New Voices - What Does Power Mean To You?

In our new publication ‘POWER’, we asked -18s around the world what Power meant to them.

illustration of a person holding a globe made of newspaper and tape measurer with cogs behind on a beige background

Thank you to colleagues and partners in Brazil, France, Spain, Mexico, the UK, the US and Zimbabwe for collecting these quotes from under-18s.

Power means being able to do something, like walking or talking. With power I feel free to do things.
— Isabela, 9

Power is powerful, like a dinosaur! With power he gets angry.
— Bernardo, 3

Power means having control of something, like… a country, for example. With power, people do bad things, but I like it when people who have power do good things with the power they have.
— Eduardo, 10

Power to me is when someone is facing something, they make deci- sions and choices. But having power doesn’t always mean having pri- vilege. For example, having power in your hands and not knowing how to use it, that’s bad.
— Milena, 17

Power is something you can do and that nobody can prevent you
from doing.
— Margot, 9

Power makes me think about having the strength to defeat your enemies. Power makes you strong. This is very important.
— Leonardo, 7

I would like to have the power of being listened to. And I guess, kind of, respected and valued because I’m the youngest [in my family] and I would like to be a more impactful individual. I want to have more of an impact.
— Taniya, 17

To me, power is when we can do things we always wanted to do, like shooting rays. I am a super- hero when I have this power; I think I can do anything with my power. I don’t like it if I hit so- meone. Then, I say, ‘Wow, I don’t like this power because I don’t know how to keep it.’
— Clara, 5

Power to me is doing everything I can and want to do, independent
of what others think, they can be good or bad things, as long as I
have control.
— Ligia, 14

Power has two meanings: it can be for superheroes, as well as power for congressmen. Power makes you stronger.
— Victor, 13

Power makes me think of when someone has authority over another person that doesn’t have power, and they can use that power to ‘control’ or even com- mand something.
— Felipe, 17