society | Harbingers' Magazine

December 01, 2023

A ‘silent genocide’ in DRC is impacting millions of lives

In the heart of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands as a nation marred by a history of conflict and a tapestry of complexity. Described as ‘the silent genocide’, an ongoing conflict in the eastern region has cast a spotlight on the escalating tensions

17 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova breaks down the escalating tensions in the DRC

December 01, 2023

Perhaps it is time to cancel ‘cancel culture’

To many, ‘cancel culture’ and the act of boycotting a public figure, has become an important tool of social justice. However, ‘cancel culture’ prioritises public condemnation without fostering constructive dialogue or providing opportunities for redemption

17 year-old Megan Lee on the social justice of "cancelling"

December 01, 2023

How social media influencers reshaped the global marketing landscape

Social media influencers have become crucial drivers of the economy, and their contribution to the global market cannot be ignored. With the rise of social media, e-commerce has taken on a whole new level of significance

18 year-old Nadia Diakowska on the rising value of e-commerce

November 24, 2023

Motivation is helping me face daily obstacles and it can help you too

Girls like me need all the motivation they can get to stay focused and overcome hardship. I’m 16 and I’m unable to get a proper education in my home country of Afghanistan. But I will not let those limitations determine my future

16 year-old Swita on finding daily inspiration and self-help

November 24, 2023

Compared to dogs or children, women struggle in the Ukrainian army

Women are a vital part of Ukraine’s future victory but female soldiers continually face restrictions on their basic needs. Instead, women are treated as an object of entertainment rather than living, breathing, and equally capable human beings

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko speaks against the discrimination of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

November 24, 2023

How Claudia Goldin inspires me by shattering barriers in the male-dominated realm of economics

Goldin presented a previously unheard-of hypothesis arguing that access to the contraceptive pill played a vital role in accelerating the revolutionary increase in female workforce participation, doubling in size between 1960 and 1980

18-year-old Nadia Diakowska on the inspiration from this year’s Nobel Prize winner in Economics

November 17, 2023

Destruction in devotion: how do cults weaponise human vulnerability?

The ambiguity of an ‘end to all’ has been used as a form of exploitation to keep people fearful and submissive – and Charles Manson’s “Helter Skelter” prophecy, a vision heralding an apocalyptic race war, might serve as an example

16 year-old Camilla Savelieva explores how cult leaders use fear to exert power

November 17, 2023

Afghan teenager opens kindergarten to help children “fly off into the horizons of tomorrow”

Shanhaza, at the age of 15, opened her own kindergarten ‘Fly’ to provide free care for infants to equip younger generations with education and opportunity.

17 year-old Shanhaza on her dreams and goals in providing education

November 17, 2023

Seven things you need to know about the UK Covid inquiry

The COVID-19 inquiry has become the focal point of current affairs in the UK. This guide aims to break down the independent inquiry and answer frequently asked questions

17-year-old Jinn Ong explains the inquiry into the UK’s handling of COVID-19

November 10, 2023

Learning from Indigenous communities can drive sustainability amid the climate crisis

Indigenous communities make up only 6% of the global population but they conserve 80% of biodiversity. Sustainable practices and respect for the environment are built into their social doctrine which has been passed on for generations

Sanaa Pasha interviews climate activist Yusuf Baluch and Growing up Green founder Amy Campbell

November 10, 2023

Police arrested 26 climate protestors for ‘serious disruption’ –- Thunberg among those charged

Among protestors stood 20 year-old Greta Thunberg who highlighted before her arrest that they “have no choice but to disrupt” because “our world is being swept away by greenwashing and lies”

17 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova reports on the Swedish activist’s legal trouble

November 10, 2023

Florida is in the middle of ‘Hurricane DeSantis’ but there will be a rainbow after the storm

Florida may serve as a global punchline, symbolizing a strained political atmosphere, internal divisions, and challenges to democratic values within the United States, but the state holds profound significance for the individuals who call it home

16 year-old Emily Dorman on Ron DeSantis’ triad

November 10, 2023

Unwritten Dreams. Do I stand a chance to break the generational wealth gap and live the American Dream?

Carved from my parents’ sacrifices, their hopes for a brighter future, and their resilience in the face of adversity, I was grappling with the complexities of “The American Dream” as I questioned whether it truly aligned with the narrative I was enveloped in

17 year-old Abigail Gonzalez Zavala analyzes her chances to make it in 21st century United States

November 03, 2023

"We can drive systemic change" - Filmmaker urges youth to take action in climate crisis

A feature documentary in production, ‘1.5 Degrees of Peace’, aims to start conversations in the fields of climate justice, peace and disarmament through the power of storytelling

17 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews Kasha Slavner

November 03, 2023

The economics behind the UK’s planned ‘crackdown’ on vaping

The number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled prompting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to promise action against vaping, which is to create the first ever ‘smoke-free generation’ in the UK by 2030

18 year-old Timur Boranbayev analyses economic implications of legal suppression of the vaping industry

October 27, 2023

Market economy and school choice improve academic outcomes, so why don’t we learn from science?

Academic variation driven by wealth and access inequalities shapes the present of today’s students. The income gap between lower and upper-class families is one of the greatest predictors of academic outcomes

17 year-old Grace Minakowski was the runner-up for the Harbinger Prize in Economics

October 27, 2023

2023 set another record in temperatures. How will the climate crisis impact the economy?

