Founded in New York City in 1923, TIME was the first weekly news magazine in the United States. This influential, century-old publication covers a wide range of topics, such as politics, science, culture and technology, but its most famous feature is its annual Person of the Year award. This award goes to someone who, according to the editors, “has done the most to influence the events of the year.” Except for Greta Thunberg who was 16 when she won in 2019, all winners have been adults. Yet, the editors of TIME are convinced that “youth is no impediment to achievement,” so, in 2020, they created a Kid of the Year award. The prize is for kids aged eight to sixteen who have made positive contributions in areas like science, social justice or the environment.

Past winners

The first winner of the Kid of the Year award was 15-year-old Gitanjali Rao, an American girl of Indian descent. She invented a device to detect lead in drinking water, as well as an app to spot cyberbullying. The second winner was 11-year-old Orion Jean, who started the “Race to Kindness”, a campaign encouraging people to get involved in charitable community projects, such as donating toys to children in hospitals and providing meals for people in need. The third winner was 10-year-old Bellen Woodard, nicknamed the “world’s first crayon activist,” for her “More Than Peach” project. For Bellen it all began when one of her classmates asked her for the ’skin colour’ crayon. Realizing there wasn’t one for her own dark skin, Bellen created a set of crayons representing different skin tones to promote representation and inclusivity in schools.

TIME’s Kid of the Year 2024

This year’s winner is 15-year-old Heman Bekele. Heman’s parents are Ethiopian, and he was born in Addis Ababa. When he was 4 years old, his parents decided to emigrate to give their children a better future. When they reached the United States, Heman already had a passion for science. He loved experimenting, making ‘potions’ with everyday household items, such as dish soap and laundry detergents. One day, he concocted a mix that, he hoped, would produce unlimited, clean energy, but instead it nearly started a fire. That didn’t stop him. He toyed with new ideas. After reading about a cream containing a drug used to treat skin cancer, he began to wonder if there was a more efficient, and cheaper, delivery system than cream. That’s when he thought of soap.

A life-saving soap

Heman began working on a soap that could treat skin cancer. He thought of a mixture of chemicals that would leave the medicine on the skin, even after the soap was rinsed off. His idea won a science competition and caught the attention of professional scientists. At a convention in Washington, D.C., he met a biologist from Johns Hopkins University who invited him to continue his research in the university’s laboratories. Today, Heman divides his time between school and lab. There’s still a long way to go before the life-saving soap is ready, but Heman is thrilled to think that one day his invention might help other people. “That’s the reason I started this all in the first place,” he stated.

Inspiration and hope

TIME’s award is helping to change people’s perception of what children can accomplish. Indeed, Heman and the other awardees are just a few of the many young people making a difference in the world. Kids like Gitanjali, Orion, Bellen and Heman are not only doing something practical and useful, but they are also inspiring peers and adults alike. They are not untouchable geniuses who can only be admired from a distance, but rather children with passion and determination that can be imitated. The message they convey is important in a time when the news is filled with tragedy and conflict, which often foreshadow a grim future. As TIME states, these kids “are not just examples of human attainment, but also reason to believe that the future they’ll lead will be a bright one.” Besides being an inspiration, they are also a symbol of hope.

(Carlo Dellonte)
(Image: JNemchinova, istockphotos.com)