Children

“Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.”
- Kofi Annan

The key to a prosperous future lies in the youth of the world, however if we ignore half of our future we will only have half of the prosperity.

Gender inequality not only damages the girl child, but the generations of girls, boys, women and men, it leaves a scar on the whole of our global society. Until we see a real end to gender discrimination, one will not see the end at the light of the development tunnel.

Gender equality is the key to ending poverty, as it opens the doors of education, and helps to close the door on gender based violence. The key to a prosperous future lies in the lives of generations of girls.

The quest for parenthood is nothing new, however in our increasingly busy Western lives we are waiting longer and longer to get married and have children. The result of older motherhood has led many families to face infertility and difficulties in conceiving. The idea of having fertility treatments is no longer shocking and taboo, so should one really be shocked if India has decided to cash in on it!

India’s booming baby market is thriving; with over a 100 clinics and hospitals providing treatments at a fraction of the price, at 1/5th to 1/8th, of the cost in the west, it’s no surprise. The issues of surrogacy and fertility treatments raise questions of morals and ethics for many, while others just see it as a normal changing of the times. The world is full of orphaned children and many ask why not adopt if you cannot have children, international adoptions appear to be the in thing to do, especially if you’re a celebrity.

Regardless of how you look at it, there is potential risk, and that risk is becoming all too clear in India as the fate of one child is now left in the hands of the courts. Der Spiegel recently looked into ‘what happens when a baby is born that suddenly belongs to no one?’, the article also looks at the trauma and heartache of one surrogate mother. The article delves into the emerging potential for social problems as India becomes a ‘baby factory’.

While the long-term social outcomes are unclear, the economic benefits to a country that is both riddled by poverty and marginalization in many of its communities clearly out way any doubt in most minds of potential surrogates. India is also an emerging business, technological and medical power house, providing those desperate for a child in the west an opportunity that they may not otherwise be able to afford back home. While one child remains a virtual orphan, many others are leaving India as one happy family.

Today, September 21st, marks International Day of Peace, as per a resolution declared by the The United Nations in 1981 to coincide with opening of its General Assembly. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new resolution that declared 21 September of each year as the International Day of Peace

“…International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day . . .”

On this day the “Peace Bell”, which is made from coins donated by children from across the globe, at UN Headquarters is rang.  The bell, which was a gift from the government of Japan, and its ring are thought to be a unified symbol of solidarity, is referred to as “a reminder of the human cost of war.  The Peace Bell is inscribed with:

“Long live absolute world peace.”

Look for events in your town, school, or set one up of your own, but regardless use this day to work towards peace in your life and share it with those around you…peace is contagious!

“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.”  - Pablo Casals (Spanish cellist and conductor 1876-1973)

Children are our world’s irreplaceable miracles; each one possesses the potential to change the world. Each child is but a budding hero, in need of nutrients, love and care to grow and flower into a leader who can change the world. For the future and for the sake of so many children who do not have someone in their lives to instill in them the irreplaceable value and worth they hold. As a community we must work collectively to see they too are given hope, so that they may capture their own miracles. Each unique being on this earth has the power for greatness!

Over the last week news of investigations into China’s latest manufacturing scandal has made headlines and once again shaken parents. Shocked consumers are no longer outraged by toxic toys, but toxic infant formula!

The scandal first broke last week as China detained 19 as Toxic Formula Sickens Hundreds of Infants on Monday in connection with substandard baby formula. The company at the center of the spotlight is the Sanlu Group, the country’s largest producer of powder formula. Shockingly the news is not as braking as it seems, as the company received complaints about the formula powder back in March, for which it did make some product recalls, however public and government reporting seemed to be a miss. Last week, the Sanlu Group recalled 700 tons of powdered formula, and on Saturday the government said the company had been ordered to stop producing and selling powdered formula.

Infants’ deaths rekindle anger over food safety, as public outcries continue to grow as the number of infants affected by tainted baby formula continues to rise, by Tuesday the number of victims has already almost doubled. Only one day after the story broke the formula had caused the death of two infants and left more than 1,250 others sick. Of those infants who have become ill some 340 are still being hospitalized, of which 53 remained in critical condition. Only hours ago reports hit of a third baby dead in Chinese tainted formula scandal, reached headlines. The numbers of infants who may parish is sadly only looking to increase, as the number of infants affected has skyrocketed; now leaving more than 6,200 ill.