Climate change does not only affect the economy when disasters occur – it impacts the economic wellbeing of people around the world through hard-to-perceive destruction of infrastructure, disruption of global supply chains, and the effect on agriculture

17 year-old Nadia Diakowska on the cost of the warmest September on record

October 27, 2023

Denying treatment because women could get pregnant? That’s a new level of toxic absurdity

Women cannot be stripped of basic services, like healthcare, because of their so-called ‘function’, and the word ‘woman’ should not be synonymous with ‘mother’

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko speaks against curbing women’s rights in the US

October 20, 2023

At 12, I promised myself a hysterectomy. That’s how ignorance of menstrual health tortures girls

Young girls like me will continue to suffer because periods are taboo and we are told period cramps are supposed to hurt. The pain of endometriosis is instead chalked up to female sensitivities, low pain tolerance, and the joys of womanhood

17 year-old Erin Walshaw was the runner-up in the Harbinger Prize in Reporting

October 20, 2023

History of Australia’s offshore detention camps makes me sickened by my country

Christmas Island is a pristine pocket of land in the Indian Ocean, just below Java, where you will find crystal clear waters, beautiful stretches of white sand beaches, heavenly weather and a long history of human rights violations

15 year-old Tanya Chi essay was the runner-up in the Harbinger Prize in Humanities

October 20, 2023

Visiting Himalayan vineyards. ‘In a century, Bhutan may be the only winemaking country in the world’

Bhutan may change all we know about wine. Planted in 2022 in Southern Bhutan, Mike’s Gelephu vineyard is an experiment in ‘reverse cycle harvest’. It is an example of how sustainability can become the driving force for innovation and economic growth

18 year-old Diar Boranbayev interviews Bhutan’s first-ever winemaker

October 20, 2023

‘Deranged cultural standards’ - How Sri Lanka’s misogyny is impeding its economic recovery

McKinsey Global Institute estimates that advancing gender equality in Sri Lanka could add $64 billion to its GDP by 2025

17 year-old Nadia Diakowska analyses a negative feedback loop between inequality and poverty

October 20, 2023

Are they ‘women politicians’ or politicians? - the challenges women still face in global governance

As a young woman with an aspiration to join the political world in the future, I couldn't believe the public impudence, the unacceptable behaviour one is signed up to tolerate

17 year-old Aleksandra Lasek on the gender bias in politics

October 20, 2023

Why the hell is Holden Caulfield the most relatable character I’ve ever read about?

It is extremely hard to know exactly how we wish our lives to turn out at sixteen. Holden is a byword for this identity crisis, reflecting my experience having contradictory feelings running through at such a pace that I feel trapped and unable to process it all

16 year-old Maria Mitko watches her reflection in Salinger’s famous novel

October 20, 2023

‘Everyone needs hobbies’ - Afghan girls share what makes them happy

From sports to reading and writing, Afghan girls continue to develop themselves and look towards the future with ambition and hope

Four OXSFJ & LEARN students share their favourite hobbies

October 13, 2023

‘When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, with a red hat that doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me’

The poem represents the freedom of being old and the message of seeing ageing as a positive experience - something to cherish - which has resonated with me since I first heard it at barely five years-old

17 year-old Cressida Anness Lorenz wins the Harbinger Prize in Photography

October 06, 2023

‘It’s like an addiction’ — American teenagers fall victim to online sports gambling apps

Whether through indirect or direct means, teenagers are being influenced to pursue online sports gambling. The rapidly growing industry is preying on those with underdeveloped minds, increasing profits to the detriment of future generations

17 year-old Arham Shah wins the Harbinger Prize in Economics

October 06, 2023

Disappearing in the Pacific. Their islands are sinking, yet we can barely hear calls for help

In the heart of the Pacific Islands, a chorus of student voices resonates together to paint a vivid picture of hopes, concerns, and aspirations despite the nuanced, complex threat that they face

18 year-old Chenxi Zhang wins the Harbinger Prize in Reporting

September 30, 2023

Flowers for the Future enables Afghan students to “bloom”

Amidst challenges posed by the Taliban’s restrictions, the support from individuals around the world and organisations like FFF are “a source of inspiration”

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimanova interviews the student-run organisation that supports the ‘rights of students across the world to education’

September 29, 2023

My 50th birthday: A world without food

A future where real food doesn’t exist anymore may sound like quite a bleak and dystopian future. But this is far closer than we think with the 26-year timer we find ourselves on

17 year-old Christian Yeung wins the Harbinger prize in Humanities

September 15, 2023

Ukraine’s leniency towards sexual assault is irreconcilable with our nation’s European aspirations

A recent crime in the Zakarpattya region of Ukraine has proven once again how prevalent the problem with punishment for sexual violence is in the Ukrainian legal system

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko on misogyny embedded in Ukraine’s legal system

September 15, 2023

Long-term recovery underway in the Mediterranean following widespread fires

With the elements of strong wind, high temperatures and trees, a rampage of wildfires formed in the Mediterranean in July. Italy, North Africa and Greece are now recovering from this disastrous fire

16 year-old Jefferson He speaks with affected locals

September 08, 2023

Trump administration disregard Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s last words

"My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed” - the final words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to her granddaughter, has seen the former justice’s worst fear brought into reality

17 year-old Aleksandra Lasek on the notions of progress

September 08, 2023

Why are more football stars making the move to Saudi Arabia?

