Violence continues in Kenya
January 31, 2008
Its been over a month now since violence broke out in Kenya following the disputed presidential elections. Thus far, the deathtoll has risen to over 800 and thousands have been injured. Kenyan refugee camps are instead filled with Kenyans and not people fleeing conflict in nearby nations. As members of the global community, it must be our duty to assist peacemakers in this area. The children must be our number one priority; they cannot fend for themselves, they have no one to stick up for them, THEY NEED US. We cannot make it any more clear than that. The following statement released by ChildLine Kenya sums it up exactly:
While politicians dispute, people demonstrate and security forces battle on the streets, it is the children of Kenya who have the most to lose.Thousands of innocent children are suffering in displacement camps or on the streets, lacking the basic essentials of food, warmth and security - the right of every child.Camping in the open, they are susceptible to sickness but lack access to basic health care. Many are prey to sexual exploitation and abuse, because their parents, killed or lost in the post-election chaos, cannot protect them. Traffickers become the next danger.Some have been traumatised by watching their parents, siblings, friends and neighbours murdered with machetes, or gang raped. Others have been raped themselves. Who will comfort them when they go to sleep tonight? Riots bring further danger. At least one child has been killed as he innocently played with friends - playing being the right of every child. More have been maimed in the cross fire. And, unless they are allowed to return to school, many will lose the chance of economic prosperity that is also their right.The children of Kenya are not the future - they are the present. If we do not protect them today they will have no tomorrow. For their own social and economic stability they must be allowed to live as children again. We call on the Government of Kenya and all responsible parties involved in the current dispute to remember that children have the most to lose and to take the necessary measures to protect and care for them, so that they can enjoy the respect, security, love and dignity that is their undisputed right.
We are currently operating a major emergency relief program for around 2,000 people in our facilities in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa. SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya are continuing to accept more and more orphaned and abandoned children, but supplies are scarce and not many commodities are entering or leaving the country right now. For more information on exactly what is going on, please read this interview with Keith Castelino, director of SOS Kenya. Find out how you can help right now!
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Topics: Africa | No Comments »
Nigeria moving forward with IMNCH strategy
January 29, 2008
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Nigeria is taking some of its first needed steps amidst the movement toward improving international child healthcare. First Lady Turai Yar’Adua of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was officially appointed today as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Nigeria, meaning that she will oversee all progress made and be directly responsible for improvement to child and maternal healthcare there. She has committed today to bring about drastic reductions to the |
over 55,000 maternal and 1 million child deaths occuring annually in Nigeria in order to be removed from the MNCH list of 60 critical countries. This is the list that as of 2005 ranked Nigeria as 13th in percentage of child deaths for children five y.o.a. and younger.
What a fantastic step for the children of Nigeria and children everywhere! If a country with some of the more severe, well-known child health issues can begin to take actions to do more for the future of our world, then every country with child and maternal health care issues (thats every country on the planet, no country is perfect!) can follow Nigeria’s lead. Good to know SOS Children’s Villages is already doing its part to assist with these issues, right? We are currently working on child, infant and maternal issues in Nigeria through our three SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria, two SOS Youth Facilities, three SOS Kindergartens, three SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools, one SOS Vocational Training Centre and four SOS Social Centers. Visit our website for more information on us, what we do, and how you can help!
Topics: Africa, Case Study | No Comments »
For Congo, the wounds run deep…
January 24, 2008
In so many of the world’s major conflicts, children have always suffered the most. This is none more true than in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where post-war trauma and prolonged fighting in the northeastern Kivu region continue to plague civilians.  According to a recent survey of the some 45,000 fatalities in that country, more than 22,000 of those deaths were children 5 years of age or younger. Fighting continues to bring harm to villagers, but the deadliest threat comes from curable diseases (namely malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia) and malnutrition (from the overwhelming lack of food as a result of the conflicts). Children are suffering from lack of clean drinking water and food, dying from diseases that at most would mean a trip to our physician or pharmacy. This is a truly tragic poverty of our world.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however long. Since 1987, SOS Children’s Villages has maintained a presence in the DRC. At present there are two SOS Children’s Villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, two SOS Youth Facilities, two SOS Kindergartens, two SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools, two SOS Medical Centres and two SOS Social Centres. Starting in 2004, SOS Children’s Villages in the Democratic Republic Congo, in collaboration with other NGOs, took various steps to assist the needy population, especially persons affected by HIV/Aids, e.g. assistance with medical drugs, school fees and creation of self-help projects. Together, we can help these children learn, grow, and become the generation that will put an end to this misfortune.
