Children

Some 1,000 African asylum-seekers detained in “harsh conditions”, including over 200 women and children, are being detained at Israel’s Ktsiyot prison according to activists. Children are receiving little to no education, lack of heat and adequate facilities are beginning to take a toll on the children. “The women and children are still being held separately from their husbands, despite the prison authority’s claim that moving the asylum-seekers to the tent camp was intended to allow for family reunification. There are no social workers to supervise or assist the children, many of whom have undergone severe trauma”.

Distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets is the single most effective weapon the world has against malaria in Africa,, however, it’s not clear whether making nets widely available is best accomplished through the private or the public sector. See more at Analysis: How to best tackle malaria

One Laptop Per Child project loses Intel as partner, as the they has withdrawn from the international project, claiming “philosophical” differences as a reason for pulling out.

Grandmothers of AIDS orphans find support in South Africa, which is extremely needed as more and more grandmothers find themselves as the sole care taker of the some 11 million children who have been orphaned in the last decade. The support is thanks to a Johannesburg group run by Ingrid Moloi, an HIV-positive activist who realized that not only patients but also caretakers need help to deal with the aftermath of the virus.

Still pondering your New Years resolutions? Looking for ideas on how you can help a child in need this in 2008. You care about what is going on in this world and about what is happening to our children, and I know you are always asking yourself, “What can I do?”, and saying to yourself “Can I do more?”.

Therefore I wanted to give you a small list of easy things you can do this year to help a child around the world, or a child right here at home. I do hope this list is more than inspiring and you not only get into the spirit of volunteering for the New Year, but that you find your cause, and your way to help…I know it took me years to find the place where I was not just helpful and got that tingle of a good feeling, but the cause and way to help that I knew was actually making some sort of lasting difference, both within my self and for those who needed it the most. That is not to say that I, nor you couldn’t always do a bit more. But finding the cause which begins to resonate with in your every pore is the hardest part, and once you do, it is the most rewarding feeling you will ever find in your life. My cause isn’t a cause it’s a life long passion, and I will not quit the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery until I leave this earth. I find myself unable to let go, and thus it is now a part of me…a large part of me. I find there is rarely a day that goes by that I do not have a conversation about my cause…every time I go to a bar, or a party I convert, or educate someone, not because I am up on a soapbox, but because I am passionate. When you are truly passionate I think it resonates within the depths of ones soul and people feel that. I know for me personally, I have found that people can see why I have become that way, and thus they see the need to help those enslaved in a world where freedom was supposed to be a given. Thus this is my New Years wish for you; I hope you find that cause, person, etc., that gives you passion, hope, courage and drive and that you never let it go!

This year I vow to do more…I know writing does make a difference, and I don’t just write, but I too need to do more…and this year I vow to get more hands on and to make more of a lasting difference. Just like you and I am asking myself what is the best why to give my time, where can I make the biggest impact?

Yesterday I joined a group of women to make jewelry for Paper to Pearls, we will buy the beads directly from them and then sell the necklaces and give the entire proceeds back to Paper to Pearls. This is one way to volunteer and give back, that doesn’t even seem like volunteering. For us it was just a group of friends new and old chatting away over coffee on a Saturday afternoon, who happened to be making jewelry that makes a difference and gives back. This is something we all agreed we wanted to continue doing, and we all had fun!

This is just one example, so as you write out your resolutions list here are just a few ideas to get you thinking;

Host dinners to raise awareness for any cause and invite friends to donate a set amount as they enter, and then use the evening to begin discussions and inform your guests about the cause and how they can be more involved.

Gather a group and collect and deliver books and toys, or go paint murals on the wall of a children’s hospital or community center.

Become a Foster Parent

Volunteer once a month at a local soup kitchen

Council children and teens of abuse

Volunteer at a shelter for battered women

Become a Big Brother or Sister

Write, talk, share

Volunteer to work on a crisis hot line
Volunteer to work at the local community/children’s center or on an after school program

Donate your time, your resources (not just money)…share your skills

Volunteer Overseas

Help build a Habitat for Humanity House

Get your church or community involved and start your own project (my church managed to get a school and church built in Guatemala…just imagine what you can do).

