The Lantern in the Woods

It was late autumn, and the campfire burned low. The children leaned in, listening.

In a small village, a girl named Amara carried a lantern every evening. Her grandmother had given it to her, saying, “This light carries our family’s story. Never let it go.”

When Amara’s family moved to another town, people told her she should change her name. They said it was too unusual, too hard to remember. They told her to leave the lantern behind.

At first, she tried. She answered to the new name, and she hid the lantern under her bed. But each time, she felt dimmer inside, like the flame was fading.

One night, during a school gathering, the teacher asked everyone to share something from their family. Amara hesitated, then lifted her lantern high. “This is mine,” she said. “It carries my name, my story, my people.”

The room grew quiet. Then other children began to share their own treasures — a song, a recipe, a photograph. Suddenly, Amara realized she wasn’t alone. Her lantern was not strange. It was a gift.

That night, she whispered to the flame: “This is who I am. No one can take it away.

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Reflection Prompts

• Personal: Have you ever had someone change your name or call you something that didn’t feel right?

• Empathy: How do you think Amara felt when her name and lantern were ignored? How did she feel when they were honored?

• Identity: What object, story, or tradition connects you to your family or culture?

• Justice Link: Why do you think the right to keep your name, nationality, and family ties is part of human rights law?