Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 2

As I have read and communicated with those internationally, I see that it is our responsibility as humans and educators to meet the needs of all children we come in contact with.  We must insure collaborative universal planning and implementation or guidelines, and rally for all governments to support and strengthen schools and families.  We must guarantee that all children grow and develop to their full potential while they are being provided high quality, accessible, affordable early education care.  The global initiatives states, early childhood development, child mental health, and children in crisis and conflict situations as areas to guide us to increasing our understanding and the importance of investing and collaborating with others towards a more integrated system using strategies which promote early childhood development.

In discussing these issues with my international contacts, I found out that the international group that Judith Wagner works with and serves as president for the U.S. Chapter, OMEP, is really interested in all of these issues, but globally, prescribed quality standards and equity issues are ahead of school readiness on their radar screen.  School readiness is not of much concern in places where there is no school, or not a school providing a quality education within the given environments.  Access to school is so unequal in various parts of the world and even more unequal when we think about gender equity.  The Millennium Development Goal addresses the need for universal primary education, with equity — specifically gender equity. 

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At the OMEP World Assembly last month, they struggled with a request from UNICEF to develop a universal or global program quality measure.  It was decided after much discussion with people from majority world (poor world) and minority world (and other developed countries) that it is not possible to develop a list of specific criteria to measure quality across contexts. They took the issue of sanitation and hygiene, and then even narrowed that to hand washing. For example, teaching little kids in California to wash their hands properly is one thing, and an important one at that. But how can we measure the quality of what we do here with hand washing, with the same instrument we would use in Kenya or Nigeria where there is no clean water and no soap?  They even studied the role of traditional play.  If they were to use the same instrument or criterion to measure the quality of play experiences in a preschool in the US and Sweden, the US would not score so well, but the comparison would be acceptable, since the two countries have relatively similar discourses around play.  However, that measure would not work well at all in, say, Hong Kong, where there is no space for outside yards and where most parents  (and most teachers) think play is a waste of time.

Jane Kurtz, who works with EthiopiaReads, stated that this country struggles with all issues that affect young children (availability of clean water and medical help to access to books).  Here in the US, we have parents that are actively engaged in reading to their children, starting at preschool age if not before.  However it is rare in Ethiopia for homes to have books, where parents cannot read.

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References:

Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website, http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/

Wagner, J., personal communication, July 26, 2011.

Kurtz, J., personal communication, July 26, 2011.

Sharing Web Resources

As I continue to explore the vast information as I work with Water.org I am devastated at how many children are affected by the lack of water and the detriment this it is producing.  Children in poor environments roughly carry 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies at any time. And when I read that more people in the world have cell phones than toilets, the lack of cleanliness being the world’s biggest cause of infection.   How does one not look at this issue and want to make a change.

As I receive and read their newsletter and gain information through their site, I am captivated at how much effort is put into different areas of solving this huge problem.  We mostly hear of undeveloped countries or those ruined by weather conditions as having water problems, but through these outlets you can choose a community to track, donate to the endeavors, and follow their progress through weekly updates while making a world of difference.  I have chosen to track Haiti, one of the poorest nations with about 10 million people struggling daily to live. Practically 40 percent of this country's population collects water from creeks and streams, which is not clean or safe.

The Water Management Committee and The World Health Organization reinforce the issue that this is a universal concern and through political interest more is being heard and seen about the troubles throughout Haiti.  Politicians are looking beyond their agenda showing us that this is a battle we all need to invest in so that all children, especially girls.  Girls and women are the first to be affected by destruction as they shoulder the burden of caring for those who fall sick from dirty water or they drop out of school once they reach puberty because there are not separate sanitation facilities for boys and girls.  Improving health outcomes throughout communities and increasing girls’ enrollment in schools is the goal within many areas.  As politicians devote their time and effort we see contracts being issued and signed reinforcing the legality and commitment to laws and agreements made to institute health seminars to educate adults and children. 

As I reflect on the water problem and the quandaries of young girls not being schooled and taking on the traditional role of caregivers, I am amazed and changed after just weeks of study.   I am more mindful of how much water I use and take for granted.  I think about the many families do not have access to water and cannot carry on what we consider to be the important tasks of the day.  How women are affected which ultimately changes the outcome of the children.  I cannot imagine the stressors either have to endure that shapes the people they become.  As I see pictures and read articles, I am overwhelmed with a sense of joy as women and children are all jovial and take pride in each other’s company, as they learn from each other.  However, what a difference a donation of $25 would make.  With this donation children can have clean water for life!  Yes, an astounding $25.

Reference
http://www.water.org/

Getting to Know International Contacts

Hello everyone, I am introducing Jane Kurtz with Ethiopia reads (www.ethiopiareads.org).  Jane grew up in Ethiopia, and stated that it was always hard to see people in pain and struggling with no access to what we sometimes call the safety net.  She is amazed at how people within Ethiopia laugh, dance, make music and tell stories no matter how hard life is or what they are struggling with.  Jane loves the community and welcoming atmosphere of that culture.  Still, there are so many kids hungry for simple things--a pen, a book, and a chance at school.  She has been a volunteer with EthiopiaReads for many years as they connect children in Ethiopia with expanding their minds through books. 

