EQUITY

Global Section:

International Women's Day: Special podcast on education and gender equality

©© UNICEF/NYHQ2007-1045/Olivier Asselin

A girl carrying her slate and schoolbooks on her head smiles in the village of Essaout, Senegal.

This year, International Women's Day is focusing on the theme: “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.” Though significant progress has been made towards gender parity and equality in education, many challenges remain. According to latest UNICEF estimates, girls make up more than half of the 101 million children of primary school age that are not in school.
To look at the advances made and challenges ahead for girls’ education, moderator Amy Costello spoke to Tamara Kreinin, executive director of Women and Population at the United Nations Foundation, and the Honourable Ambassador Professor Samson Kagengo Ongeri, Kenya’s Minister of Education and UNICEF Champion for Child-Friendly Schools.
“The girls are still being pushed aside for the boys, and we have to put them front and centre,” said Tamara Kreinin. During her 25-year career in the private and public sectors, Kreinin has worked around the globe on issues affecting young girls and adolescents. Ms. Kreinin says that girls are still often left out in data collection and programming. “You often times find that when there is a program for youth, 90 per cent of the participants are boys.”
Honourable Ambassador Professor Samson Kagengo Ongeri discussed the experience of the Kenyan government in bringing more girls into their educational system.
Despite the strides that Kenya has made in many parts of the country, getting girls in nomadic districts to attend school has proved challenging. The enrolment for boys in the nomadic areas reached 50 percent, compared to only 22.5 percent for girls due to high drop-out rates for girls and early marriages.
However, there has been progress. “We have been able to create mobile schools, we’ve also been able to create low-cost boarding schools in order to attract the young boys and girls into our schools,” said Minister Ongeri.  “And also by the provision of other services like HIV and AIDS programmes and water and sanitation programmes we have been able to maintain our retention rate reasonably within reach

EXCELLENCE

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Budget Watch: This Week...

March 29, 2012

Paul Ryan's Budget Passes the House

Today, the budget introduced last week by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) was narrowly approved by the House of Representatives. This budget would cut discretionary spending even more than agreed to in last year’s bipartisan Budget Control Act, and would increase funding for defense instead of cutting it, as agreed to last year. Additionally, it would further cut taxes, thus requiring even more spending cuts in future years if deficit reduction is to be achieved.
The Ryan budget breaks a bipartisan agreement last year (The Budget Control Act) that would reach an agreed upon spending threshold by taking half the $1.2 trillion in cuts from programs that serve vulnerable Americans and half from defense. Essentially, his budget takes all the cuts from programs that provide Americans with important services and serve children, families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. By cutting discretionary spending below the level agreed upon with Democrats last year, Ryan’s budget sets up another partisan battle on spending and tax issues that will make a budget deal virtually impossible before the November elections (all spending bills must be passed by beginning of FY 2013, October 1, or the government shuts down unless there is some temporary extension of spending). Senate Budget Chairman Conrad has announced that he will not pass a budget this year, but has filed a deeming resolution setting the FY 2013 spending limits agreed to last year.
Specifically, Ryan’s budget calls for $5.3 billion in reduced spending, and nearly $4.4 trillion in lower taxes over 10 years compared to current policies, on top of the $5.4 trillion cost of making the Bush tax cuts permanent. It would cancel the scheduled cuts to defense (“the sequester”) agreed to as part of the budget deal last year ($600 billion over 10 years) and would instead increase spending on defense (by $228 billion through 2022) and shift all those scheduled cuts to domestic programs. He does not specify how those savings would be reached, but the budget includes instructions to the authorizing committees to find enough savings for this purpose. About half of the cuts in the Ryan budget ($2.5 trillion) are from health care programs – block granting Medicaid, repealing the Affordable Care Act, and voucherizing Medicare. By block granting Medicaid, Ryan’s budget would cut spending by $810 billion over 10 years, and additionally give states the power to cut eligibility, benefits, and payments to doctors and hospitals, and raise costs to the poor. The Ryan budget would also repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), eliminating the Medicaid expansion to lower income Americans, canceling all the subsidies to low and middle income Americans to help purchase health insurance starting in 2014, and cutting funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by nearly $29 billion in two years alone. Without the ACA, the 30 to 32 million Americans who would be expected to gain health coverage under the ACA would not get coverage, and in addition, millions of people who are already covered would lose their health coverage.
The Ryan budget would also cut funding for food stamps (SNAP) by about $133 billion over 10 years, and block grant the program, making assistance contingent on work or training, and subject to time limits and work requirements. Additionally, Ryan’s budget calls on six committees to find $261 billion in cuts to mandatory programs, so the other cuts that would necessarily result have not yet been identified.



