short film talks about the right that children have to be informed about how their bodies change, how to have healthy relationships, and how to deal with new emotions. Follow Dalila and Nicolás in Uruguay as they share their thoughts the education they received on the above topics. (With ISL.)
• Another short film is Sports, which talks about a child’s right to challenge him or herself and grow through sports. Meet Azril and Aaron. They live in Malaysia and compete at the top levels of their sports. (With ISL.)
• The short movie, Home, depicts Tigranuhi and Greta, both from Armenia, sharing how they like to spend their days and the differences between life at home and life in an institution. (With ISL.)

Check out UNICEF’s Photos and Videos page to see all the videos that are part of this year’s report.  You can also watch the finalist videos from the “It’s About Ability!” contest and the series of short films called “2 Lives: 2 Miles Apart”.