Over the last few years high-profile food scandals in the country haven’t been all too uncommon, including formulas. In 2004, over 200 infants became ill and 12 died following the use of a “fake formula” which contained no nutrients at all. With other consumer scandals, such as toys, tires, pet food and toothpaste making constant headlines, it left China to a nationwide crackdown on quality control over the past year. However one is left to wonder as we sit in the midst of another crisis, what has really been done and if one can ever truly trust the consumer product producing giant. What will tomorrow bring for China’s infants is unclear; however one can only hope that the numbers will not once again take a substantial leap.

“Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world”  -Maria Montessori (Italian physician and educator, 1870-1952)


Giving children freedom of expression and the freedom to pursue their own interests is the greatest gift we can give our children and our future.  Sadly this gift is all too often unseen around the globe, and children continue to be exploited and be denied their fundamental rights.

Education is not only the right of every child, but one of the greatest gifts they can receive, for education opens the doors to the world.  However some 130 million children around the globe are denied access to a basic education, that is almost a quarter of the world’s children.  Millions more children receive an inadequate education, or have their education cut short, and access to a University education is beyond a dream for millions. 

One of the major keys to the elevation of poverty is education, as it helps to brake the cycles of abuse, exploitation and enslavement…education is the key to the world.  By denying children an education we are essentially closing the door on their future and ours!

Today began like any other day for me and so many others, as in an early morning fog craving a cup of coffee I boarded the metro praying for a seat.  My prayers were answered and I put on my headset and tucked into my magazine.  Then I could faintly hear an announcement…something about the Pentagon, um sure it’s nothing…then it hit me what day was it? Prior to that moment the date was something I would have asked the moment I had to sign something, and from the reaction of those around me I wasn’t alone.  It is not as if we forgot, we can never forget, but in a way it has become more of a triggered memory so many just want to put aside and not think of too often.  But for others every day is a reminder of what happened on that dark day.

However today is not any other day, today marks the 7th anniversary of the unforgettable tragedy of September 11, 2001. September 11 took the lives of 2,974 people, not including the 19 hijackers, and 24 people remain on the list of those missing. Of those who lost their lives, 8 where children: 5 on American 77 ranging in age from 3 to 11, 3 on United 175 ages 2, 3, and 4. In the towers, the youngest victim was 17 years old.

It is not just the death of 9 children we must remember, but also the lives of more than 3,051 children who lost parents on 9-11. Seven years on wounds are healing, but the memories and grief of a lost parent are continuously felt. Many children of those lost in 9-11 may not remember or never knew their parent, but the loss they feel remains deeply etched into their everyday lives.

The fateful events of September 11, 2001 touched and united people the world over, but it is the children who’s memories remain, other generations remember where they were on the day; Troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, JFK was shot, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Challenger exploded…and now a generation will never forget where they where the day the towers fell.

Related Articles and Sites:

Children of 9/11 have grown up with grief

Bereaved Children of 9/11 Victims Suffered High Rates of Psychiatric Illness

Survey: Children of 9/11 Still Grieving

9/11 Children’s Workbook: Offensive or Respectful?

9/11 Children - ABC special on the 5th anniversary on those who lost a father

9-11 Through Chidren’s Eyes

Tuesday’s Children - How The Children Of 9/11 Victims Deal With Their Loss

Over the last year I have received a number of e-mails from children and young adults, asking me what they, or their groups, can do to help other children across the world. Therefore I am writing this post just for you, and for all the other young people out there who want to find more ways in which they can help and volunteer.

Firstly let me say how wonderful it has been to receive letters from such ambitious and dedicated young individuals, your quest for justice and knowledge is inspiring . Secondly it amazes me to find so many young people reading a site such as this, you are already on the right track by taking such an interest in the lives and rights of children across the globe.

I have begun a new page, Resources for Children and Young Adults , and I will continually be adding resources so keep checking back.  Please feel free to send me any links or organizations you feel should be added to the list. Additionally please send your stories of how you or a young person in your life has made a difference.

Here are a few ideas of ways you can help other kids:

1. Grow and donate your hair to Locks of Love and help a child in the United States or Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis, get a hairpiece.
2. Visit your local hospital children’s ward, or send drawings and letters of encouragement to children who are suffering from illness or trauma.
3. Collect stuffed animals for local police and rescue personal to give to children.
4. Make jewlery, or other arts and craft items, to sell and fundraise for your favorite cause.  You can even use items that are already helping those in need like, Paper to Pearls
5. Hold a concert or play and donate all of your ticket and conssession sales to charity.
6. Orgonize a community yard sale and donate all the money to help those in your local community.
7. Ask your school, church, sports team, or scout group to adopt a cause or charity for the year.
8. Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
9. Collect donated school supplies and backpacks for kids in need.
10. Use your talents and interest in a creative way to help others!