While also stirring up controversy, the Saudi league has been growing at an insane rate and has attracted numerous big names, including the likes of Ronaldo

15 year-old Isaaq Hussain on the international transfer market

September 08, 2023

Dying languages: Cultures are being eradicated in silence

Language is often reduced to a tool for basic communication, neglecting its human and cultural significance. Global warming and urbanisation are forcing linguistically diverse communities to migrate, assimilate, and abandon their ancestral tongues

Sophie Yu on the fight to save forgotten languages

August 25, 2023

Inside Greek refugee camp Ritsona’s mission to ‘safeguard human rights’

At Ritsona refugee camp, a group of asylum seekers gathered to share their stories about how they reached Greece, how the camp is supporting them, and the struggles they face which included frustrations with the asylum procedure

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova visits and speaks with members of Ritsona refugee camp

August 25, 2023

How the UK Cost of Living Crisis is affecting migrants

Since 2021, the economic situation in the UK has started to worsen, and this has affected many people, both citizens and non-citizens. However, while the government is providing some support to British citizens, migrants are being overlooked

17 year-old Jakub Hejka interviews Polish migrants on the Immigration Health Surcharge

August 25, 2023

“Invisible to the Ukrainian legislation” - What it means to be queer in Ukraine

The question of LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine is now more important than ever, as lots of these people are defending the country every day, and apart from that, are equally Ukrainian citizens who deserve to be recognized as such

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko interviews Ukrainian legal activists Tania Kasian and Maxim Potapovych

August 19, 2023

Ageism: How young MPs are battling for political recognition

In today’s society, their role is arguably not considered as inspirational as that of pop stars or maybe even athletes. But why not? Young MPs seem to have an even greater fight for this interest, and for recognition in the political sphere

15 year-old Isaaq Hussain on youth accessibility in UK politics

August 18, 2023

Meet nine Harbingers’ student journalists from Nepal’s ‘earthquake generation’

The people in Nepal are even better than the county’s stunning views. At the Mountain Children's House, an orphanage of 32 minors, I spoke to young people who eagerly shared their bold hopes and dreams

16 year-old Jefferson He introduces the newest Harbingers' project

August 12, 2023

Universal higher education should be free. Here’s why

Education should not be privileged and only available to those that can afford it but to everyone. Access to higher education is a necessity not only for people but also for our economy to continue developing

17 year-old Jakub Hejka evaluates the wealth divide in higher education

August 11, 2023

This year’s A-Level students are experiencing their greatest fear

I believe that teachers play a major role in a students education. With teachers in the UK going on a series of strikes, it impacts both their GCSE and A-Level results

16 year-old Jefferson He on the unfair change in grade boundaries

August 10, 2023

Are vapes truly safe alternatives to cigarettes?

As a British teenager, I feel that I am constantly exposed to flashy and colourful images of e-cigarettes which is a new way to get young people addicted to nicotine

15 year-old Isaaq Hussain gives his opinion on the UK vape “epidemic”

August 10, 2023

Sexual assault should not have a timer

The whole case is another terrifying example of how the justice system worldwide fails victims of sexual assault once again and promotes inconsequential violence, as well as gaslighting the victims into silencing their stories and experiences

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko looks at a recent sexual assault case in Italy

August 09, 2023

Women’s World Cup inspiring a new generation of girls into the sport

The Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is on track to receive the highest attendance numbers for the tournament to date, with interest in the women’s game on the rise

15 year-old Isaaq Hussain covers the recent historic achievements of the sport

August 09, 2023

Trump stays popular among Republicans despite felony charges

The US 2024 presidential elections are just around the corner and according to latest polls, the Former President Donald J Trump has been crushing his rising competitors

17 year-old Aleksandra Lasek follows the US presidential election polls

August 08, 2023

"Proportionate response to disastrous decision" - Greenpeace defends controversial protest

Activists from the campaign group climbed Rishi Sunak’s £2 million grade-II listed manor home in North Yorkshire on Thursday, August 3 and draped it with black cloth in protest of the PM’s plans to grant new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea

16 year-old Justin Sau reports on the mixed response of climate action

August 04, 2023

Greek newspaper Migratory Birds helps refugee teenagers ‘fly high’

It was the initiative of 15 Afghan teenage girls and one Greek girl, who decided it was time for the refugee population to be truly heard. The project’s aim is to introduce young refugees to the principles of journalism and media while helping them to integrate into the Greek community

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews experts at youth magazine Migratory Birds

July 28, 2023

Barbie review: A must-watch, the allegedly ‘anti-men’ pink extravaganza will make you cry

Barbie is a must-watch for everyone, for young and for old, for women and men. It’s a beautiful story with a powerful message which will leave you thinking about your own experiences and understanding of the patriarchy and how it in fact isn’t about horses

17 year-old Sofia Radysh reviews the record-breaking box office film

July 21, 2023

Days that marked Afghan girls’ lives

There are days in everyone’s lives that they mark the most regardless of being good or bad. Five students of the journalism learning project at Harbingers’ Magazine – Shanhaza (17), Swita (16), Zainab (13), Naziya (13) and Zohra (17) – interviewed each other to find out about the days that impacted them the most

13-17 year-old OXSFJ and LEARN Afghan students share their life experiences

July 21, 2023

How eco-friendly art is empowering refugees in Greece to raise awareness of crises

Art has been used throughout history as a powerful tool that documents time and evokes emotions. On the Greek island of Lesvos, it is helping refugees raise awareness of their ongoing struggles

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova visits Humade Crafts Workshop

July 21, 2023

Actors joined striking writers to save Hollywood as we know it

With actors’ walk-outs – including at the notable premiere of Oppenheimer in London, where Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh all left the theatre – and arrested productions, the entertainment industry is suffering colossal stock price losses

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko reports on the ongoing strike

