Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: New Shoes for Children in Liberia

Posted on January 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

Reporting by Emmanuel Ford, ChildFund Liberia, and Marcia Roeder, ChildFund Corporate Relations Officer

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we travel to Liberia, where TOMS just gave new shoes to children in a ChildFund-supported community.

The west African nation of Liberia is struggling to rebuild after 14 years of civil war. Still dependent on foreign aid, Liberia has the third highest unemployment rate in the world. Infant mortality rates are also high, and many children suffer from malnutrition, which can have life-long impact.

Although the civil war ended in 2003, it took a heavy toll on the education sector. School enrollment and retention rates are low. One reason for this is that students are required to wear uniforms and shoes to school. Without shoes, they can’t attend. A lack of shoes also means children’s feet are exposed to diseases, infections and cuts.

Liberians gather at building

Community members await shoe distribution.

Earlier this month, ChildFund and TOMS delivered new shoes to three Liberian communities. The shoes were provided by TOMS. Its One for One™ program gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes sold. And TOMS plans to send shoes for the children not just one time but repeatedly, as they grow.

children waving

Excitement builds as the shoes arrive.

The day was truly amazing! As ChildFund and TOMS staff approached our first destination for shoe distribution – Bopolu Central High School – we could barely contain our excitement.

Children were lined up as far as the eye could see. Local education officers and representatives from the Liberian government were waiting for us to express their appreciation. After a few speeches and a whole lot of thank-you’s, we began the fun part – fitting shoes on the feet of eager children.

A child tries on new shoes

ChildFund staff check to ensure a good fit.

“I use to wear sandals to school,” one child told us. “My friends will not laugh at me again.”

With their old shoes in hand and new ones on their feet, children at Bopolu public school did an impromptu “TOMS Walk” in their TOMS shoes.

Girl with new shoes

All set with her new pair.

“I like my shoes. I also like the black color,” another child exclaimed. “I used to wear slippers to school. Thanks to TOMS, I got a new pair of shoes.”

Parents also voiced their appreciation. “ChildFund is doing a lot for our children. This will help retain our children in schools. Most parents are unable to buy a pair of shoes for their children,” one parent told us.

Another parent remembered that ChildFund’s President Anne Goddard visited Liberia in February 2011 to inaugurate the school built by ChildFund. “Now they have come with TOMS shoes,” he noted.

Children with new shoes

Celebrating their new shoes.

“This is a boost to our efforts in working with the children of Liberia,” said Oliver Fallah, a ChildFund staff member based in Bopolu, a community in Gbarpolu County. “It will help to increase the retention of children in schools. Having shoes from TOMS will also reduce the number of foot diseases children suffer from,” he pointed out. “The children sometimes walk to farms, schools and even on playgrounds barefooted. Parents with four, five and six children are unable to pay for copybooks [school workbooks], not to mention a pair of shoes. TOMS came at the right time to the right place.”

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Liberia.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Delivering Community Health Care in Senegal

Posted on January 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we learn about ChildFund’s community health grant in Senegal.

When ChildFund began working in Senegal in 1985, much of the country lacked access to adequate health care, particularly mothers and children under age 5. As a result, many young mothers were dying in childbirth and children were succumbing to malaria, diarrhea and undernutrition – all preventable conditions.

In most cases, doctors and health posts are miles and miles away, out of reach. Although the country has a rich resource in its traditional medicine practitioners (often the village grandmothers), these lay health care providers worked outside of the state health care system, with no formal training. If a mother or child’s health condition became life-threatening, the family and the community would have nowhere else to turn for help.

ChildFund Senegal leaders

ChildFund Senegal national office staff Mamadou Diagne (left) and Emile Namesemon N'Koa on a recent visit to the U.S.

