UNICEF

In the recent months, children in Gaza were greatly affected by violence and trauma.  More than 500 children were killed and approximately 3,300 severly injured.  This is not to mention the thousands that suffer from emotional trauma.  The community and UNICEF is working hard to make schools safe and up and running again.  “Investing in education is an investment for the future,’ says UNICEF-State of Palestine Special Representative, June Kunugi.  ‘Without increased support and commitment to their education and protection, an entire generation in Gaza could be lost. It is our collective moral obligation to prevent this,’ she adds” (UNICEF, 2014).  UNICEF is reaching out and delivering vaccines to the community and medical supplies for hospitals. 

References:

UNICEF. (2014). Children at risk in the Gaza conflict. http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/oPt_74620.html

                 Global Children's Initiative

 

         This website really makes you think about how good we have it in the United States.  Some countries are worried about short term survival effects, such as food and shelter.  Some countries are suffering from natural disasters, keeping them from living normal lives and having the proper care and education.  In Chile, children do not even learn the letters of the alphabet until first grade.  By first grade in the United States, most of our children are reading.  I know my son knew his letters at least by the age of three.  It makes me wonder why other countries wait longer to teach their children the alphabet?  What are they focusing on that they feel is more important?  Another thing I found interesting was the lack of parental involvement in their children’s education in some countries.  I have always been a firm believer that it takes everyone involved to make a child successful.  Parents need to be aware of and involved in their children’s education.  Everyone needs to work together.   

The Harlem Children's Zone had a recent article about how they are providing free WIFI through a neighborhood to try and close the gap between the digital world and those who cannot afford it.  There is so much that can be learned though the internet.  Also, some teachers are requiring research and work that is to be done through the internet and some families cannot afford that.  If these children are offered free WIFI, they will be able to be as advanced as any other children in the country.  They will not fall behind, causing them to be more successful.  

Reference:

http://hcz.org/news/

During the past few weeks we were asked to contact other professionals in different countries.  I have unfortunately not heard from anyone that I reached out to.  Which disappoints me because I was really looking forward to the communication I could have experienced.  Poverty can cause children to suffer from health issues, have poor diets and a poor education.  UNICEF is an organization that advocates for children and their overall well-being.  The health and rights of children are attempted to be carried out through UNICEF.  It is a great organization that genuinely care about children and does their best to provide for those in need.     

I chose to read a little bit into the poverty information about Egypt.  When I first hear Egypt it is not typically an area that I think would have a lot of poverty.  In reality, there is evidence of poverty in all places all over the world.  “Children are one-third of Egypt’s population today and over one-fifth of Egypt’s children are growing up in poverty” (UNICEF, 2010).

 

Table 28: incidence of severe deprivation, absolute poverty and income poverty, by household size

Household size                 Severe Deprivation        Absolute poverty            Income poverty

less than 3                           15.52                                     3.45                                        1.55

3-4 members                     18.76                                     2.36                                        6.02

5-6 members                     19.95                                     3.20                                        17.71

More than 7                       37.16                                     7.60                                        44.53

Source: authors calculations using Egypt demographic and health

Survey, 2008 and household Income, Expenditure and consumption Survey 2008-09

Every Child is Worth Something!

           So, every person/organization I emailed has not responded to me.  I am not exactly sure what to do when that happens… I have looked into a variety of sources including:  The National Institute for Early Education Research, The Global Fund for Children, The Harlem Children’s Zone, and The Society for Research in Child Development.  After reading through these websites, there is only one that has caught my attention and am able to read their newsletters and have them mean anything is the Global Fund for Children.  I signed up for their newsletter and am interested in what their corporation is capable of.  I still await to hear from someone that I tried to contact.  I feel I could learn a lot more if I talk to a specific person, but learning about children can be done in a number of ways.  I am going to try and focus on the Global Fund for Children and see where that gets me!  This organization takes children that could be sold into slavery and gives them better opportunities.  Children are my life and my passion.  If there is anything that I can do to give them equal opportunities, I will!

Part 1: Establishing Professional Contacts

I chose to contact a variety of individuals from various countries.  Learning about child development in other countries something that I am very excited about and looking forward to.  I hope I get a response from at least one in the next week.  Here are the individuals I chose to reach out to:

Haiti

Step by Step Program / Tipa Tipa
Dominique Hudicourt
Email: tipatipa@hainet.net

Romania

Step by Step Centre for Education and Professional Development
Carmin Lica
Email: carmenlia@dnt.ro

 Armenia

Step By Step Benevolent Foundation
Ruzanna Tsarukyan
Email: ruzanna@sbsbf.am

Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association
Dr. Betty Chan Po-king
20 Somerset Rd. Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-23396005
 Email: sannas@ycef.com

 Belarus
 Belorussian Parents' and Teachers' League "Step by Step"
 Iryna Lapitskaya
 Email: sbtbyst@openby.com

Croatia
Open Academy "Step By Step" "KorakpoKorack"
Nives Milinovic
Email: nives@korakpokorak.hr


Part 2: Expanding Professional Contacts

The resource that I chose to read through and subscribe to a newsletter from is NIEER- National Institute for Early Education Research.  The website is: www.nieer.org.
I chose this resources because it seems to have a number of things that interest me and could help me in my career every day. 

Some of the issues it discusses are:

• Assessment
• Special Education
• State Pre-K Evaluations
• English Language Learners
• Governance and Accountability
• Quality and Curriculum
• Economics and Finance

 

I don’t care how independent someone is, we all still need support.  Support offers us comfort and happiness.  This is a tough world and without support, the chances of failure are increased.

I am lucky to have people that support me on a daily basis.  The most important support that I have is my boyfriend, Matt.  Matt works very hard to help support my son and myself.  He works over time whenever he can so we have more money to do fun things.  I have been a struggling single mom for six years and finally have some relief.  He plays with my son and helps him with things so that I can get things done.  Going to school full time and working full time as a single mom is very difficult.  He is supportive of my job and continuing school.  He has taken my son in as his own and nothing means more to me than that.   

The other staff that I work with are also very supportive.  We work together and help each other out when we can.  If I need to leave early one day, I can also find someone that will take my place.  My boss is always understanding and accommodating of things that I have to do, especially when it involves my son.

My mother and sisters have always been there for me.  I talk to them quite often.  They are always there to listen when I have problems and help in any way they can.  One of my sisters lives in Texas.  She felt I needed a break, so her and her husband flew my son and myself to their house for a week.  My mother lives about an hour and a half away from me now.  I hate not seeing her all the time but she is always there when I need her.  There have been a few times where she came over to play with my son so I could get work done.  I can call her at any time and know that I will not be bothering her.

If I were not living with Matt right now, it would be a huge struggle.  I do not make very much money and have a lot of bills that my son’s father left me with.  Working and going to school full time is hard enough.  Plus a child and always stressing about making ends meet.  He is way more than my financial support though.  I have never felt so loved and understood with anyone else.  I can count on him for anything and by more than confident that he will pull through for me.