As we discussed poverty within Ethiopia I was shocked to learn that the poverty stricken areas are caused by drought.  This is more than half the economy for this country, the same experience some of our towns are familiar with, except they do not have the means of governmental to assist them.  Most of the workers within Ethiopia only earn up to $2 a day. 

As I spoke with Jane and researched information on my own, I learned that hunger within this country. Like so many, is destroying families and causing more fatalities yearly.  There is a high infant mortality rate (babies being born to sick women), common illnesses, and risk of infections caused by weakened immune systems throughout this country.  As a result, economic growth is affected because most children will not attend school and this in turn impedes education and ultimately employment.

A profound statement was made throughout our interactions that I will always reflect upon-People who don’t have the power to protect their own interest are the ones being affected by poverty.

Sharing Web Resources

The organization I choose was Water.org. With nearly one billion people not having access to safe water, Water.org was established to confront the customary approach to assisting people in developing countries and find new ways to gain attention to the world’s number one health problem, unsafe and inadequate water supplies, and to raise funds.  Through Water.org, financial resources will become available for those in need of safe water, the global water supply need will be met and developing countries will take their own lead in learning how to meet their own daily needs.

It has been more than one year since the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  I have learned through this site that prior to the earthquake, half of the people in Haiti (population of 9 million with an 80% poverty level) lacked access to clean water and only one in five had access to sanitary conditions. In 2009, the annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting was held when Water.org announced its commitment to reach 50,000 Haitians by providing clean water and sanitation through 2012.  Through this project, the commonness of diseases linked to water and sanitation issues will be reduced and the main focus as well as the education of proper hygiene.

Through this site I have been informed that millions of women are banned from completing their daily chores of survival due to a lack of water. Millions of women and children in Haiti spend countless hours’ daily, collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, then return to their villages carrying the 40 pound containers on their backs. And though women are responsible for the bulk of food production in their villages, their productivity is restricted by the continual harmful supply of water.

Water is a basic right and without it there is no hygiene, no food, and no life! In many third world countries, the women are the glue that holds the community together. Therefore, I applaud the work of water.org and look forward to advocating on their behalf.

http://www.water.org/

www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

Professional Contacts

In expanding my resources I have contacted the following international early childhood organizations:

1.    OMEP-USA (World Organization for Early Childhood U.S. National Committee)

2.    Ethiopia Reads (through NAEYC)

I emailed both organizations and signed up for their newsletters on June 28, 2011 and immediately received a response from both, below are the details from the communications. 

OMEP-USA, (Judith Wagner, President), jwagner@whittier.edu

I was immediately drawn to the colorful picture of children on the website and as I started to read the details I saw that one of their missions was promoting rights for children, ages 0-8.  And being that I am an elementary school teacher, this subject is very dear to me.  Through exchange of information with Judith I found out that OMEP-USA advocate for quality early childhood for all over the world, not just in specific countries.  Through your time spent with OMEP-USA you educate yourself and others about important issues relating to children, families and early childhood education.

Judith informed me that she will travel to Hong Kong, 7/1/11, to attend the OMEP World Assembly Meeting.  At this meeting several projects, for children, will be discussed through UNICEF.

·         Safe water

·         Sanitation

·         Hygiene

·         Childcare and early childcare in Kenya

·         Explore global quality for early education due to challenges met because of resources and political involvement

·         Relief efforts in Haiti and Japan

I informed Judith that I would be in touch next week, or check the site, as to the progress made at the meeting.  I would say that through my communication with Judith, we are off to a booming start.

Ethiopia Reads, (Jane Kurtz, Board member and longtime volunteer), janekurtz@earthlink.net

This organization quickly captured my attention because of my love of books and how through connecting children with books they are able to explore the world and learn. I immediately received a response thanking me for my interest and promise to keeping me abreast of their programs through bringing magic to reading to the impoverished country of Ethiopia.

Jane informed me that Ethiopia struggles with improving education at all levels, being that is not a priority.  Recently there have been new guidelines, set by the government, to create new opportunities throughout the country.  One will be collaborative efforts with TESFA Foundation (an establishment that focuses on early childhood in new neighborhoods).  They are planning to start a few projects, based on funding, to expand literacy outreach.

Through communication with Jane I plan to support this struggle through organizing book drives, bake/toy sales, hosting book parties and having my students make drawings of their favorite characters to hang on the wall of one Ethiopia library.  I am also following Jane on her blog (janekurtz.wordpress.com) to learn other exciting ways to help and advocate for this struggling country.

The Global Alliance of NAEYC, retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

UNICEF, retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html