Today, health care access in Senegal is vastly improved, says Emile Namesemon N’Koa, ChildFund’s national director in Senegal. With grant funding from the U.S. International Development Agency (USAID) and a consortium of partners, ChildFund is implementing a large-scale community health project. Mamadou Diagne, ChildFund Senegal’s national health coordinator, is overseeing operations. He points out that by 2016, Programme Santé Santé Communautaire (PSSC) will have reached 12.3 million people (almost the entire country), providing community-based health huts and outreach sites to both rural and urban populations.

Health hut building

A ChildFund-supported health hut.

In addition to providing day-to-day maternal and child health care, the project will also address neglected tropical diseases and work to educate communities about the health dangers inherent in the cultural practice of female genital cutting.

Community meeting

A local health committee meets.

ChildFund has long recognized the vital role of grandmothers and godmothers who assist and mentor younger women in their communities. Another key component in ChildFund’s strategy is involving and training community health volunteers and traditional birth attendants. By providing these caregivers with additional health information and formal linkages to a growing network of health posts, ChildFund Senegal is seeking to weave them – and the entire community – into the very fabric of the country’s health care system.

As Mamadou notes, “Through the synergy of cooperation with the community and other organizations at work in Senegal, we’re finding solutions to the problems we face.”

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Senegal and how you can sponsor a child.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Supporting Youth Volunteers in Togo

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we visit Togo.

Togo, a small country on Africa’s west coast, is rebuilding after years of political instability and isolation.

Like many other African countries it was threatened by an HIV/AIDS epidemic, but it was stemmed in part because of the voluntary work of hundreds of enthusiastic Togolese youth. Because it is often the young who are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and STDs, the youth are often the best ones to address the problem in their communities.

youth group

Peer educators (Photo: Mario Travaini)

With ChildFund’s support, youth in 22 municipalities collaborated with adult supervisors and health workers to educate themselves and their peers about safe health practices. In the past, traditional laws often prohibited young people from talking with adults. The youth built a bridge by entering into dialogue with village and religious leaders to win their trust and cooperation.

As a result, today’s Togolese youth have a brighter future. They know they can influence others and be heard.

Other changes in this tiny country include access to quality education. ChildFund has built new schools and libraries, providing opportunities for learning that did not previously exist. Students now have access to maps, dictionaries and books. And for those students who struggle with learning in a formal setting, hands-on apprenticeship opportunities now exist in areas such as mechanics, carpentry and sewing.

ChildFund is also providing training opportunities to parents to help improve their income-generating potential. Farmers are trained in agricultural techniques, while others have access to loans to start and expand small businesses.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Togo.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Fire Brings Heartbreak to Mukuru, Kenya

Posted on January 24, 2012 | 1 Comment

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we travel with Missions in Action to ChildFund’s programs Kenya.

More than 400 people perished when fire erupted in a large urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2011. The fire added an extra layer of hardship to an already difficult living environment.

Alex Boylan, the host of the web reality series Missions in Action (MIA), travels to the Mukuru community to check in with children and families who are recovering from the fire. Many children like Steven are receiving assistance from ChildFund programs made possible through sponsorship support.

Watch the video on MIAtv.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Kenya and how you can sponsor a child.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: A Little Dancer’s Dream in Thailand

Posted on January 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

by Dhina Mutiara on assignment from ChildFund Indonesia

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. In the urban slums of Thailand, we meet an aspiring dancer.

“I want to be a dancer,” says Poon, a cheery and energetic 10-year-old Thai girl, responding to the question of what she wants to do when she grows up. “But, I miss my mother,” she adds wistfully.

For more than a year Poon’s grandmother, Kruewan, has been taking care of Poon and other family members. They live in a slum area located in central Bangkok, where ChildFund is working to improve conditions for children. It is a dense packed neighborhood with more than 400 families residing above a garbage dump.

girl from Thailand

Poon

Poon shares a single room with her grandmother, her little brother and sister, her father, grandfather, two aunts and three uncles. “When I dance,” says Poon, “I forget about everything.”