Get your children involved

Search sites such as Idealist , VolunteerMatch, Network for Good, for a volunteer project or program that suits your time and interests.

Please also see the lists I put out for the holidays, The Gifts that Give Hope For the Future, 20 Ideas For Giving Back to Children in Need this Holiday Season, Holiday Wish List for a few more ideas and resources.

It has been a month since the deadly cyclone hit Bangladesh, leaving families still searching and hoping for the return of the missing, which are estimated around 900 people still missing, mainly women and children.

“The sea took my baby,” one young mother said, recalling in vivid detail how she clung to a tree holding her daughter’s shirt in her mouth like a mother lioness - only to have her ripped away within seconds. “I can’t find her anywhere,” she lamented (Plight of cyclone missing continues).

Hundreds where orphaned by Cyclone Sidr, as it took more than 3,000 lives, leaving an told number of children parentless and to deal with the aftermath alone.

“I lost everyone, I don’t know what to do or where to go,” Mohammad Hasan, 12, said as he stood outside his home.

According to UNICEF some 8.5 million people where affected, approximately half of which where children. With an estimated half a million under the age of five affected, concerns have been raised as children are now at high risk for trafficking. In response UNICEF has set up special protection programs for some 20,000 at risk children, however more programs and resources need to be put into place to ensure the safety of the children, especially the girls who are at greater risk for trafficking and exploitation.

The recovery from Cyclone Sidr looks to remain slow, and more aid is greatly needed to assist in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.  More medical assistance, educational programs, physiological support, and protection programs remain in dire need for the children of Bangladesh. Despite any increases in aid, the effects of Cyclone Sidr look to be long lasting, and the ones who need the most attention and time to recover are the children.

Here are some of the headlines from the last few weeks of December:

According to a report entitled, Education Watch 2006, much needs to be done to close the gap between the rich and the poor in the primary educational level. “About 50 percent of primary and 80 percent of secondary level students drop out of school in Bangladesh, according to a report released on 17 December by the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) , a Bangladeshi non-governmental organization (NGO)” (High rate of school dropouts). The report also highlights that the country is not at all on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set for 2015.

The level of malnutrition in West Africa was marginally lower in 2007, and therefore the total aid requests for 2008 are also lower. However concern is not to be put aside as food security remains at an issue of grave concern. “There is less of a malnutrition crisis this year but [structural] problems of food security are still a serious concern,” Hervé Ludovic de Lys the regional head of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told IRIN at the launch of the 2008 CAP which called on donors to provide funds for projects costing a total of US$312 million. The good news is that improving food security is cheaper than treating malnutrition,” he said (Slight drop in malnutrition but food remains scarce).

The Ebola out brake that took hold of the Congo appears to be under control, but many worry it will not last long. Health official Sam Okware, stated that a task force was set up to raise awareness and work to end the use of traditional circumcision rituals in the affected areas, until the epidemic has cleared. Okware also stated that those infected who have been discharged from hospital are being informed about the risks of sex, and the spreading of the disease through semen, thus they are advised to abstain for three months (Ebola under control but experts fear re-emergence in Congo).

In mid December a measles outbreak left at least 200 children in Nigeria dead and hundreds more infected, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (“Hundreds” dead in measles outbreak). Measles can cause death, and is also one of the major causes of child blindness in Africa. Measles can also lead to brain damage, which can cause deafness and paralysis.

On December 12th the United States Senate unanimously passed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA). The SADA will be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. In August, the House passed a similar bill, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act.

In the 16 days leading up to International Human Rights Day, December 10th, organizations around the globe assisted the the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), raising awareness against gender-based violence (GBV) (Awareness-raising key to tackling gender violence).

