Chilhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre

This week we were asked to introduce the contacts that we established from around the world. Unfortunately I'm unable to report any new information from my contacts because I didn't get any response form Haiti or the other early childhood professionals in other countries. I was hoping to establish a contact in Haiti but that didn't happen. In the event that someone does get in touch with me, I'll be sure to let you all know. This week I did the alternative assignment and learned some interesting information.

Podcast Information

Delfena Mitchell- Director of the Liberty Children's Home in Belize
In the podcast, Ms. Mitchell shared that Belize has the #1 incidents of of child abuse in Central America. The children that have come to Liberty Children's home have been physically or sexually abused. One student that she talked about came to the home at the age of 9 and had been abused by his grandmother. Initially he did not speak and when he entered school shortly after coming to the center. Upon entering school, he was kicked out due to acting out behaviors. Ms. Mitchell said that the child was taking out of school and was, "given time to heal". After staying at the home, the child did begin to speak and started to heal.

Banabas Otaala- Dean of Education at Uganda Matyr's University
Dean Banabas discussed children and families with HIV in Uganda. He noted visiting a village where a young girl was sick. The parents asked for money to help to care for the child. The parents were encouraged to seek medical attention for the girl. A doctor in the group recommended that the girl get medical attention and the parents agreed. After tests were given, doctors discovered that the child was HIV positive. Dean Banabas noted that there is a stigma attached to families that have HIV and that the parents were trying to hide the fact that they have HIV. Dean Banabus noted that he felt that the doctor played a significant part in why the parents decided to seek medical attention for the girl and that partnerships must be formed in order community to trust professionals that are trying to help them.

CHIP- Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Center

This website is funded by the UK Department of International Development. The intention of the website is to be a resource for policy maker, practitioners and activists concerned about childhood poverty. This website provided me with information about poverty in different countries. The country that interested me the most was India.

 

 Poverty In India

Children in India at times have to leave school and help their families work. An example that was shared was about a boy who had to leave school because his father became sick. His parents were unable to continue to pay for schooling and he had to work in the family looming business. The family took out a loan so that they could by a loom so that they could weave carpets to sell. The young man spent 8 hours each day at the loom. He shared that he didn't like weaving but he did not wish to leave his village even though he knew that he could have a better life if he left. 

Another story that was shared about poverty in India was the story about a 15 year old girl who had been married at the age of 10. She lived with her family and unlike the boy who had to leave school, she still attended school. Her parents want have continued to send her to school because they want her to become a teacher. She will be formally given away to her husband when her parents believe that he is able to take care of her. 

 

Shared Web Resources

Last week I selected the National Black Child Development Institute as a website that I would like to learn more about. I had never heard of the organization and decided to research it further in order to see if I could obtain information that would be beneficial the parent in the school community that I service. This week my research led me to find a program that the NBCDI sponsors a program called the Parental Empowerment Program. Parent in the PEP program…

Begin to:

• Express and demonstrate knowledge of child development and parenting skills
• Stimulate their child’s growth and development appropriately
• Increase their knowledge of community resources and how to access them
• Develop confidence and positive self esteem

Overall the goal of the Black Child Development Institute is “To improve and advance the lives of black children and their families through education and advocacy.”

The issue that caught my attention is their push for parental involvement in the area of early childhood. The PEP program is designed to help parents become teachers to their children from the age of 3 to age 8.

http://nbcdi.org/blog/category/early-childhood-education/

Establishing Professional Contacts

This week we were asked to establish contacts with early childhood professionals from other countries. I tried to e-mail several people unfortunately the e-mail came back to me as undeliverable. The two that did not come back were in Haiti and Armenia. It will be interesting to see if they respond to my e-mail. I am especially interested to hear from the person I contacted in Haiti. I would like to get information for how they are coping after the earthquake in 2010. I would like to know how they handled the trauma the children experienced. I also look forward to hearing from the contact in Armenia.

The website I  went to is a new website to me. The National Black Child Development Institute is a website that I've never heard of. As a black teacher and parent it sparked my interest. I plan on sharing this website with the PTA leaders at my school and my co-workers. The website discusses the following topics: child welfare, early childhood education, health and nutrition, and literacy. I look forward to exploring this website further.