Poon’s mother was arrested a year ago for drug dealing. She is currently serving a five-year sentence, and Poon hasn’t seen her mother once in all that time. Her grandmother won’t allow her to visit. “I don’t want her copying what her mother did,” Kruewan says.

Slum areas in Thailand are plagued with problems. Drugs like methamphetamines are readily available. They are often an escape from the grinding poverty and unemployment that characterize these neighborhoods. As a result, there are a large number of children who are taken away from their parents because of this, including Poon.

The drug trafficking is one of the biggest social problems in Thailand. To combat the problem, the Thai government has sought to strengthen its cooperation and partnership with the international community, particularly with neighboring countries. Slum areas, like Poon’s community, are highly vulnerable to drug use and trafficking. In recent years, the Thai government has turned its attention to these communities, welcoming support from ChildFund and other organizations to improve educational and health services for children and families.

brother and sister

Poon and her brother.

Despite her family’s challenging situation, Poon still has a big dream in her head. She is adamant about it, too. Asked to show some of her dance moves, Poon jumps up, runs to the television set at her friend’s house and turns up the volume. She and her 3-year-old brother, Pee Mai, then dance to the beat of the music on TV.

“That’s Poon. She will dance every time there is music coming on,” jokes her grandmother, flashing a toothy grin. Poon, who also loves sports and the Hula-Hoop, regularly entertains her family and friends. She dances in a weekly neighborhood get-together.

Poon’s family clearly recognizes how important education is for her. “I want her to have a better future,” Poon’s father Weerayuth, 26, remarks, fidgeting in his seat, bowing his head a little. He works as a freelance security guard on Bangkok’s outskirts. With an income of approximately $4 to $6 per day, it is challenging for him to cover all the needs of his three children. Poon’s grandmother sells flower garlands to help make ends meet, while her husband, Poon’s grandfather, is the one who takes Poon to and from her school each day, using his old motorcycle.

As she grows up, Poon must overcome many obstacles – poverty, peer pressure and the lure of drugs. “I will help to make sure that all of my grandchildren get a proper education,” says Kruewan. With support from her family and ChildFund, there is hope for Poon, “the little dancer,” to fulfill her dream.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Thailand.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Exploring Possibilities with Mexico’s Children

Posted on January 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Reporting by ChildFund Mexico

Over the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we spend time with children and youth in Mexico.

Although Mexico boasts the 12th largest of the world’s economies, the country’s income disparity keeps millions below the poverty level. Where ChildFund works, predominantly in the southern part of the country, only 6 percent of people have sufficient income to support their families.

Since ChildFund began operations in Mexico in 1955, much of our work has focused on safe water, health care and malnutrition. In addition, we’ve worked to improve educational opportunities for children.

Let’s listen in as children and youth in ChildFund Mexico programs share insights into their daily lives and their dreams.

boy in community

Edwin

My name is Edwin, I’m 9 years old and I’m in fourth grade elementary school in Tepelmeme (state of Oaxaca). Every day I go to school; I like to study and want to be a doctor to give financial aid to my family and get help for my friends and all of those children who are sick. I like to help others and I’d like to have my own medical clinic and a football team.

girl hanging clothes on line

Nadia

I am Nadia and I am 12. I live with my parents and I like my community because I go to the games and church. I like so much the traditions. At home I help my mother to wash dishes, and I wash my own clothes. I like school, I’m in sixth grade elementary school, and I want to keep studying to become a physical education teacher.

girl washing dishes

Gloria

I’m Gloria. I like to live in my community; what I don’t like is violence, robbers and pollution. I study in fourth grade elementary school and go to the shelter in the community where I eat. The fruit I like most is the strawberry. At home I do housework. I wash dishes, make the bed and keep the clothes. When I grow up I’d like to become a singer and people will recognize me, that’s why I have to be prepared and practice a lot.

