Getting to Know International Organizations: Part 1

            Hello Blog readers! I shared what I learned about my two websites last week, so I decided to do something a little different. I want to discuss new insights and information regarding poverty and opportunities for positive social change regarding, https://www.unicef.org/reports/ending-extreme-poverty-focus-children.

            How profound to say, “Children are more likely to live in poverty than adults. They’re also more vulnerable to its effects. 663 million children worldwide- nearly one in three – live in poverty, 385 million children are living in extreme poverty, forced to survive on less than $1.90 a day, Children are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than adults, and Children from the poorest households die at twice the rate of their better-off peers”. What I’ve learned from this website is that UNICEF established programs such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), social protection and universal child benefits. UNICEF is trying to end extreme poverty because, “no matter where they are, children who grow up impoverished suffer from poor living standards, develop fewer skills for the workforce, and earn lower wages as adults. In Sierra Leone 85% help families overcome series of emergencies, communities come together for disaster relief. 85% of Syrian children in host communities in Jordan live in poverty. (https://www.unicef.org/social-policy/child-poverty). The UNICEF’s Global social protection programme framework deals with all life threatening vulnerabilities to a child. Resolving it for a better end result thus break the cycle for generations to come.

            A positive social change I would like to mention is the, “transforming plastic waste into building materials for classrooms” in Gonzagueville. Facts such as classrooms where so greatly overcrowded they would have “more than 100 children per class, fight child mortality by preventing diseases exacerbated by pollution such as pneumonia and malaria. Providing low cost and comfortable learning spaces for children" was done through recylicling plastic waste. "Millions of tons of plastic waste are thrown away each year. This pollutes our seas, our air, our lands, our world and children’s playgrounds. UNICEF in Cote d’lvoire, has partnered with Conceptos Plasticos a Colombian social business that transforms plastic waste into construction materials to build a better world for children. In Cote d’lvoire, many children do not have access to education"  (http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_childpoverty.html). The real problem is that single-use plastic-the very idea of producing plastic items like grocery bags, which we use for an average of 12 minutes but can persist in the environment for half a millennium-is an incredibly reckless abuse of technology” (scientificamerican.com).  Society as a whole must be mindful of the amount of waste and plastic thrown away that’s polluting the entire world.

            It’s great to see UNICEF helping in so many ways with a multiple number of needs regarding natural disasters, poverty and pollution. I look forward to keeping up with these particular endevors in the near future. 

Reference

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_childpoverty.html

https://www.unicef.org/reports/ending-extreme-poverty-focus-children.

scientificamerican.com

Issues and Trends: Changing Demographics and Diversity

          The global fund for children wrote an article on, “What’s possible when NGOs and police work together to end trafficking. Human trafficking has increased in the US significantly endangering lives. This article caught my attention wanting to see what steps other countries are making towards minimizing this crime. Anagha Khandagle is highly admired for her leads of the rescue operations for the anti-trafficking NGO Purnata. “Living in abject poverty, the woman and her daughter, Sharmila*, had been lured to Kolkata on the false promise of a well-paying job as a housemaid. Upon arriving in Kolkata illegally, they were sold to a brothel-keeper in Mumbai’s Sonapur. Since Sharmila was a minor, the brothel keeper offered to keep her ‘safe’- away from the red-light area-and promised to find employment for her. To her horror, the woman later learned that her daughter had been sold to a similar establishment. Anguished, she came to Purnata for help. This was Anagha’s first taste of prevention and rescue. This became her career path. After working in different capacities in rescue, rehabilitation, and prevention projects, Anagha is no stranger to threats of violence. In Fact, the Founder of Purnata, Aaboo Varghese, describes her as the ‘lion-hearted’ woman of Purnata” (http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/). I employ you to visit the website directly to read how a third world country was able to save two lives both a mother and daughter from human trafficking.

            The National Head Start Association, (NHSA) and the Vanessa Rich Leadership Fund gives, “scholarships for the next generation of aspiring Head Start leaders and advocates”. This helps the teachers servicing our children today become more equipped with rendering inclusivity for all in their classrooms. The disaster relief fund affiliated with NHSA is a program that, “assist NHSA member Head Start and Early Head Start programs and their staff and families who become victims of natural disasters” (http://www.nhsa.org/). Hurricane Florence in 2018, “was the most destructive and caused the most fatalities” (wikipedia.org) in the state of NC. While working for the Durham Early HeadStart program I was involved in the support rendered for Florence Hurricane victims. To date, we are still helping families return back to normal almost two years later. NHSA helped all diverse nationalities in need of assistance after the storm. I feel that NHSA shows inclusivity in all that they do which is a perfect example to follow.

             The NHSA and global fund for children are both changing the demographics and diversity of the world today through their programs and hard work. 

References

National Head Start Association. (n.d.). http://www.nhsa.org/

The Global Fund for Children: An organization that provides capital to communities worldwide to improve the lives of children. http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/

Expanding Horizons/ Expanding Resources

 Expanding Horizons/ Expanding Resources

            The National Head Start Association http://www.nhsa.org/ and The Global Fund for Children http://www.globalfundforchildren.org are the two podcasts that were highly intriguing to me. The reason why I choose these two was because the National Head Start Association is on a local level and The Global Fund for Children is worldwide. They both demonstrate the needs of the children and what priorities are imminent to help their families and the societies they dwell in.

