Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

 

The Global Children’s Initiative website sees a moral responsibility to give children everything they require to be happy and healthy. Global network works strong with all nations from the richest to the poorest. Imitating the U.S., they seek to advance their mission by, implementing research, public engagement and leadership. The Global Initiative development programs that are based in the science of child health, it appoints researchers, public leaders, practitioners, and students from a wide variety of institutions all around the world (Children’s, initiative 2010).

The global program information I have gained from these site focuses on three strategic areas:

They are changing the structure in health and development by educating the high-level decision-makers in learning about children beginning in the first years of life. 

The Global Children’s Initiative supports research projects that increase understanding about healthy development, how it can be getting back on the right path for helping children.

They focus on building leadership in people and their polices of institutions in low or middle class countries. They teach to enhance the number of diverse voices that contribute to the growing global market that helps young children (Children’s, initiative 2010).

Primarily in the majority of the world there are mental health concern issues that have significant consequences to health and development of children in society. The Global Children’s Initiative has an urgent need to identify the range of the problem within all across countries and to develop evidence-based approaches in policy and service delivery that are open to diverse cultural backgrounds. To confront this issue, a working group of Harvard staff are developing a program to research, education, and public commitment to important hole in knowledge across the countries of mental health issues (Children’s, initiative 2010).

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2010). Global children's initiative. Retrieved from

 http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative

Sharing Web Resources: The Dawn of a New Era: Investing in Early Childhood Helps America Recover and Grow

In my current profession I want to learn more about: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that provides very important opportunities to help the United States get back to creating new jobs and supporting programs which provide essential services to young children and their families, while contributing to the economy of the country (Lombardi, 2009).

 A New Era calls for action on key principles by supporting common standards across early childhood programs. The Dawn of a New Era recognizes that low income children need more intensive and comprehensive services that should start early to prevent children from achieving their potential. They give support for teaching staff and reach out to parents as a central part of early childhood services. It aims to meet the needs of working families and connects health services to early childhood programs (Lombardi, 2009).

Now, is the time to invest in creating better early childhood jobs, improved standards and monitoring, more coordinated data systems, to improved facilities for all children. The Era endorse levels of government and funding streams, These actions should be put into place with input from a wide range of stakeholders. The Dawn of a New Era Investments, are shaped to the needs of children and families most affected by the economic delay, in ways that provide long term and maintains contact as needed (Lombardi, 2009).

 This research confirms to have high quality programs, that start early and continues through school access and has a major impact on inclusive child development and learning. Along with investments in other services, more than 1000 high quality programs serves children birth to age five and this is developed across the county (Lombardi, 2009).

 Lombardi, J. (2009) The dawn of a new era. Exchange, (188), 8–9.

Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s

The alternative I chose was Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s. The importance of childhood poverty is not always acknowledged by policy makers. Assumptions are often made that policies that are good for adults households should be good for girls and boys of any age. This can often be the case, but not always. Sometimes children (and different children) need more directive strategies that identifies with their needs and rights to survival, protection, and development to be able to participate. Children need a policy that addresses their shorter-term situation even when policies are aimed at long-term changes is put into action (Childhood Poverty). 

One  insight I have gained from this site is the vast amount of children and their families living in or at risk of chronic poverty (poverty that lasts for years or generations).This life threaten number of families experiencing poverty in different ways continues to grow. Some of the most important causes of childhood poverty are economics. My next insight I learned financial growth does not necessarily reduce poverty. To reduce poverty it should be equitably distributed rather than maintaining or creating wealth gaps between rich and poor.

Supportive families and communities can often shelter children from the worst effects of poverty, as can dedicated public action to protect children and families (Childhood Poverty).    Another insight would be to change public attitudes to promote equality of, and investment in, particular children, such as girls or children ethnic groups, makes it a critical situation. However, the absolute lack of resources facing many families and governments “means that action on these fundamental causes cannot be ignored in favor of cheaper and easier awareness rising’ measures” (Childhood Poverty).

Well-designed and implemented programs should be directly aimed at improving the wellbeing of poorest in society and those people who are vulnerable to poverty and its effects are very important.  All people should have access to good quality, accessible and affordable (If at all possible free) primary health care, education and early childhood development programs are imperative for wiping out childhood poverty (Childhood Poverty).    

 Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s page Retrieved from

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

Sharing Web Resources

The newsletter I subscribed to was save the children.org; it is the most popular organization that covers the need of children all over the world. They are recognized for their responsibility, partnership, innovation, which takes them to the focal point of communities; to show and help families learn how to help themselves. I learned that they work along with the government, non-profit organizations and neighboring partners to maintain their own freedom without the interference of political agendas or religion (Save the Children).When there is a disaster like tsunamis or the destruction in Haiti’s; Save the Children as quickly and as effectively steps in to deliver food, medical needs, even education to help rebuild their communities through extensive recovery programs. Save the Children works to determine where poverty, hunger and disease areas and help replace them with hope for their future (Save the Children).

The international website I  selected was Global Funding for Children; in this site an article was published by Kathleen Toner, CNN; wrote this article on March 14, 2013 through Global Funding about a young girl named Ntaiya who lived in the Masan village. When she 14 years old she had to go in a cow pen with an old woman with a rusty knife to do what they call a female circumcision and you are not suppose to cry.  This type of procedure is commonly based on religious and cultural beliefs of these people. This ritual still goes on to prevent premarital sex and marital infidelity; even though it is illegal today. Female circumcision and child marriages are illegal today (Toner, 2013). Kenyan government still thinks that educating girls is still not a priority. There are only about 11% of Masan girls in Kenya finish primary schools. Ntaiya strived for a better life. Her dream of becoming a teacher weren't the norm in Enoosaen, a small village in Kenya. Her move paid off and she went on to excelled in high school and earned a scholarship in the United States eventually getting her doctorate degree. Over the next decade Ntaiya earned a job at the United Nation and went on to open the first primary school in her homeland of Kenya. She helping more than 150 girls gets an education and gets opportunities that she sacrifices to have a better life (Toner, 2013).  

