Kid Reporters from across the country and around the world cover topics that matter most to kids. In 2016–2017, the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps reported stories out of a number of locations abroad including Thailand, West Africa and the United Kingdom, covering topics such as culture and politics. Below are excerpts from some recent international Kid Reporter stories.
You can check out the full collection of Kid Reporter stories on the Kid Reporters’ Notebook.
Enjoying Street Food in Thailand
By Natcharee Chaiwongthitikul
May 18, 2017
“The city of Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the most popular places on Earth to enjoy street food. “Thailand’s street food is the best because it’s cheap and high quality,” said sidewalk vendor Wiang Chotikamas during a recent interview.
Sidewalk vendors in different parts of the city sell all sorts of mouth-watering meals, including tom yum goong (a spicy soup loaded with shrimp and mushrooms), pad thai (a stir-fried noodle dish), and somtum.
Somtum is a favorite dish in Thailand. There is probably no person here who doesn’t know of it. The main ingredients are raw papayas, tomatoes, and lentils. But the dish may also include apples, guava, grapes, and other fruits. As for seasoning, you can add sugar, chili, fish sauce, and lime.”
A Visit With the U.S. Ambassador to Benin
By Caleb Biney
May 10, 2017
“Political commentator Dana Perino, who served as press secretary for President George W. Bush, recently visited West Africa. She spent a few days on the Africa Mercy, the hospital ship on which I live off the coast of Benin.
Perino then set out to see Lucy Tamlyn, the United States Ambassador to Benin. I was invited along.
We drove to the ambassador’s home, where she and her husband, Jorge M. Serpa, welcomed us. After we were seated, Perino began the conversation with Ambassador Tamlyn.
Eventually, I was able to ask Tamlyn my own questions. She said that U.S. government agencies in West Africa are working together so that they can send a unified message to the world.
The other chief function of U.S. diplomats in Benin and elsewhere is to meet with local leaders and report their findings back to officials in Washington, D.C. “Washington depends on us to explain what’s happening in Benin,” Tamlyn said.”
What Is the Deal With Brexit?By Martin Lloyd
May 9, 2017
“By now, people all over the world have heard about Brexit. But what does it mean?
Brexit is a combination of two words, “Britain” and “exit.” It stands for the decision by voters in the United Kingdom (UK) to withdraw from the European Union (EU).
The EU is a group of 28 European countries that share laws allowing for the free flow of people and goods between countries.
On June 23, 2016, nearly 52 percent of people in the UK voted to leave the EU. The British Prime Minister at the time, David Cameron, had called for a referendum (vote), asking the British people to make the decision.
However, the results shocked Cameron. Ahead of the referendum, he had toured the UK extensively, saying that a vote for of Brexit would be an act of “economic self-harm.”
The day after the referendum, Cameron resigned. “The British people have voted to leave the European Union,” Cameron said, “and their will must be respected.”
There are now two options:
Soft Brexit: The UK would still be part of the free flow of goods and people but would have no vote in the European Parliament.
Hard Brexit: The UK would not abide by EU laws and could restrict who is allowed entry into the country.”
Scholastic News Kids Press Corps