boy at computer

Leonel

Hello! My name is Leonel. I attend to the Tizaac program of ChildFund Mexico and have a sponsor who writes and I write back. From when I was a baby, my parents give me encouragement to move forward in life. The [ChildFund] program helps my education and gives me values to be better child and citizen. During the year, I weigh and measure to check if I’m healthy. And what I like most are the football tournaments and the computation classes because they teach me to use programs, and I create images, posters and my most beautiful works of the school. I want to be a lawyer and defend good people.

girl studying

Emma

My name is Emma and I’m 15 years old and in high school. I belong to Tizaac ChildFund Mexico Program since I was younger. I like to participate in the workshops with psychologists because they have helped me to be stronger and understand better the important things in life. In ChildFund Mexico’s program I have received so many supports like a bed, and ecological oven for my home and some birthday and Christmas presents. I dream about going to college, graduating in psychology and then going back to work in my community. In the future, I’d like to work and serve in the community organization to help those children as I was helped.

boy in music ensemble

Brando

My name is Brando. I study in the third grade of junior high school in my community. My passion is music. From an early age I wanted to learn to play the trombone. Now through the Tizaac program of ChildFund Mexico, I have registered with the centro de estudios de banda. Children from different communities who took classes in music come together in the ensemble. I’m very happy because in CECAMBA they gave us new instruments to learn. I’m now learning to play the trombone, and I’m also taking vocational training. My dream is to study for a great degree but never leave the music.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Mexico and how you can sponsor a child.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Sponsorship Brings Joy to Children in Sierra Leone

Posted on January 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Reporting by ChildFund Sierra Leone

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. In Sierra Leone, children are discovering new opportunities through education and sponsor support.

Located on Africa’s west coast, Sierra Leone is still recovering from a 10-year civil war that ended in 2002. Tens of thousands of lives were lost and about a third of the population was displaced.

Sierra Leone’s maternal and infant mortality rate is among the world’s highest because of malnutrition and lack of access to health care. It’s also one of the world’s poorest countries, with almost three out of four people living on less than the equivalent of $2 a day.

ChildFund began work in Sierra Leone in 1985, and today is one of the leading child development agencies in the country, with a strong focus on child protection, psychosocial support and skills building for children and youth.

Nearly 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s school-age children do not attend school. ChildFund has worked closely with local partners to educate community members on the value of education for their children and the long-term benefits of nurturing and protecting the next generation.

Child sponsorship has played a critical role in not only providing desperately needed services to Sierra Leone’s children but also helping them experience the joys of childhood. Sponsors’ cards, letters and words of encouragement are just what these children need right now.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Sierra Leone and how you can sponsor a child.

three girls

“Come see what my sponsor has sent!” Iye calls to her friends after receiving a holiday card from her sponsor. She cannot conceal her joy as she excitedly explains to her friends that her sponsor loves her and contributes to her education. Her dearest wish is to see her sponsor face to face.

girl with card

Saio was playing with her friends around the house when a Christmas card and a gift from her sponsor arrived. The card played melodious carols when pressed at one angle. Saio ran with the card to join her friends, laughing and dancing to the songs.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Guatemala’s Youth Take Action

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Reporting and video by ChildFund Guatemala

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we are inspired by the enthusiasm and commitment of youth leaders in ChildFund Guatemala’s programs.

As a country, Guatemala is struggling to recover from a long history of internal strife. Although civil society is improving, years of conflict have exacted a price on the young, who are often overlooked and unprotected. An estimated 657,000 boys and girls do not attend school in this country because of a lack of access or because of the cultural acceptance of child labor. Children of Mayan descent are more apt to serve as child laborers. In fact, Guatemala ranks the third highest in child labor statistics among Latin America and Caribbean countries.

ChildFund Guatemala is working to be an agent of social change, delivering programs and services that protect and promote children’s rights. A number of programs are aimed at youth, who too often are caught up in violence and drug trafficking. As ChildFund and its local partner organizations have helped youth develop leadership and life skills, the youth, in turn, have become advocates for change.