 About Us - Save the Children Retrieved from

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6146405/k.C7E9/About_Us.htm - 44k

The Global Fund for Children: Retrieved from. http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Part: 1 Establishing Professional Contacts

After exploring websites to connect with early Childhood professionals around the world, that did not pan out right now. However, I am still connected to some sites that will be sending me some information on different organization. I will not stop trying to connect to international early childhood professional because, I find this new venue to be very exciting and new. I did however receive contact from Tamalin Harper (tharper@cecd.za.org) in Africa; who will pass on some contacts to me. I have also signed up to receive articles from Save the Children at twebster@savechidren.org:

Part 2: Expanding Resources

The Global Fund for Children finds and advances the most susceptible children in the community to succeed. “Our strategic support helps our grantees achieve their vision, become sustainable, and reach even more children in need” (Global fund). Their program officers go all over the world, looking for ways to help the most crucial children in the world. They look for groups who are serious about the needs of children. The Global Fund for Children seeks out local leadership, communities involved in youth programs; creative and sustainable to the needs of children. They donate small amounts of money in the hands of pioneering leaders who invest all over the world to vulnerable children (Global fund). They invest small grant at the right time to right places that need it. The Global Fund knows that money alone is not enough for ultimate change it requires strong leaders and strong organizational development, they give management assistance and network opportunity to help these organizations become sustainable resources in their communities (Global fund).  

In listening to the podcast on World Forum Radio links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals Michael Kalinowsky did an interview with Susan Lyon who has been an educator since she was 22 years old. She is the Director of the Teacher Innovated Project in Sanfrancisco. Susan stated she began as an educator with children with learning disability and emotional problems. This was the beginning and passion she developed for children. Susan Lyon wanted to see in the windows of children’s mind, which saw the world differently; this was fascinating to her. She was inspired by an exhibit from the schools in Metro Milla. The exhibit was 100 Languages of children.  It became a catalyst for her in San Francisco. This program was used to connect with schools public and private to advocate for children. She created a program called the round table where they connected together every month to discuss the problems children environment when they enter in school. This program listened to the children and their needs (World Forum Foundation Radio).

World Forum Foundation Radio. Includes links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php

 World Forum Foundation. 

http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php

Save the Childrenhttp://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_
(Newsletter:

"My Support"

The factors within my daily environment that are supportive to me are my grandchildren, they come to me everyday to be taken to school. That is when my day gets started. They wake me up quietly and we talk about what is going on in school and what are my plans for today. Children keep you going and energized so; I believe without this rush from them in my life everyday; it would probably become mundane.

My everyday factors that are important in my life are my friends and family. My major transition that changed my definition of support was in 2007. One day after a class my legs stop moving. I could not walk without the help of a walker. It happened so suddenly; for awhile the doctors had no idea what was wrong with me. My health became worse and that was when I learned about what support means to me. My family and my friends surrounded me with nothing but support. Without these individuals in my life who gave me love unconditionally, I never believed I would have made it through. They never let a day go by without building me up when I was always down.

I have always believed support is about caring and encouraging each other and that is exactly what I received. They understood my physical and emotional pain that I was dealing with.  Everyone of them did not think twice about being there for me. Even after I had surgery in the area of my spine and learned how to walk all over again, I have never stopped thanking God for what he gave me back and having these incredible people in my life. I have made it a habit of saying I love you to someone on a daily basis with friends and family. Everyone should have someone in their life to share, feelings, hopes and fears with. I hope the blog this week will give us all some kind of support to build relationships with others, because when you give it; you definitely will get it back!

My Connections to Play

"We don’t stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing."

George Bernard Shaw

"You can't stop the future
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.” Jay Asher,

Essentials for Play

Play was supported in my family, because we did not have money for a lot of toys so; we were encouraged to go out and play.  During that time it was something you looked forward to doing and you hated the days when it was raining and you could not go outside, because there was not very much to do inside of the house. As long as you were in before it got dark, you could play all day long..



Today I think children don’t really know how to actually play. Television started children to get slower when it came to playing. I also believe that parents wanted to protect their children and became afraid for them to go outside. Video and electrical games sealed the deal for children. In some homes these types of electrical things such as television become babysitters for parents.

The role of play was important to me in my life because it gave me structure. Play taught me to be able to get along with my peers. That carried on into my adult life and made me stronger in communicating with colleagues.It made me be able to make good friends that I still have into my adulthood. Play teaches you how to share with others. In my neighborhood no one had a lot so we all managed to contribute to playing together. Despite the exercising and imagination that play provides, it also teaches you to be creative and make different types of play fun. Learning to play with my friends helped me to communicate, and learn social skills because; I was very quiet as a child. Growing up in my environment was fun and in my adulthood, I still like to have fun, I think it makes you a happier person in your life.

50 Inspirational Quotes About Play That will Jump Start Creativity

http://www.awakecreate.com/50-inspirational-quotes-abou-play-that-will-jump-start-your-creativity/

Kids Playing Stock Photos, Pictures, Royalty Free ... - 123RF Limited

http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/kids_playing.html