**Teenager’s Powerful Speech at House of Lords**
A 13-year-old boy from Dorset has made a speech at the House of Lords, just two years after arriving in the UK with no English. Andrii Rokotianskyi spoke about the impact of war on children and families.
Andrii, who now lives in Poole, was speaking to an invited audience of important people. He had come second in a national speech-writing competition organized by First News. In his three-minute address, he talked about the horrors of war and how it affects innocent people.
“We’ve seen death, destruction, and famine because of the conflict with Russia,” Andrii said. “I was scared and upset when I had to leave my home, friends, and everything behind.” He urged an end to wars and encouraged everyone to work together for peace.
**Important People Listen**
Andrii’s speech was met with great interest from dignitaries in the audience, including Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and former Scotland First Minister Lord Jack McConnell. The editor of children’s newspaper First News, Nicky Cox MBE, also listened to his words.
After the speech, Andrii said he was “extremely proud” of himself. He hopes that his words will help people understand the importance of peace and how war affects children like him.