Insights and issues on poverty

The national UNIEF organization that I’ve contacted has rendered no response to my request for communication thus far, so I used the website offered within our resources for the blog assignment to report my findings on poverty at   http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

The UNICEF website offers tools on economic trends, policies and issues that have some type of impact on children. It also gives concerned advocacies practical means to assess and implement timely responses to cries, and issues concerning policy reform and social impacts on economics.

UNICEF has published a thesaurus and CR glossary that can help individuals understand terminology and data on children’s rights. The Lancet.com published two articles September 23, 2011 on child development in developing countries. The authors concluded that early childhood was the most effective time to prevent inequalities before disparities widen. The article also discussed programs that are aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.

China is the world’s most populous country; with population being 1.27 billion in 2001.China has made major strides in poverty reduction. The national poverty line is low by international standards. China’s transitioning from centrally planned to a globalized economy has helped reduce china’s poverty.

Over 120 million people have moved to the cities since 1990 in search of better opportunities. 4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty, while 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions.

While these numbers are high, education and health levels in China are higher than many countries with equivalent incomes.

Web Resources

I choose UNICEF and the organization to study. The web address is:

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html 

UNICEF is a global organization that fights for the rights of children. UNICEF understands that the early years are critical years for development.  They understand that a well nurtured and cared for child during the early years are more likely to succeed. They believe that nurturing and caring for children to be the cornerstone for human progress. They were created with a purpose to overcome obstacles of poverty, violence, diease and discrimination has placed in children's path. They are advocates for children. The also understand that a strong start at an early age willmake way for a foundation for a strong future.

UNICEF focus in the areas of:

•  child survival & development
• basic education & genderequality
• HIV/Aids and children
• Child protection
• Policy advocacy & partnerships

UNICEF works through the tracking progressand foucusing on action. They evaluate and identify good practiceswhich helps UNICEF andpartnersachieve better results. They work through supply and logistics. In the year 2010, UNICEF procured education supplies totalling $72 million dolalrs. They also supplied 166,000 education kits and 10,000 recreation kits to 31 and 23 countries. Unicef is most visible inemergency situations, largely because of the success of school-in-a-box.

UNICEF partners work to treat malnutrition among cildren
still displaced by the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Haiti

UNICEF takes the position that the impact of migration on children, adolescents and women must be seen on a broader context than just poverty and childrens rights. They are also concerned with reducing the social cost of migration in developing countries. Children are being affected by migration on various levels such as being left behind by one or both parents, or migrating alone. Sometimes attempting to cross boarders without proper documentation. This issue relates to this weeks topic on changing demographics and diversity. People who migrate are leaving the people and culture that they are familiar with to find other avenues that may improve their living conditions and health.

Establishing Professional Contracts: local & abroad

The first website it contacted internationally was throught the NAEYC website international which was undeliverable. The I contacted Japan at a glance through the national UNICEF website. I'm still awaiting a reply.

I also contacted UNICEF in Jamaica. I'm also waiting on  a reply.

I also have a co-workers daughter teaching in Japan, that I will be able to contact for additional support.

I choose to explore the Childrens Defense Fund (CDF). CDF is a non profit advocacy program that is concered with children in poverty, protecting children from abuse and neglect. This organization has been established for over thirty-five years. They are also focused and concerned about health care, and a quality education for young children.

CDF is a national organization working for children on various levels such as state, federal and communities around the country. In their mission statement, they pledge to ensure every child a health and fair start in life. Some of their priorties include: ending child poverty, comprehensive and mental health for children and pregnant women, high quality early childhood care and development, and ensuring children's ability to read by the fourth grade, and on grade level.  Quality in education is aimed throughout highschool and beyond. They want to stop criminalization of children and invest in preventative and interventive services.

Searching the web, I noticed a research library, and a link to view current statistices on topics such as the number of mothers that die giving birth, to the number of children suspened or become dropouts in schools.

Anyone interested in becoming an advocate or maybe becoming a contributor can log onto the CDF website at www.childrensdefense.org.
 

"My Supports"

Imagine I am a person who has just come down with an

Infectious disease that had attacked by spinal cord, and I’m

unable t o walk. I need assistance with bathing, clothing myself

and preparing my meals. These are just a few of the necessities

needed to live comfortably within our society.

                                   < My husband and myself:

My first support staff would include family members such as my husband, and children.  additional support would include, physical therapist, doctors, minister and church family, co-workers and administrators and ADA which is the disabilities act that protects people who have a disability from being discriminated against in the work place. If further states “that people with disabilities are entitled to equal rights in employment, state and local public services, public accommodations” (Chandler, 1994).

I chose family first, because they are the ones who will have direct contact with me on a daily basis, and will provide most of my physical support. They will be cooking for me, bathing me, and helping me to dress.  They will also be encouraging me to continue and strive

For independence and providing the necessary support that is needed.

 Our daughters (Family Support Team)

The therapist will be providing therapy, trying to help me gain strength

to my back and other body parts. Family members are also the ones who

transport me to the doctor and work place.

The therapist and doctors are there providing medical support and care.

The minister is there to provide spiritual support and encouragement.

He is there to keep me grounded in the word and doctrine and is

Accompanied by church members who also provide emotional support,

and offer their services in any way. My coworkers are there to

Assistance and support my endeavors in the workplace.

