MaximsNewsNetwork: 10 July 2009 - Fourteen young people from the
Junior 8 group meet with the heads of their respective countries at the
G8 in L'Aquila, Italy. UNICEF.

Fourteen young people, from
fourteen countries, driving with a police escort from Rome to the G8
summit in L'Aquila, Italy, for a face-to-face meeting with the head of
their respective countries. They were selected by their peers at the
UNICEF Junior 8 Summit to meet with the various presidents and prime
ministers and chancellor to urge immediate action on such topics as
guaranteeing a quality education for all children, as well access to
safe drinking water for the 1.2 billion people who lack it.

They
met with the leaders for half an hour, then spoke with the media
afterward. Each young person talked about their individual
conversations. They also took questions from journalists.

Upon
their return to the J8 Summit in Rome, where they've been working all
week on their recommendations, the 14 young people were greeted with a
surprise party from the other 40 young J8 participants, who wanted to
hear all about their meeting. For these young leaders, the J8 summit
has given them a unique opportunity to speak up and be heard.