Unsung Heroes of Covid: Young Workers Who Were Used and Abused

💔 Unsung Heroes of Covid: Young Workers Who Were Used and Abused 💔

Five years ago, a generation of youth were thrust into impossible circumstances. They were asked to keep businesses running — bakeries, cafes, retail stores — while the world shut down around them. They showed up through illness, exhaustion, and fear. They were exploited, overworked, and often abused. 😢

They weren’t “heroes” in the movies; they were teenagers and young adults with dreams, bills, and responsibilities, doing work that was undervalued. Some lost loved ones 💔. Some were pushed beyond their limits. And for what? So society could have its bagels 🥯, its coffee ☕, its convenience.

Many didn’t graduate 🎓. Many were denied CERB 💸 or had it clawed back. Many have been left with mental health struggles 🧠, debt 💳, and little recognition. And yet, their labor, sacrifice, and endurance have largely been erased from the conversation. ❌

It’s time to remember them. It’s time to hold schools, governments, and employers accountable 🏛️ for the failures of the system. It’s time to acknowledge the cost borne by youth who did not choose to be on the front lines — and ensure they are supported now, with access to education 📚, mental health care 🩺, and fair work opportunities 💼.

These young people are not statistics 📊. They are unsung heroes, and their story matters. 💪✨