July 14, 2023

'Barbenheimer': is this the most important box office battle in a decade

Barbie is winning, and it is hardly surprising. After all, one film is about dealing with mortality, the sense of self purpose, and challenging American elites, and the other one is a historical thriller titled Oppenheimer

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on ‘counterprogramming’ movie marketing

July 14, 2023

Rooney’s debut is a must-read for young people. Conversations with Friends review

Sally Rooney did a fantastic job levelling with the reader on many personal, almost gentle levels. This makes this book a must-read for young people – teenagers, those in their 20s or even 30s – who want a light read that also touches you and makes you ask questions you never thought would occur

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko reminds of Rooney’s 2017 masterpiece

July 14, 2023

Lewis Capaldi talks mental health after Glastonbury stage Tourette’s

The Someone You Loved artist faced a moment of crisis when performing at Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom

14 year-old Sofia Vorobei on the lesson learnt at Glastonbury

July 07, 2023

Meet five Afghan girls who dream big for their future

After the Taliban seized power in August 2021, they banned girls from receiving a high school education. Despite these hardships, they are still determined to achieve their goals

13-17 year-old students of the OXSFJ | LEARN Afghan Project share their aspirations

July 07, 2023

Youth revolted in France after police shot 17 year-old boy

Over the course of last week, violent riots have wreaked havoc in Paris and its suburbs. The protesters burned cars, vandalised police stations and even let animals from the Paris Zoo out. Rioters have torched 2,000 vehicles since the start of the unrest

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko reports on French protests against police brutality

June 30, 2023

Unabomber exemplifies dangers of the far-right’s romanticisation of terrorists

On June 10, Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, died in prison unleashing a social media storm of Unabomber fans wishing him to rest in peace, revealing to the world a harmful and dangerous personality cult

17 year-old Mykyta Yaremenko on Ted Kaczynski’s right-wing fandom

June 30, 2023

Rare glimpse into 21st century politics of sex and desire. The Right to Sex review

Amia Srinivasan’s collection of six nonfiction essays is an impressive debut. Writing about rape culture, student-professor relationships, prostitution, and pornography, Srinivasan is unafraid to linger near the precipice of taboo

17 year-old Sophie Elliott reviews the 2022 Orwell Prize shortlisted book

June 30, 2023

Do we prefer AI to shape future generations than to invest in human teachers?

While the global market, however, is leaning towards AI to shape the worldviews of our next generation over human teachers, this does not mean it is the right direction to be headed in

17 year-old Megan Lee follows the money in education

June 23, 2023

Animal testing made its way onto the big screen. It may be a sign of change

Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 is more than a great movie - it also offers insight into cruelty disguised as animal testing

17 year-old Sofia Radysh on animal testing

June 23, 2023

US Supreme Court ruled against Alabama’s violation of the Black voters rights

In a surprise to many civil rights activists the US Supreme Court judges struck down the electoral map of the state of Alabama because it discriminated against Black voters by a five-to-four decision

17 year-old Mykyta Yaremenko reports on the Congress decision

June 16, 2023

Poles have had enough! Opposition leader Donald Tusk galvanises Poland’s fight for its democracy

The liberal-democratic Civic Coalition (KO), with the former president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, at the helm, has a chance to take power in Poland. Its electoral campaign was launched with an anti-government rally against the opposition

16 year-old Stanislaw Sankowski explains why 500,000 people marched through Warsaw

June 09, 2023

Should English Literature be replaced by Global Literature in schools?

In our increasingly diverse and globalized society, the Western canon seems not only restrictive but also exclusionary, calling into question whether the subject of English Literature should be replaced by Global Literature to best reflect the status quo at hand

Megan Lee considers the value behind teaching literature

June 02, 2023

Maintain or abolish the Monarchy? The impact of the Royal Family on the economy

Debates over the continuation of the Royal Family have reawakened as taxpayers covered the £100 million being spent on the Coronation amid a cost of living crisis. Questions over the value of the Monarchy are once again at the forefront of people’s minds

17 year-old Timur Boranbayev speaks with an expert and reviews the figures of spending

May 19, 2023

‘Quantity of good Ukrainian music has risen on an aspirational scale’

“We need to win the war and start rebuilding. Not only buildings and infrastructure but also our culture. Because there will come a moment of exhaustion after such a long fight, but we still need not forget that there is a future”

16 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko interviews 19-year-old musician and producer Bogdan “SadSvit” Rozvadovskyi

April 28, 2023

Turkey - Syria earthquakes: How to help those in need

On Monday, February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake started in southern and central Turkey with the epicentre in Gaziantep and western Syria. The earthquake, which was followed by several deadly aftershocks, resulted in a death toll of more than 50,000 and injured “thousands more”

Mariia Piltiai on the relief organisations to support

April 21, 2023

Could Prince Harry’s history of drug use undermine his US visa?

US immigration law has harsh penalties for lying to immigration officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship. Nile Gardiner, a director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom said “this is a much bigger issue than Prince Harry. It is about enforcing immigration law and ensuring that no one is above the law. Prince Harry is simply the tip of the iceberg”

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova on the current status of the visa investigation

April 07, 2023

Unchangeable US police force is responsible for countless unjustified deadly arrests

In order to stop this cycle of repeated police brutality, the system must be changed. Acts, such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing bill should be passed and encouraged

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova looks at the consequences of excessive force in the case of Tyre Nichols

April 07, 2023

Report revealed deeply concerning strip-search practice on thousands of children in England and Wales

The 363-page report, which looked at the standards of behaviour and culture of the Met, not only highlighted the ‘significant racial disproportionality’ in the strip searches of children by police but also revealed shocking cases within the police force

16 year-old Jinn Ong on the results of the Children’s Commissioner report

March 17, 2023

What exactly is Justice? The flawed concept behind the death penalty in the US

Organisations such as the Innocence Project work to liberate the innocent, avoid wrongful sentences, and establish systems of justice that are fair, humane, and impartial for all. There have already been 375 cases of exoneration in the US due to new DNA testing, including 21 people serving on death row.

