In a world of big decisions and important leaders, there’s a special role for kids too. Just ask Ellie Lively — the Kid Governor of New Hampshire!
Ellie’s journey began in her fifth-grade class at Bicentennial Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire. Her teacher told her about the Kid Governor program. Ellie, age 10, felt excited about the idea of making a difference. She cares a lot about animals, and she wanted to help them.
With the support of her classmates and family, Ellie ran for Kid Governor. She sent a video to the program, and fifth-graders across New Hampshire watched it. Then, the students voted and chose Ellie as their state’s next Kid Governor!
On January 9, 2024, Ellie started her time as Kid Governor at a ceremony in the New Hampshire State House in Concord. She gave a speech and took an . Governor Chris Sununu showed Ellie and the other kid around his office. He also gave the young leaders some advice.
Ellie’s own pet inspired her mission to help animals and stop animal . “I have a dog, and I love her,” Ellie told News-O-Matic. “She is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.”
To make the lives of animals better, Ellie first plans to teach people. She wants people to know how to take care of animals and treat them with kindness. Her plan as Kid Governor starts with people learning about animal abuse. She’ll make videos and write articles to share tips on caring for pets.
Ellie’s work goes further than just teaching. “I will hold drives to provide food and supplies to shelters,” Ellie explained. She is starting with her local shelter, but she hopes to give to more animal groups in the future.
Creating events for all kinds of people is important for Ellie. She wants to get kids and grown-ups involved in helping animals. As Kid Governor, she’ll organize volunteer opportunities so everyone can lend a hand.
Being chosen as Kid Governor made Ellie feel a little overwhelmed at first, but then she felt glad. “I feel like I could accomplish a lot,” she said.
Ellie isn’t on her mission alone. The six other candidates for New Hampshire’s Kid Governor are now members of her team, called the Executive Council. They are Hattie, Jack, Levi, Noah, Parker, and Zoey.
As Kid Governor, Ellie hopes to better her skills and meet people who help animals. She knows she can do a lot with the support she has.
Ellie believes everyone can make the world a better place. She shared a special message for other young people. “I encourage them to try their best and put their best effort into work," she said. “If you don’t speak up for what you feel passionate about, you will regret it someday.”
“If you try, you will always end up helping in some way,” Ellie added, “because all kids can make a difference if they believe they can.”
Updated March 8, 2024, 5:03 P.M. (ET)
By Madeleine Skinner