As always cuts are meant for the poor and our children who are the most vulnerable.Do politicians realize that health care is the most important factor for being able to pursue a good education?I am always amazed at how so many well educated law makers have no clue on what Early education involves and child development is.

NEWS LETTER

This is my news letter for this month ,just wanted to share
2012 Press Releases

Hidden Malnutrition Crisis Could Put Almost Half a Billion Children at Risk, Save the Children Says

Hidden Malnutrition Crisis Could Put Almost Half a Billion Children at Risk, Save the Children Says Chronic Malnutrition is Preventable, but Remains Deadlier and More Widespread than Food Scarcity, New Report Says Media Contact Tanya Weinberg 202.640.6647 (O), 202.247.6610 (M) Celebrity chef Cat Cora visits Save the Children's nutrition programs in Ethiopia. Credit: Anne-Sofie Helms/Save the Children WESTPORT, Conn. (February 15, 2011) — Despite global efforts to address food security, chronic childhood malnutrition has been largely overlooked, putting almost half a billion children at risk of permanent damage in the next 15 years, Save the Children said in a new report released today. "Malnutrition is a largely hidden crisis, but it afflicts one in four children around the world," said Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children. "It wreaks lifelong damage and is a major killer of children. Every hour of every day, 300 children die because of malnutrition." Save the Children's new report, titled "A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition," was released as the world begins to awaken to the latest emergency food crisis, in the African Sahel. But the report reveals that chronic malnutrition, or a lack of proper nutrition over time, is deadlier and far more widespread than the short-term acute malnutrition frequently seen during food crises. Chronic malnutrition weakens young children's immune systems, leaving them more likely to die of childhood diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. It leads to 2 million child deaths a year, three times as many as result from acute malnutrition. But, chronic malnutrition also leaves children far more vulnerable to extreme suffering and death from acute malnutrition when emergency food crises hit, as in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel right now. In total, malnutrition underlies 2.6 million child deaths every year, or one third of all child deaths. "It's time for a paradigm shift. The world can no longer afford to wait until visibly emaciated children grab headlines to inspire the action these children need and deserve. Unfortunately for millions of the world's chronically malnourished children, permanent damage to their physical and intellectual development is not as obvious, and so it's too often overlooked," said Miles. Save the Children's new report calls for action on proven solutions that would prevent these deaths and help all children affected by hunger and malnutrition. Progress on reducing malnutrition has been extremely slow for 20 years, in comparison to great strides made on other global health crises. Costs are High Well-nourished children perform better in school and grow up to earn considerably more on average than those who were malnourished as children. Recent evidence suggests nutritional interventions can increase adult earnings by 46 percent. Malnutrition costs many developing nations an estimated 2-3 percent of their GDP, extends the cycle of poverty, and impedes global economic growth at a critical time. "World leaders are searching for ways to strengthen their economies over the long term, so why not achieve that through helping children get the healthy start they deserve?" Miles said. As Save the Children released its new report, United Nations leaders endorsed its call to action to end chronic malnutrition, also known as stunting. UNICEF's Executive Director Anthony Lake said: "Stunting is rarely obvious until it is too late. The first 1,000 days of life determines a child's life forever — before birth until the 2nd birthday. After that it is simply too late to repair the damage to the bodies and brains of a child. We are encouraged though there is now an awakening around stunting thanks to the leadership of many governments and the Scaling Up Nutrition movement." Action Lagging Awareness While addressing food security, world leaders have galvanized much-needed support to boost agricultural productivity, but they have yet to make nutrition central to their efforts. In 2009, President Obama helped spearhead the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative, which inspired $22 billion in pledges at the G8 and G20 meetings. Yet, only 3 percent of these pledges and less than 1 percent of pledges fulfilled to date have targeted nutrition. "Investment in agriculture is clearly important to making sure production keeps up with a growing population," said Miles. "But let's not forget, right now the world produces enough food to feed everybody, and yet one third of children in developing countries are malnourished. Clearly, just growing more food is not the answer." "The United States has shown great leadership on nutrition, but now must call on other powerful nations to make it a global priority," she added. Many expect President Obama will again address food security when he hosts this spring's G8 meeting in Chicago. Save the Children is calling on the G8 to extend food security funding at current levels for three years while including greater focus on nutrition. A Solvable Crisis According to seminal research published in the Lancet medical journal in 2008, a set of 13 basic interventions could prevent the vast majority of malnutrition, especially in the critical 1,000-day window between conception and age 2. These include encouraging breastfeeding to avoid contaminated water, proper introduction of varied foods for infants, fortification of basic staples and vitamin supplementation. The World Bank has estimated the cost of getting these solutions to 90 percent of the children who need them would annually save 2 million lives and cost $10 billion. Split among developing and developed countries, that sum is manageable, Save the Children says. If the world fails to act and the current rate of progress of reducing chronic malnutrition continues at less than 1 percent a year, 450 million children will be affected in the next 15 years, Save the Children says.