17 year-old Aleksandra Lasek on the importance of re-examination of evidence

March 17, 2023

How political art is used to influence people

Art, as a reflection of an artist’s view of the world, is influenced by the events happening around, including politics and wars. And just like art, propaganda is also influenced by them. Propaganda, as it is known, is the dissemination of information to influence public opinion

16 year-old Kateryna Kalyniuk outlines the history of propaganda

March 17, 2023

The fight for trans rights in the UK continues

The Scottish bill aimed to reform gender recognition guidelines got vetoed but the UK government. In response to the UK’s intervention, Stonewall, a British charity that supports LGBTQ+ youth throughout the United Kingdom, said: “These are not the actions of a government that can stand on the international stage as a credible defender of LGBTQ+ rights.”

16 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko reports the current policy on gender recognition

March 09, 2023

The cost of living crisis: Financial impact on young people

The cost of living crisis has caused young people to be financially disadvantaged, with the ongoing situation set to deteriorate in the coming months

17 year-old Timur Boranbayev on the long-term economic consequences to youth

March 09, 2023

Are the Peranakans a part of Singapore’s past or a heritage shaping my life choices?

As I deepened my research into Peranakans, I began to realise that my ancestors far exceed their reputation as creators of imaginative cuisine and eclectic architecture. In fact, the culture not only shapes the Singapore we see today but has largely influenced the choices I have made in life

16 year-old Jinn Ong inquires whether and how it is possible to be Peranakan in the 21st century

March 03, 2023

‘Girls go missing, schools are closed down, teachers persecuted’. Fight for education in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Pashtana Dorani is the founder of an organisation running 'illegal' underground schools for girls in Afghanistan. She knows first-hand the struggles girls and those teaching them face since the US and their allies withdrew and the Taliban regained control of the country

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews Afghan human rights activist

March 03, 2023

‘Know your DNA’ databases could fall into the wrong hands. Policymakers should regulate it

Even with all precautions employed, there is always a chance of getting hacked. Nothing indicates that ancestry DNA databases store personal data in any different place than the information about one’s DNA

18 year-old Gleb Mishin explains the cybersecurity dangers behind DNA testing

January 29, 2023

The Cost of Living Crisis: Concern over rise in abandoned pets

The cost of living crisis not only impacts individuals, but also rescue centres and the lives of volunteers, who are relied heavily on to keep centres running

Sofia Radysh investigates animal welfare during the UK cost of living crisis

January 19, 2023

The secret price of the war in Ukraine

As a Ukrainian and representative of the young generation, I am worried about the price my country pays for the current war not only in the matter of sacred lives but also nature. Ecology might seem insignificant in comparison to the scale of human tragedies that are happening right now, but isn’t ecology also a matter of saving lives?

Maria Rybak speaks to experts on the ecological situation in Ukraine during war

December 29, 2022

During a pandemic-haunted summer, I discovered a million-word long story and joined the fanfiction faction

Has finishing a good story ever left you feeling empty? As if nothing could ever come close to the experience of living, however briefly, inside the tale? You sit there, thinking of all the lost possibilities, the plotlines that were not explored, the what-ifs. What if this character survived? What if that character were born into an entirely different world?

18 year-old Zachary Górka explains the phenomenon of fanfiction literature

December 18, 2022

Italy’s direct help for Ukrainian refugees is rooted in its EU membership

A question arises: does Italy have double standards and treat people differently depending on where they come from? Or is there a reasonable explanation for the difference in attitudes towards the two groups of refugees?

17 year-old Marco Morchio on difference in Italy's approach to conflicts in Syria and Ukraine

December 02, 2022

Young people will pay the price for Putin’s push to re-enact the Cold War

Restoration of the Cold War is the last thing we need in the face of the climate crisis. Now more than ever, what we need is more cooperation between countries

16 year-old Sufiya Suleimenova explores the NATO expansion and climate change concerns

November 17, 2022

Art of forgetting and remembering. On Lithuania's path to the commemoration of Holocaust victims

Memory is by no means neutral, and the pain of it demands decision. To what extent should we remember at all? What does it mean to remember rightly? Is the idea of memory even possible?

17 year-old Sophie Abromaviciute on relations between art and history

October 31, 2022

Cold Hard Cash or Change Agent? Charities and the For-Profit Revenue Model

In the world of charitable giving, profit is a dirty word. Most charities rely heavily on donations as their primary source of income. Charities and businesses are divided, not only by their aims, but their revenue streams. Yet, in the bustling city of Kathmandu, I came to question the conviction of this dichotomy

Dylan Yip on incorporating business practice into charity

October 31, 2022

‘It feels like I am living someone else’s life’, says Viktoriya, teenage refugee from Ukraine

When the war started, I felt confident and fearless. I believe because we had to move fast and think fast, my adrenaline was boosted, and this made me experience confidence. Over time, I calmed down and processed the situation. As I realised that my life was not stable anymore, my home was not safe, a feeling of fear started to develop

17 year-old Viktoriya Lysenko is interviewed by HRB's Italy correspodent Marco Morchio

October 24, 2022

Standing by Mahsa Amini. Iran’s rise against oppression is yet another youth’s call for change

The Iranian theocracy is only a particularly outrageous, outdated, and brutal example which stands against the background of many different governments facing increasing scrutiny from their young citizens

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova on the necessity of support for the Iranian protesters

October 17, 2022

How war affected young Ukrainians - and what you can do about it?

