Nine-year-old Vidhi skipped 500 times, baked cupcakes and macaroons, and convinced local companies to donate — all to raise more than £6,000 for Spread a Smile, a charity that supports children in hospitals. That's the kind of energy The Week Junior magazine found when it surveyed hundreds of its young readers ahead of the International Day of Hope on July 12.

The results were striking. When asked about the future, 97% of the children said they felt they could make a positive difference in the world. Sixty-three percent said they felt hopeful about what lies ahead. Younger readers, interestingly, were even more likely to feel hopeful than older ones.

"When we put together this survey we had no idea what answers we would get," said Vanessa Harriss, editor of The Week Junior. "What we found is that our readers take to heart the aims of the International Day of Hope: they recognise hope as a powerful force for transforming lives, communities and the world."

The children were asked what one thing would make the world better. Some answers were simple and sweet: "More dogs," said one reader. "More kindness," said another. But many went much further, calling for an end to homelessness, cleaner oceans, better mental health support, and more equal societies.

If they were prime minister for a day, the readers had plenty of policy ideas. They would "plant trees, flowers, herbs, vegetables and bushes," guarantee "free therapy to everyone," and make sure people in their country "feel safe." One reader summed up a popular theme this way: "I'd get everyone to do one little thing each day to help the environment."

The environment mattered deeply to these young people. Forty percent said helping the climate and protecting nature should be a top priority. Thirty-one percent focused on fairness and kindness — treating people equally, listening to one another, and spreading wealth more evenly. "If everyone chose to live their lives for other people and not for themselves," one reader wrote, "the world would be a better place."

Many are already putting hope into action. The survey found that 59% of readers belong to a community group — Scouts, Guides, school clubs, sports teams, or volunteer projects. Another 58% who weren't part of such groups said they'd like to join one.

Some went above and beyond. Eight-year-old JC organized a raffle after hearing younger pupils say they wished they had a better climbing frame, helping to fund a new one at Our Lady and St John's Primary School in Brentford. Martha and Nellie collected more than 19 bags of litter from their local park in Bristol.

The children weren't naive about the world's problems. Twenty-eight percent said stopping wars and finding peaceful solutions should be a priority. And while adults often debate whether artificial intelligence is exciting or alarming, these readers were more cautious: 51% said they were worried about AI, compared to 29% who felt positive and 20% who were unsure.

Still, the overall picture was hopeful. "It was so uplifting to see how positive our readers feel about the future, and the part they can play in building a kinder world," Harriss said. "They feel empowered to make the world a better place — and many of them are already doing it."

For these young readers, hope isn't just a feeling. It's a to-do list.