Disabilities are always a hindrance to anyone, but in Afghanistan children are being cut by a double edge sword. There is an estimated 24.5 million disabled persons with a disability in Afghanistan, with half under the age of 19. “Over 72 percent of all disabled people over six have not received any education, Afghanistan’s National Disability Survey (NDS) said in 2005. ” (Disabled people have tough time, lack education, jobs). With schools lacking resources and facilities to accommodate those children with a disability, the situation for disabled children looks to remain unchanged until more resources and systems are put into place.

It is a new year, and with this year comes new life, let us make this year the year in which we find sustainable solutions for the multitude of issues that face our children. If we truly put our heads together as an international community we can make a better life for the children born this year and future generations.

Children do not deserve to inherit the faults of those who walked before them, and we have the power with in our hands to ensure a better future for millions of children. We have the power and knowledge to end slavery, child labor, to establish peace in war torn countries, to eliminate disease, to end hunger…we have the power to make a difference. The least we owe our children is that we try, that we work towards the solution and not stand idly by and do nothing as millions upon millions of children needlessly die each year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is currently looking for child heroes for their 2008 Huggable Heroes. You can see the 2007 Huggable Heroes here. The 2007 Huggable Heroes where honored for their dedication to raising money and awareness for such issues as AIDS, Cancer, Poverty, and much more, each child hero is an inspiration to children and adults alike.

Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark stated in a press release;

“There are so many young people out there who continue to set positive examples of compassion, caring and dedication and we want to give them the recognition they deserve. We look forward to finding the 2008 Huggable Heroes and sharing their stories.”

Each Huggable Hero will receive a $7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 to which will be donated to the charity of their choice. In addition the Huggable Heroes will be sent on a trip together, for the 2009 Huggable Heroes calendar.

Make your nominations today! Nominations can be sent in by anyone including family members, friends, teachers, or even nominees themselves. They will be accepted until Feb. 8, 2008.

As we leave 2007 behind in the shadows of our minds and embark on the journey of a new year and new hope, let us not leave our lessons learned behind. While 2007 brought us a great deal of progress in children’s rights and children’s development across the globe, it has also left us with a long list of resolutions for 2008.

There are some 2.2 billion children in the world, 86% of which live in the developing world. A third of all children in the developing world have some level of malnutrition by the age of five, and have little or no access to adequate healthcare. Malnutrition is a leading cause of disease and death among children, and 20%while considerable achievements have been made, much more is left to be done. In the last 25 years the rate of extreme poverty, those living on a dollar or less a day, has fallen some 20%. According to the newly released 2007 Progress for Children Report , 2006 showed us that for the first time the number of children dying before their fifth birthday fell below 10 million, to 9.7 million. So why is this not cause for celebration, well it is and it isn’t. We should celebrate any achievement in development that is giving more and more children a chance at life and a better future, however we cannot get carried away and think we have solved the problem, or are going to fully eradicate poverty in the near future.

Poverty is most often directly or indirectly exacerbated by war and conflict, and these conflicts bring with them corruption and a multitude of other hindrances that work to keep those in poverty, as well as those on the edge of poverty, in poverty. In a world where corruption runs rampant, trade is a necessity of survival, and natural disasters have only grown, escape from poverty has become even more turbulent. Therefore we still have a long, difficult path out of poverty, and as highlighted this recent Financial Times article, aid while necessary is not what developing countries are most in need of.

“The most obvious way in which rich countries could help is by keeping the peace in regions ravaged by war, or at least funding and supporting peacekeeping forces. But that is also the most difficult, risky and contentious way to carry out development policy. Trade policy, too, has a part to play. US efforts to open that country’s markets to African manufacturers have worked well, but they should be broader and other rich countries should be co-ordinating their initiatives.”

Throwing things at a problem has never been a way to solve it, but merely a band-aid over a larger gaping wound, and poverty and food shortages are no different. While food aid is an immediate need, it cannot be the end of the solution if we are to find sustainable ways out of poverty. What developing nations need is peace and stability and this needs to be the number one resolution on the 2008 agenda, if we are going to heal the wound of poverty.

May 2008 be the year of the child…

The year for which we find peace and hope for the future of each and every child.