I know that our stories might seem bizarre, scary, and unrelatable. But everyone can try to understand and relate. And everyone can help - even other young people, and teenagers from around the globe. Why? To support those in need

Maria Rybak shows how the war has influenced lives of young Ukrainians and how powerful world-wide support is

October 15, 2022

Zambia’s efforts to prevent famine and poverty with organic farming

Those at the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) recognised the long list of problems arising from chemical farming, so the organisation changed to organic farming in the mid-1980s to promote a healthier, more sustainable way of living. The main focus of KATC’s work is to train farmers and government agents in the basics of organic farming.

17 year-old Maksymilian Sinczak on the efforts to promote sustainable agriculture in Zambia

October 07, 2022

The Witcher - a feminist manifesto or a misogynistic tale?

Sapkowski’s saga is not only a fantasy tale - it is also a social commentary. That’s why the TV adaptation has brought into the limelight various types of discrimination, prejudice, and hate-rooted violence

Aleksandra Lasek inquires into the success of Yennefer of Vengerberg as a feminist role model

September 30, 2022

Herbal Insurgency: Wielding Knowledge to Heal and Harm Under Southern Enslavement

Through their knowledge of healing and harming, enslaved people were able to create small but vital spaces of healing and alternative power within the totalizing structures of Southern enslavement laws

William Derek Pacini examines the history of herbal expertise as a form of resistance and a means to freedom

September 18, 2022

Art of humanity. Why Lithuanian Jews took part in the fight against apartheid in South Africa

Once kindness becomes prevalent, it appears to be spreading. Human relations develop as we experience the inevitability of life - whether it is peace or war, core human values remain the same. A formation of a crystal – I think of an artwork I saw in Kaunas, depicting the bonding of ions and atoms which make the crystal grow - is parallel to how human relations develop.

17 year-old Sophie Abromaviciute on the lesson from an art festival in Kaunas, Lithuania

September 13, 2022

Another Generation of War in Armenia. Living Everyday to the Fullest

In my village, we can hear any movements in the Azerbaijani military position. Such a close presence of the adversary army has negatively affected the mental state of the villagers, especially the young

Syuzanna Gyumshudyan examines the mental health of her peers two years after the bloody war over Nagorno Karabakh

September 12, 2022

INO’s Tosca: the aesthetics of agency

Tosca offers a compelling evaluation of the complexities of female agency. She is an immensely complicated character—both pious and charitable, but also jealous, impetuous, passionate, and artistic

16 year-old Sophie Elliott analyses the Irish National Opera’s performance of Tosca with the backdrop of its political roots

September 10, 2022

A Plague Constant: Disease and Conspiracy in the Early Modern Period and Today

Today, as during the Great Plague of London, some of those holding office have put forward questionable remedies said to be more effective than mainstream treatments

Zachary Górka considers the similarities in public reaction and conspiracy between COVID-19 and the Great Plague of London, almost 400 years apart

August 25, 2022

‘An eye-opening experience’. Diary of a volunteer helping refugees at the Polish-Ukrainian border

When I arrived in Przemysl, a quaint little town on the Polish-Ukrainian border, I did not know what to expect. I wanted to provide help in any way I could, although I thought my lack of a shared language with the Ukrainians would largely limit my role

17 year-old Jonathan Wong about his time volunteering in Przemysl

August 23, 2022

The voice of fashion stands in solidarity with Ukraine

As we say in Ukraine: “everything will be Ukraine!”. And if so, everything and everyone – including the fashion industry – must admit its political side

Maria Rybak describes how the fashion industry responded to the war in Ukraine

August 16, 2022

Norman Davies: In 1919, Soviet invasion bolstered Polish national identity. Now it happens in Ukraine

“In 1920, nobody, no experts, no generals gave Poland a chance. In February, no experts gave Ukrainians much of a chance. The Ukrainians captured Russian tanks where the men were dressed in parade uniforms”

An interview by 18 year-old Jeremi Kulczyk-Lubomirski and 16 year-old Maciej Cebula

August 15, 2022

Bat girls for life? — Nothing about Batgirl said ‘cancel worthy’

Movies are not viewed as a piece of art anymore, they are investment assets. If something doesn't work out they can simply be dumped

16 year-old Sofia Radysh reports on what Batgirl’s cancellation could mean for the film industry

August 12, 2022

‘Transforming healthcare’ - How AI is helping save lives

AI is able to not only speed up the process of diagnoses, but also procure the healthcare system with higher quality and more precise results

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews the AI specialists behind comprehensive stroke imaging solution

August 11, 2022

Oxford suffers from extreme heatwave

“It’s not fake. The pond just evaporated. It’s a scene of devastation. The water levels in reservoirs are decreasing, but this [pond] people can actually see”

16 year-old Sofia Radysh inquires into Oxonian drought amid the amber heatwave warning

August 11, 2022

Explainer: How does the Tory leadership election work?