Last year, ChildFund Guatemala convened a Youth Spokesperson in Action conference, bringing together young people from ChildFund’s project areas across the country. The youth received training, exchanged experiences and ideas and developed leadership skills that will benefit their home communities.

The conference was groundbreaking for most of the young attendees. Watch the video to see Guatemala’s youth in action.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Guatemala and how you can sponsor a child.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Providing Life Skills for Cambodian Youth

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

by ChildFund Cambodia

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we catch up with Phalla, a youth in Cambodia.

In many rural villages of Cambodia, young people are forced to migrate to urban centers in search of work. For Phalla, now 23 years old, this journey has been made twice – first, to work alongside her father in construction and a second time as an unskilled laborer in a garment factory.

To generate more livelihood opportunities, ChildFund Cambodia has been implementing the Youth for Development program in Svay Yea commune. This provides vocational training to young people as well as leadership, life skills and business training.

youth feeding chickens

Phalla with her chickens.

After losing her father, Phalla returned again to her village, but earned very little from farming and selling sugar palm. After joining the ChildFund youth program, Phalla chose sewing as her training course, and eventually, she and five other trainees established their own tailor shops. ChildFund provided each of them with sewing machines and materials, as well as ongoing business mentoring.

Phalla’s entrepreneurship doesn’t end there – she now generates a second income by raising chickens and ducks at home. “In the past, I usually followed others without having a clear goal. Now I have a specific livelihood that allows me to stay in the community with my family,” she says.

Because of her commitment, Phalla has also been selected to be a community resource trainer, so that she can pass on her knowledge and skills to younger people in her community.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Cambodia and how you can sponsor a child.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , ,

Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: A Helping Hand for Bolivia’s Children

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Reporting by ChildFund Bolivia

31 in 31 logoOver the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we travel to rural Bolivia.

Being a child in Bolivia can be extremely challenging. Six of every 10 children have unmet basic needs, and half of the nation’s youth population live in poverty. Life is even harder for indigenous children, who are often marginalized and do not have easy access to education and health services due to geographic, cultural and economic barriers.

girl from Bolivia

Marielena

One of those children is Marielena, an 8-year-old who lives in rural Bolivia with her mother and three siblings: Juan Jose, 10; David, 4; and Jonas,18 months. Their house is made of mud adobe blocks and consists of two rooms – a bedroom and a kitchen. They have no indoor plumbing, and for fresh water they rely on a water tanker that drives by the community every two days to fill water tanks for $1.

Home in Bolivia

The family home.

Marielena is a small girl who weighs less than average for her age. She is prone to develop frequent eye, respiratory and skin illnesses, especially since the family lives near a dump and there is no sewage or clean water system for their community. With no hospitals or clinics nearby, it has been difficult for Marielena to receive treatment.

Education is another challenge in Bolivia, where only 30 percent of children are in school. Marielena is fortunate to attend first grade; however, she struggles with basic concepts, as she never had the opportunity to attend preschool or kindergarten.

The situation for Marielena is changing for the better now that she’s enrolled in ChildFund’s programs and has a sponsor. With ChildFund’s support, Marielena now receives basic medical attention as well after-school support to improve her performance in the classroom. Additionally, ChildFund and its local partners are providing the family with educational training on child nutrition and guidelines for overall health and hygiene that will help prevent illness.

Sales from this food cart are the family's main income.

Marielena’s mother remains the only income generator in the household. She makes a living by selling hotdogs and fries from a salchipapa cart, which was provided to her through ChildFund’s Gifts of Love and Hope catalog. Because she cannot work full-time and also care for her children, the family’s situation remains fragile; yet, day by day, their outlook is improving.

This is one example of how ChildFund, which began operations in Bolivia in 1980, is coming alongside families who are working to lift themselves out of poverty in a sustainable way.

Discover more about ChildFund’s programs in Bolivia and how you can sponsor a child.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in 31 in 31

Tagged , , , , , ,