SHARING RESOURCES

Welcome to the ChildCare Education Institute Newsletter! This Month, CCEI Discusses Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum.

Early childhood education (ECE) research is constantly evolving. While it is difficult for ECE professionals to keep up with all the latest twists and turns in current research, it is essential to be aware of major trends and shifts. In developing curriculum and other program elements, ECE professionals must be able to discern the "good ideas" from those that are confirmed by research. A little over a decade ago, many early childhood teachers were not aware of the important role they play in determining a child's future success in reading and other academic pursuits. Prior to the mid 1990s, you would not have found many child care programs that focused on things like vocabulary development, print awareness, and exposing children to rich oral language. Today, if you find a program that does not include these areas in its curriculum, then you would be justified in wondering whether the program's designers have been paying attention at all!

Some specific information seemed particularly relevant to my current professional development is the fact that finaly ECD is being recognized. 

Information that adds to  my understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field is by accepting the research on the importance of ECE.

Other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field that I gained  from exploring the e-newsletter is how ECE are changing the curriculum for the better and understanding all the developmental milestones that young children must reach.

When Can I be Me

This week I took a look at how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field . I was not happy with what I learned, although they support  the field the reason behind it is for their benefit.This is only my opinion, so read a bit on the views of the famous  Dr. Jack P. Shonkoff.

One of the cardinal features of human development is its tremendous variability. I mean, kids grow up in all kinds of different environments, and within similar environments there's a lot of variation among the normal population. I think the challenge that we face is how do we use the knowledge that we have -- not to mention the knowledge that we're going to have going forward -- to create environments that will really support individual development such that every child can reach his or her full potential. And at the same time, we must also value and respect differences among children, and recognize that, depending upon what area of development you look at, some kids are more competent than others. And this tension between optimizing development and respecting and honoring and cherishing differences, I think, gets very close to the heart of how we will use science in both an intelligent and a humane way. Because it would be wonderful to have knowledge that could help all children live as full and rewarding a life as possible, and be as good as they can be.

But even that, "As good as they can be," that's so characteristic of our society, right? I mean, because we're so focused on individual achievement. Not all societies focus on individual achievement this way; but in our society, we focus on individual achievement. And that's such a setup for winners and losers. It's such a setup for haves and have-nots.

But this is a moral issue, this isn't a scientific issue, because some people are fine living in an environment in which there are winners and losers. They say, "That's, you know, the way it is." So it's a matter of personal values and personal preferences. I would prefer to live in an environment that didn't focus so much on winners and losers, but focused on differences and valueis the differences for what they are. And science could be used either way. Science could be used to help us appreciate the richness of diversity, or it could be used to help us push the winners and losers.
I believe that winning is great and there is nothing wrong with competition,but when it is a streesor for parents, children and the teachers then it is no longer a healthy sittuation. When are children allowed to be just that? As professionals we must advocat to preserve children's right to be children.

"The active ingredient in the environment that's having an influence on development is the quality of the relationships that children have with the important people in their lives. That's what it's all about". - Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D.

HUNGER

Dear Elizabeth, Yesterday over 270 Save the Children advocates and students went to Capitol Hill for the 10th annual Advocacy Summit. It was a great success. Children met with their Senators and Representatives to urge them to support health and nutrition programs in the USA and around the world. While many legislative leaders strongly support the programs, we were alarmed to hear that deep cuts were being proposed to health and nutrition for some of the world’s most vulnerable children. We need YOU to tell Congress not to cut these critical, lifesaving programs that deserve strong support. The international health and nutrition accounts comprise less than half of one percent of the federal budget. Cutting these programs would do little to solve our fiscal woes, but could have dire consequences for babies, mothers and young children who depend on health and nutrition assistance. Won’t you please take a moment to send a message to Congress and tell them that you support Child Nutrition programs?