            The National Head Start Association provides, “comprehensive health, nutrition, and education services to children in poverty” (http://www.nhsa.org/, n.d.). I became aware of The National Head Start Association through my daughter attending the Durham Early HeadStart program. It opened my eyes to several things necessary for a child to succeed. One of which is early intervention. My daughter needed physical help with crawling and walking in the beginning years something that was detected early. If I would have waited until kindergarten or 1^st grade I don’t know how detrimental this could have been. Many beneficiaries of Head Start excelled in the working world with successful professions. Head Start helps Veterans. The holistic being of the child is the core of why the National Head Start Association exists. Cornell William Brooks President & CEO of the NAACP and a beneficiary of the Head Start program states, “Head Start not only seeds the aspirations of young people but also seeds the aspirations of their parents in terms of their investments in their children’s lives and well beings” (nhsa.org/documentary, n.d.).

            Global fund for children, “is the only global nonprofit dedicated to finding, funding, and coaching truly local organizations that empower young people worldwide. To help children and youth reach their full potential and advance their rights”. (http://www.globalfundforchildren.org, n.d.). The global fund for children not only focuses on minimizing AIDS, tuberculosis, and Malaria but they save children from drugs, sex trafficking, homelessness, and female circumcision to name a few. In America, the global fund for children has 48 local partners and 10 countries total. The service; Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and the United States.

            Once I acquire an MS in Edu, I would like to take part in making a difference locally as well as worldwide and these are the two foundations, I want to take part in. I look forward to researching this further to help become more equipped in servicing areas for the betterment of children and their families as a whole.

References

National Head Start Association. (n.d.). http://www.nhsa.org/

The Global Fund for Children: An organization that provides capital to communities worldwide to improve the lives of children. http://www.gloalfundforchildren.org/

My Supports

            In knowing I have a reliable alarm clock (phone), a minivan for transportation, and steady income to fluently support my household operation and livelihood is a blessing. This is crucially important because I have children from ages 1 to 8 years old that have individualized diverse needs. Isabelle attends a Durham early head start childcare center, Christina, Maddison, and Gabrielle attends the Duke school and my two great-nephews that my husband and I take care of attends Spring Valley Elementary school. All of these schedules have different start times but, my husband and I ensure they are there on time every day. “Children are influenced and motivated by the way significant people in their lives respond to them” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014).

            My mother assists with getting my two great-nephews on the public-school bus. Syariah, our nanny comes three days out the week assisting my mother with the children’s homework, exercise and extra activities scheduled while my husband or I get dinner ready. Girl scouts help my girls build character and therapy helps my great-nephews transition from their former dysfunctional home to a more structured, secure loving environment. “Behavior management, problem-solving, and communication skills through in-home family preservation services would interrupt the pattern of escalating conflict in the family and thus increase family involvement” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014). I appreciate Carla for teaching my children Spanish twice a week and Jasmine who braids all my girl's hair as needed. Even though these services are paid for, the enhancement of the children’s growth and wellbeing allows my husband and me to facilitate the business operation for running a home of six children, two adults, and one senior. An example of these facilitations is, paying bills, grocery shopping, cooking, washing laundry and household maintenance.

            When raising six children I do not have enough adult hands to help facilitate maintaining a healthy balance in keeping on schedule.  This would be ten times more stressful and nearly impossible if I didn’t have a community that renders a wealth of support. I can’t be all things to all people at one time and still maintain some sense of personal identity. I would feel depleted and inept to meet the daily emotional, phycological, cognitive nurturing needs of my family. I wouldn’t be able to identify my own quality of health and fulfillment. As I aspire to achieve my MS. Edu, I need my community and support system now more than ever. I keep the Sabbath as a respite to put all the demands of life down so I can reflect and renew my energy to excel at my most impactful effort in the upcoming week. I am so blessed to have these supports in my life. “When assessment is used to focus on strengths, it provides a method for mobilizing competencies and resources that can make a positive difference for children and their families” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014).

            If I could have additional support systems, I would have a 24hr live-in nanny, a housekeeper, chauffeur, personal workout coach and chef along with the financial substance to support my wish list. This would free me up tremendously so I could focus more on my children and give them the nurturing attention that they crave.  “Areas targeted for skill development included improving interpersonal and affective skills as well as increasing family involvement” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014). This wish list will simultaneously allow me to schedule dedicated un-interrupted time to focus on my personal business ventures.

            Currently, my wish list does not exist however, I’m truly thankful and blessed for the things that do exist in my life. To have what I have and to be without the things on my wish list motivates me to press forward and be a model for my children. This allows me to live a fulfilling and blessed life establishing a positive blueprint for my children.

Reference

Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment. (2014). Retrieved        2019, from https://rhyclearinghouse.acf.hhs.gov/library/2000/empowering-children-and-         families-through-strength-based-assessment.