Following the UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s resignation, the conservative party is in the process of electing its newest leader

17 year-old Grace Whitehouse outlines the Conservative election race in the UK

August 10, 2022

Ersatz Austen of cheap laughs and romance. Persuasion review

The greatest failing of Netflix's film is that it neither commits to being a faithful adaptation of Austen’s regency, nor a modern rendering loosely based on original content

16 year-old Sophie Elliott reviews streaming giant's take on Austen’s classic novel

August 09, 2022

Are young people the biggest losers of the UK Conservative race?

Truss believes in spending today and paying it back later. From our young perspective, this benefits the Boomer Generation who will have lower income tax and soon go into retirement, whilst the working population of Millennials and Gen Z will have to pay the price

19 year-old Isaac Kadas explains how the Tory leadership race harms the future of those young today

August 08, 2022

Women’s Euro 2022, a success and an inspiration to the female youth

It is very refreshing to see how female sport is gaining more recognition and the respect it deserves. Women's football is the fastest growing sport in the UK, and it will be interesting to see how female athletes and sport will develop over the next decade

Timur and Sofiya report on public opinions towards Lionesses’ win in the final

August 08, 2022

I doubt that Liz Truss will make girls’ lives better. Here’s why

If elected she has the capabilities to make significant headway in the progression of women’s rights, however based on her history of ineffectual action, it is unlikely for her to make tangible change within the UK

17 year-old Grace Whitehouse considers how Women’s rights in Britain will be harmed under Liz Truss leadership

August 05, 2022

Feminism after the girlboss: anxiety of the bimbo

Bimboism claims to be a leftist-adjacent, anti-capitalist, pro-sex work, pro-LGBTQ feminist movement which attracts significant controversy on TikTok

Sophie Elliott explains ‘bimbo Tok’ in the context of modern feminism

August 04, 2022

Cost of a trendy pup; the flat-faced issue explained

Humanity has been playing god and creating new breeds for a long time now, and the moment to take responsibility has arrived

16 year-old Sofia Radysh investigates the problems of Brachycephalic dogs

July 18, 2022

A mirror to Britain’s homophobia. Joe Lycett: More, More, More! review

While this show’s comedy is structured to identify and poke fun at British conservative society, it is done so in a cheerful and carefree way which prevents the jokes from being destructive in any way

17 year-old Grace Whitehouse reviews Joe Lycett’s touring show

July 09, 2022

War in Ukraine from the inside

My life, just like the life of other Ukrainians, has been divided into “before” and “after”. Before the 24th of February, I couldn't believe that in the twenty-first century people would be capable of starting an actual war

16 year-old Diana Kuksova reveals how it is to live as a teenager during war

July 05, 2022

It is teenage girls who will be affected the most by abortion bans in the US

The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, which removed the right for abortion in the US was done by a group which is 80 percent male, 80 percent white and 100 percent in their 50s or older. The societal group which is going to be affected by the change, is the complete opposite.

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova on the implications of overturning Roe vs Wade

June 22, 2022

Medicare for All: a debate

Seeing a million citizens die due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with an economic crash and rising unemployment, just highlights the importance of the Medicare for All debate. Could this program transform our healthcare system for the better – or would it further harm our economy?

Dylan Yip lays out opposing stances on the Medicare for All debate in the United States.

May 27, 2022

‘Minimum inclusion gives huge joy’, says Sylwia, mother to a 14-year-old with autism

It is impossible to predict Julia's future but the outlook is grim. The state does not support centers that educate neurodivergent young adults as almost all types of support for adults with disabilities are scrapped by austerity measures.

Eva Smolokovskaya inquires into Poland’s non-existent system to include people with disabilities within society

April 13, 2022

Farming on the battlefield. The reality behind Ukraine’s efforts to put food on our tables

Undoubtedly, the world hunger problem will be further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With bombs landing in fields, farmers joining the military, fuel, seed, and fertilizer shortages, alongside the blocking of ports in the Black Sea by Russian fleets and mines, UNICEF expects the number of hungry children to double as a result of Putin’s war.

Sophie Abromaviciute on how the Russian aggression against Ukraine will result in global famine

March 30, 2022

In Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I cannot help but see my two sister-nations at war

In Kazakhstan, like in any other former Soviet republic, there is a strong feeling that the Ukrainian struggle against Russia is going to define our fate as well, no matter which way it goes

Ilya Kan on the ripples Putin’s war sent across the former Soviet Union

March 18, 2022

How war in Ukraine has crept into young Londoners’ minds

We, the youth, are rapidly developing the knowledge, understanding, and vocabulary that makes us capable of talking about the war in Ukraine.

Natasha Banga about the knowledge many hoped never to need

March 18, 2022

Anti- or pro-Western, Hungarians look at Ukraine through the lens of their troubled history

If it would be at all imaginable for Moscow to have an ally for its plans to redraw borders in Central Europe, Viktor Orbán would be the person to probe - to the horror of a strong pro-Western minority and the majority of Hungary’s youth.

Isaac Kadas explains how century-old Trianon treaty shapes Budapest’s relationship with Moscow

March 18, 2022

School survey: 47% of students follow Russia’s invasion on Ukraine through social media

Without a strong foundation on the historical context of the invasion, many younger individuals may be at a higher risk of being influenced into holding certain opinions. This is further exacerbated by acquiring the majority of their information through social media, which is littered with difficult to avoid misinformation.

Daria Badger and Noor Bejjani research into how young people source information

March 08, 2022

"We don’t want this war". The invasion of Ukraine is Putin’s, not Russians’ doing

In the midst of this conflict, the international community must remain aware of the vital distinction between Russians, and those in power in Russia. In the context of the war, the two have little to nothing in common.