Our Backyard

Where We Work > USA

USA

Child Poverty in America Support Programs in the U.S. Nearly one in four American children lives in poverty—that’s 16 million kids who understand all too well what it means to go without. What does “go without” mean in America? For the children we serve in rural America, going without can mean no access to things many take for granted. Simple things like books, healthy foods, and places to play and exercise. And not so simple things, like knowing there will be food on the table at all, a safe place to sleep at night, or just the comfort and hope that comes from being able to see a future outside of poverty. At Save the Children, we believe all children deserve a fair chance at a bright future. Learn more about: Early Childhood Education Literacy: Helping Kids Learn to Read Healthy Eating and Exercise Disaster Relief in America How You Can Help You can support programs in a child’s community through Child Sponsorship, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to succeed in school and life. Learn more about the reward of sponsoring a child today. Sponsor a Child in the U.S. today >> Investing in America’s Future… One Child at a Time Save the Children's dedicated U.S. Programs staff work in America’s poorest and most remote areas to break the cycle of poverty. In states across the country, from the foothills of Kentucky to the deserts of Arizona, our successful and proven programs are making a difference the lives of underserved, and often forgotten, children. During the 2010-2011 school year, Save the Children’s Early Childhood Education, Literacy, Physical Activity and Nutrition and Emergency Response programs benefited more than 141,000 children, families, and caregivers. We help kids get the resources they need—access to a quality education, healthy foods and opportunities to grow up in a nurturing environment. And when disasters strike, Save the Children is among the first on the ground keeping children from harm and we stay on helping communities rebuild child care, playgrounds and much more.

Our Children

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A-C-A 4 You and Me! Dear Child Advocate, On Wednesday, March 21st at 1 p.m. EST, let’s stand with our children and young adults and celebrate the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will provide access to health coverage for more than 95 percent of America’s children and strengthen America's health care system for everyone. Let’s create a national trend on Twitter as we share real stories of real children and young adults. Join us and let’s all be grateful that there are now fewer uninsured children in America than any time on record—thanks to the ACA!! Listen to this precocious 4-year-old sing the ACA song. Watch Young Maeve Sing the ACA Song! Some of the big gains already enjoyed by children and young adults as a result of the ACA include: Insurance companies can no longer deny health coverage for children with pre-existing conditions. Health insurers must provide preventive care for children at no cost, a provision of the ACA that has already benefited 14 million children and families. Young adults can stay on their parents' insurance until they turn 26, which has already provided 2.5 million additional young people with health coverage. Share this video of charming young Atticus, and encourage your friends to sing along with the ACA song. Watch Atticus Celebrate Gains in Children’s Health! Follow CDF on Twitter @ChildDefender and join us on Wednesday, March 21st, at 1 p.m. EDT, for a ‘Tweetup’ on the important gains made in children’s health! Host your own Tweetup for children’s health and let’s stand together with our children and promise them we will never roll back the ACA health benefits children need to survive and thrive. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to ensure all children have a Healthy Start in life! - Children’s Defense Fund

Poverty In our Communities

Food pantries feel the pinch

by Liz Rhoades

       

Food pantries feel the pinchby Liz RhoadesQueens Chronicle |                       

Michelle Moore is a single mom on a mission to feed her family. She travels around the borough from her Flushing home, going from one food pantry to another so that her son and father don’t go hungry.
“You have to come prepared to wait outside in the bad weather,”Moore said, standing next to her shopping cart she had lined with a large garbage bag.
On Monday, she was at the Kehilat Sephardim of Ahavat Achim, an Orthodox Jewish synagogue on 78th Road in Kew Gardens Hills. Moore stops by every Monday for some groceries, whose amount is determined by the size of her family. This time she got turkey lunch meat, cold cereal, apple juice, peanut butter, fresh potatoes, canned vegetables and more.
Moore is among a growing number of Queens residents who find it necessary to visit food pantries on a regular basis due to the recession and continuing rise in unemployment, according to a recent study conducted by the Food Bank for New York City

POVERTY IN OTHER COUNTRIES

Micronutrients and Hidden Hunger

© UNICEF/DR/2011/Gonzalez

The lack of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iodine and iron, is the main cause of “hidden hunger” and malnutrition in the world today.

“Vitamin and mineral deficiency is the source of the most massive ‘hidden hunger’ and malnutrition in the world today. The ‘hidden hunger’ due to micronutrient deficiency does not produce hunger as we know it. You might not feel it in the belly, but it strikes at the core of your health and vitality. It remains widespread, posing devastating threats to health, education, economic growth and to human dignity in developing countries.” (Kul C. Gautam, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF).

Hidden hunger prevents children from achieving the full development of their physical, intellectual and social potential.
The UNICEF office in the Dominican Republic is providing financial and technical support for the Public Health and Social Assistance Ministry (SESPAS) in the implementation of activities aimed at eliminating micronutrient deficiencies, by providing vitamin A supplements as part of their Extended Immunisation Programme, as well as the universal iodising of salt in order to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders.
Actions aimed at improving monitoring and improving public education about the importance of consuming iodised salt are also being supported. Other actors like the Ministry of Education, the General Standards and Regulations Office, salt manufacturers, municipal authorities and the consumers’ association are also involved in this process, as well as the WHO/PAHO and USAID, who are providing technical and financial support together with UNICEF.