As I consider the impact that my support staff would have on my life, I

Believe that my life’s situations may become more complex, and stressful

In my support staff were removed, but I truly believe that someone else will

Be placed into my life to be of assistance to me. The whole idea is to help

Me become self sufficient in my living conditions.  It may cause me to

Apply for home health care through an agency, but I believe I will try

To continue to survive and live from home as long as I possibly could

on my own.

"My Connections to Play"

Quotes:           

“In childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking gout. In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking in.”                     Robert Brault

  “In play it is as though the child were trying to jump above the head of his normal behavior.”

                                                                                    Lev Vygotsky

 

During my childhood, I remember getting things that my older siblings were tired of playing with. I was the nineth of ten children and we had to share. I did get a few things for myself. But those things were gottin during the christmas holiday. It wasn’t like now, where children are getting toys all year long. One child got a ball and the hole block playing football. My favorite pastime was watching my older brother do his math homework. I wanted to be smart like him. The pictures above represent a few of the toys I had as a child. As a child, my mother would tell us that all we had was each other. And as a child my life was centered around my older siblings. My grandmother took extra pain with me, she would make sure that I got things that I needed, not so much of what I wanted. My older sister had the gift of making sure everyone new how to spell their names. She would sing it to us in the form of a game, and that’s how I learned to spell my name. In the old days children played with children and stayed out of grown folks business. Now, children repeat everything they see and hear.

The role of play is very important to me as a parent and grandparent. I understand how children learn through play, and I can see how parents and teachers are merely facilitators. As I watch my grandchildren play, building houses with cover,  having tea and cookies, playing with each other with nintendo (connecting) the games so that they can compete, I can see learning taking place, and how even the youger one desires to win. They have a competetive spirit. I can see how they love to play on the computer, looking for games. Even though they can’t read word for word, they learn how to picture read, and navagate the computer. As an educator, I feel that play is a vital part of the young child’s like and that policy makes, politicians, and child advocates should fight for the right to keep play alive.

I agree with Piaget in his stating that “children don’t acquire knowledge by taking in information, but though a slow continuous process of construction”(Gestwicki, C. 2007, pg 40).

I also read that children are like engineers, they love to build things up and tear them down again, and that process is through play. I believe that children should continue to be given opportunities to be creative and express their thoughts, emotions, and desires through play.

Allowing children to explore the environment and develop a feel of what right and wrong, helps them develop a sense of self. I feel that children need play to develop and understand emotions, socialization, language, physical development, as well as cogntive growth.

References:

Gestwicki, C., (2007). Developmentally Appropriate Practice (3rd Edition).Thomson Delmar Learning, New York

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because they help complete who I am. Relationships are bonds that depend and become valuable and more stable over time. As I remember over the years, I have made many friends, not all of them were lasting friendships, but the bonds that are most memorable are the relationships that still continue.

There are several people that I have positive relationships with, and that partnership/relationships that I hold dear.
My first partnership is with my husband, three daughters, three sisters and one brother. I also have a special bond with two play sisters. As I list my relatives, I realize that those bonds are for life. But as I grow older and I am able to share information, joys and sorrows, I have come to understand and grow even closer to my sisters. Family is there no matter what. They are their to comfort you and support you in your endeavors. The two play sisters, could have been blood because they are their for every problem, success, and they don't pass judgement, they just lend a listening ear. Relationships don't always bring joy, sometimes sorrow comes, but a true friend will be their no matter what the problem or situation.
Relationships have to be worked at, if you want them to work for you. I realize that I'm not always right nor always wrong, but these relationships that I've formed are with people who understand that it is o.k. to be different.

During the years past, trouble has tested my relationships with my friends, and we have come through those storms. I've learned that sometimes it's best to just listen and lend a listening ear. Then their are times when I have to work the relationship in order for it to work for me. Over time, I realize that love is an action word, as well as commitment.  Some characteristics are love, empathy, stability, perseverence, and a willing personality are all characteristics that I see within the group of people I've identified as relationships. The only partnership that I have is with my husband because that is an oath that I took before God and family. It was a partnership that I did not enter into lightly. That is why I consider my marriage a partnership and it is what makes it special and set apart from the others.

The relationships and partnership that I'm discussing has had positive impact on my career choice as well as my desire to continue my education in the early childhood field. This has a great impact on me as a person and as a professional, because they value my opinion and outlook as a professional. We all realize that I don't know everything, but as a learner practitioner, I'm willing to seek out the knowledge that I need in order to make informed decisions within my area of professionalism. I was raised in a family network that supported family as the most important thing in one life, and I still believe that to be true.

A Special note of Thanks to my fellow learner practitioners at Walden University!!

I would like to thank each of my colleagues for your support, pleasant personalities, dialog and commitment during our educational endeavor at Walden. You have made this journey a memoriable one. Like the old African proverb, "it takes a village to raise a child". I believe it was through the caring learning community I've encountered at Walden that I has made it possible for me to have made it this far. I wish all of you much continued success. I'll see you in the next year, and in the next course.  Happy Holidays! Stay safe!

"Laurence Houseman once said, 'A saint is one who makes goodness attractive.' Surely, a great teacher does the same thing for education."
- John Trimble