Mary Stabinska about the consequences of power unchecked

March 01, 2022

Six days ago, the war started. Ukraine and Russia, the two of my homelands

Ми більше не боїмося Хоча страшно Але не до страху... Нам уже не страшно Хотя страшно Но не до страха… We’re not scared Although we are just cannot afford to…

Eva Smolokovskaya on anger and powerlessness

February 18, 2022

Colston Four trial and the blunder of Police and Crime Bill reflect a divide in Britain

The ideological profile of the current British government - labelled as Johnsonism, in resemblance to Trumpism - embodies the belief that protest is something undesirable

Isaac Kadas examines why Johnsonism is so afraid of “noisy” protests

January 27, 2022

Religious beliefs are not a sufficient reason to seek vaccine exemption

82% of American Catholics have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while only 57% of Evangelical Protestants did the same.

Marsi Hadjieva explains twisted relations between religion and jabs

January 24, 2022

Every bit as real that the reader hopes the story were pure fiction. The Fortune Men review

Nearing the 70th anniversary of the court murder commited in Wales, we realize that not much has changed these past decades.

Noemi Elliott reviews Nadifa Mohamed’s novel

January 20, 2022

With the notion of progress gone, gender equality is slowly dying in Poland

Since 2015, the ruling Law and Justice party has rejected the notion of progress which had characterised the Second Republic of Poland - despite the fact that it is the same Second Republic that the same Law and Justice politicians consider to be the embodiment of ideal Polish society.

Aleksandra Lasek on Poland's nationalists' lack of political consistency

January 20, 2022

Trailblazer. How Yip Pin Xiu’s swimming career broke the silence on disability in Singapore

Things are changing, and they are changing fast. Arguably, the rise of Singaporean Paralympic champions has played the most imperative role in catalysing the change of societal attitudes towards people with disabilities. Yip Pin Xiu stands out of this group - in order to recognise her and her feats, Singapore had to finally look in the mirror.

Jinn Ong portraits Singapore's most decorated Paralympian

December 16, 2021

Victims of Fukushima still pay for failures of Japan’s government

Residents of Fukushima were left jobless, homeless and hopeless after most were unable to find work. Many women were unable to wed or have children since they were regarded as ‘tainted’, and relocated children were being shunned by peers at school.

Jinn Ong pictures a decade of injustice after the preventable meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

December 01, 2021

Even if refugees are lured by Belarus, it is not a reason for Poland to violate international law

"From the legal point of view, the problem is that the practice of pushbacks is illegal. When the person appears on the Polish territory and applies for asylum, then the asylum application should be processed and the person should have the right to stay in Poland until the final decision is reached."

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights’ lawyer Jacek Bialas in conversation with Levon Nurijanyan explains why Poland's push-backs of migrants are illegal

November 26, 2021

The @feminist Instagram account took femvertising to the next level

When I look for activism content, I don’t wish to be discreetly tricked into buying a t-shirt, no matter how sustainable it is or what share of the profit goes to good causes.

Eva Smolokovskaya questions the ethics of the @feminist, a social media account with 6.4 million followers

October 28, 2021

Caroline Hickman: Anxiety and anger are psychologically healthy responses to climate crisis

The UK-based philosopher, psychotherapist and researcher has made it her mission to help people cope with denial, depression, anger and powerlessness which so many face because of the climate crisis.

She sat with Eva Smolokovskaya to explain what she has learned over the last two decades.

October 21, 2021

At Ritsona Camp it has been three years since child refugee Leila was last inside a classroom

There is no reason for the refugee children in Europe to be denied an effective and equal education.

Polina Aksenenko and Parwana Amiri about the consequences of spending on walls instead of buses at Ritsona Camp in Greece.

September 19, 2021

Nature and Privation in Three Romani Poets

The generation born after the war was raised amidst the turmoil of social transformation, evolving governmental edicts, and the challenges of dwelling among often unwelcoming ethnic Hungarians. The poetry of these postwar Roma poets reflects these challenges.

Noemi Elliot on Roma poets and their artistic sensibilities

August 24, 2021

For equality’s sake, Paralympics and Olympics should be united

Although it is hard to imagine, there was also a time when women were not included in the Olympics - yet, in 2021 we do not hold separate games for male and female athletes.

Jinn Ong argues for one Games for all athletes

August 24, 2021

What I Heard About Covid-19

I heard Trump’s term in office had coincided with more than 25 million confirmed coronavirus cases, over 400,000 of which resulted in fatalities.

Daria Badger on fading memories

August 17, 2021

Paralympic medalist Theresa Goh: ‘I was thinking: do I have to quit swimming and find a job?’

“I have seen a lot of change. Previously, newspapers used to place athletes with disabilities in the home section, now they are actually placing us in the sports section.”

Jinn Ong sits with Singaporean Paralympic swimmer Theresa Goh to discuss inclusivity and equality

August 17, 2021

Masks, Russia’s silent rebellion

It was when I landed in Moscow, Russia, when I very suddenly realised that humanity is not so united in its fight against the coronavirus. Not at all.

Eva Smolokovskaya on pictures she took in the Russian capital

August 16, 2021

Tornado of history. How Koreans became the fourth Zhuz of Kazakhstan

Only much later would they find out that Stalin, afraid of potential Japanese spies living in the USSR, wanted to cleanse Russia of any threats. His fear somehow ended up encompassing Koreans as well, so 124 train wagons were arranged to transport over 170,000 people to Central Asia. Based on today’s estimates, around 50,000 never made it off the trains.

Ilya Kan on the history of his family - and all Kazakhstan's Koreans - in the 20th century