UNICEF is focusing its activities on the 3.5 million children and adolescents and 240,000 pregnant mothers, taking into account that this age group is at the greatest risk of developing iodine deficiency.

In order to calculate the levels of iodine content in salt for human consumption, a study carried out by SESPAS through the Dr. Defilló National Laboratory was carried out. It revealed that 67% did not contain iodine and that only 13.7% of the samples analysed contained levels of iodine within the limits established by the state standards that sets the range at between 30-100 parts per million (ppm).

(Source: SESPAS; PAHO/WHO; UNICEF: Calculating the Concentration of Iodine in Nutritional Quality Salt at national level, at point of sale, between July 2003-February 2004, 2005.)
Likewise, UNICEF, as a basis for establishing its Information, Education and Communications strategy, sponsored a study on Behaviours, Attitudes and Practices that showed that 75% of the population still consumes rock salt even though this is forbidden under Dominican law (NORDOM 14).

(Source: SESPAS; UNICEF; Sinergy Consulting: Study of Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes and Practices concerning Iodised Salt consumption in Dominican Homes and the Communications Media)
The studies carried out revealed a lack of knowledge about the importance of consuming iodised salt, and based on this, UNICEF is promoting education and social mobilisation as one of the key points for achieving behaviour changes that will ensure children and young people’s right to health.

Government institutions are also being supported in the Sentinel Schools, for educating students about the importance of consuming iodised salt and the introduction of a system to monitor iodine levels in salt in schools.

Promoting the importance of iodised salt consumption has been directed at the Haitian population in the frontier zone as well as the Dominican public. This has been achieved by producing radio programmes in Kreyol as well as in Spanish. Local organisations that work with women in the border area have been given support for holding educational workshops about Iodine Deficiency

THE FACE OF POVERTY

Contacts

Since the last time I posted about my contacts ,I have been waiting for replys from the orginizations that I had picked, but I haven't had anything yet.I have had many newsletters from my orginizations and I have posted them on the blog for all to read and see.The orginization I picked that was not international is ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI). I am a big fan of this orginization.I think every person who works with children should subscribe ,or ask their job to pay for a subscription.This site is a good educational tool.It offers courses as well as there work with children.Here is a sample.

CCEI Announces New Online 'Dual Language Learning' Professional Development Course

Duluth, GA/ July 22, 2011 - ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an IACET approved, nationally accredited distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care industry, is proud to announce the addition of a new course, Dual Language Learning in the Early Childhood Environment.

Roughly one out of six Americans speaks a language other than English at home, and many early care providers increasingly find themselves serving children and families from a wide variety of language backgrounds. CCEI's new course, Dual Language Learning, provides early childhood professionals with strategies and tools for helping young children develop language and early literacy skills in English as well as their native language. Participants will learn the benefits of "dual language" learning for young children along with key strategies for increasing family engagement and promoting rich, dual language development in the classroom.

Visit them at
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=z6dwzybab&t=umyp5vgab.0.mqyw6sdab.z6dwzybab.92265&ts=S0640&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cceionline.edu%2F

Contacts

Dear Elizabeth, More Ways to Help Friend us on Facebook Make a gift to support our Global Action Fund Thank you for your signing up to receive news from Save the Children around the world and in the USA. You will get latest from the field and stories about the girls and boys participating in our education and health programs. You will also get reports about our relief workers who feed babies struggling during hunger crises, protect children caught in the cross-fire of unrest, provide health care for AIDS orphans, teach troubled youth to read, defend girls from exploitation and so much more. Thanks to people like you, Save the Children reached more than 74 million children in need in 2010, an increase of 10 million over 2009. We’ve responded to the needs of millions of children affected by crisis, including the epic earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, devastating tornadoes in America and typhoons in the Philippines. Our growing U.S. program served more than 75,000 children in early childhood education, literacy, nutrition and physical activity, and disaster preparedness. Thank you, as always, for your compassion and willingness to learn more about lending a helping hand to children in need. Carolyn Miles President & CEO Save the Children

Contacts

This week I was able to make contact with two orginizations UNICEF and Save the Children.
I am very excited to see if my contacts will answer me back.My first step was to go to the contact us site and write a brief note on who I am and studying, as well as why I wanted a contact.They responded and now I wait.these are my contacts in case anyone else can use them as a starting point.

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

twebster@savechildren.org