Remember to keep an open mind, and that you don’t always have to do something big to make a difference, just sharing your thoughts and ideas makes an impact. Most of all keep up the spirit of volunteering and share it with your friends and family, you can make a world of difference just by your example

Here are some links to organizations established by, or for, kids:
JustGive.org Kids Corner - Learn about kids making a difference
Just Give - 50 Ways to Help Children
Starlight’s StarPower program -showcase’s young people working to help other kids.
Children Helping Children - International Musical Charity, holding In-Hospital Concerts and Gala Benefit Concerts
Kids Helping Kids with Nothing
Kids Helping Kids Heal
Kids Helping Kids
Project Linus New Jersey - Providing handmade blankets and handcrafted toys to children suffering serious illness and trauma.
The Loose Change to Loosen Chains Campaign
Families with Purpose - Community Service Projects
PBS Kids Zoom Team - You can you help the world.

People ask me all the time about why ‘my cause’ is modern slavery when there are so many other causes to choose from. Funny enough last night a group of fellow abolitionists’ and I had the same discussion about how to promote the cause in a city full of worthy causes, many whose numbers cry out louder than ours. The reality is they are all worthy, but I cannot possibly be part of them all…I have a friend in poverty reduction and she thinks her cause is the key (she is right it is the root cause of much of the worlds other causes/issues), another is in Fair Trade and its her life’s mission to see you can be fair in all aspects as a consumer and she too is right, I know people involved in the fight against various cancers, AIDS, etc….the list is daunting and endless and no one is less worthy. I do my bit where I can, but if I want to make an impact I must personally focus and thus I chose modern slavery as my main focus because I felt that I could truly make an impact there.

When looking at how you can help children in need across the globe, you will quickly find your self overwhelmed with causes, so look at the few that jump out at you and see which one is truly calling your name. Use your skills and resources in the best way possible, and remember that often the ways where you can make the biggest impact, are not the most obvious.

The question we all have to ask ourselves is where can I make a difference, where can I fill the gap and make the largest impact? But most importantly regardless of your cause we must all act.  The reward in the end is not just for that of the children, but also our own.

ETHIOPIA: Families hard hit by food crisis
Mothers and children are being targeted as Ethiopia battles mass hunger. Drought, a shortage of resources and the global food crisis are helping drive hunger and malnutrition as Ethiopia faces one of the world’s most severe food crises. About 1.6 million mothers and almost 6 million children are receiving emergency food supplies through the United Nations World Food Programme’s targeted supplementary program.

China Admits Building Flaws in Quake
Authorities concede China school construction was sub-par and at fault in the death of school children during the quake related collapse. For the first time since grieving parents and rights activists demanded an explanation for the collapse of dozens of school buildings in China’s May earthquake, Chinese authorities have admitted the rush to build amid the country’s economic boom may have led to shoddy construction practices.

PAKISTAN: Traditional birth attendants can curb maternal and infant mortality
Pakistan is working to train traditional birth attendants to help reduce the country’s high mortality levels.  Dozens of traditional birth attendants in Pakistan are getting medical training under a local aid group program to help reduce the country’s maternal and infant mortality rates. Traditional methods, such as putting cow dung on the umbilical cord to promote healing, have been found to contribute to health problems.

Child malnutrition crisis in rural Zimbabwe, say aid agencies
Aid agencies which have been allowed to resume work in Zimbabwe have reported a dramatic increase in malnutrition in rural provinces which were at the heart of the recent election violence… The government announced last week that it would lift a five-month-old ban on aid work in rural communities, imposed after Mr Mugabe accused agencies of backing the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. On Thursday, the Red Cross federation made an urgent appeal for almost $27m (£15m), saying the food security situation was likely to be the worst on record because of rocketing inflation and Zimbabwe’s shortage of foreign currency.

5 Afghan children killed in raids
Five more Afghan children died as a result of two separate NATO and U.S. military actions Monday. Dozens of Afghan civilians, many of them children, have died in recent weeks, inflaming tensions and leading President Hamid Karzai to demand changes to how foreign troops operate on Afghan soil.

UN urges Nepal to free children from Maoist camps
Nepal’s Maoist-led government should immediately move to free thousands of former child soldiers still living in camps, Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, said Tuesday. Coomaraswamy is seeking access for the UN to ensure the children’s recovery and reintegration rights are respected.