Want to know how you can help? We hope you do and so do our wonderful children who need your help. Click here for more information!
Topics: Africa | No Comments »
The world needs more mothers like her
January 22, 2008
Twenty-five years of selfless service and devotion. Twenty-two caring loving children enabled to succeed in life. That’s the résumé of an Ammadam, India-area spinster who has given a considerable amount of time and effort to her many loving children whom she has spent the last quarter of a decade caring for.
Mary is an SOS mother at the Children’s Village in Thrissur and one of the most devoted mothers we’ve ever seen. Mary feels that it was her divine mission to raise these children; we couldn’t agree more. After obtaining her SSLC, her parents prevented her from becoming a nun, so she chose a different line of charitable work. Mary still lives in Thrissur and cares everyday for the children of hers that have not left home to pursue other enterprises: two are in graduate school, two have gotten jobs outside India, and four of her daughters have married and settled down (Mary was there every step of the way from the wedding through the birth of their children).  It just goes to show that every child can be anything they want to be or do anything they want to do with enough caring and encouragement.  Education, shelter, and love go a long way in this world.
Source: NewIndPress
Topics: Asia | No Comments »
In the news: SOS Thrissur celebrates
January 15, 2008
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The world is certainly in need of some good news of positive happenings. This past weekend, SOS Children’s Villages Thrissur celebrated their silver jubilee this past Sunday, or their 25th anniversary. Founded in 1985, the village of Thrissur is home to over 250 orphaned and abandoned children. SOS Kinderdorf International president Helmut Kutin was on hand for the festivities (pictured here with a few of our wonderful children). According to President Kutin, |
| India itself is the home of more than 30 SOS Children’s villages, and not only that, but more than 5,000 children are being cared for today in between all the villages there. With your continued aid and support, SOS will continue to be able to provide needy children around the world with food, shelter, education and love. That’s all for now, stay tuned for Thursday’s post: we’ll be spotlighting one of the most dedicated mothers you’ve not yet met. |
| Source: Newindpress.com |
Topics: Childrens Village news, Asia | No Comments »
Highlight on the SOS Family Strengthening Program
January 9, 2008
Isaac is HIV positive. Taking care of his three young children has been a worrisome burden as he has agonized over who can provide for them in the future. But Isaac now has peace of mind, since SOS has entered his life. Through the SOS Family Strengthening Program, Isaac now receives training and support to create a small enterprise selling rice. While he brings in money, SOS Children’s Villages N’Zerekore in Guinea is ensuring the family has enough food to eat, and that the children are attending school.
And thanks to the SOS program, Isaac’s eldest, Raphael, is not only in school, but has become a leader of his fifth grade class. Raphael loves school so much that he takes time to help in the community kindergarten, hoping to be a kindergarten teacher himself one day. Raphael now swells with pride as he stands at the blackboard helping other children.
Once Raphael goes home and finishes his major chore of fetching water from the well, he runs a small class for his younger siblings and cousins. The class of six listens attentively to Raphael as he encourages them and works with them on writing and arithmetic. Raphael has also been teaching them rhymes.
Isaac is proud to see Raphael passionate about school and teaching, and serving as a role model for younger family members. Because of the support from SOS Isaac no longer fears for his family’s future. He can sleep well at night.
Isaac’s family, Raphael, Joachim, and Jacqueline have been with the family strengthening program in N’Zerekore for the past year and half.
For more on family strengthening, visit sos-usa.org for how family strengthening programs in Gaza prevent child abandonment.
Topics: Africa, Case Study | Comments Off
Keeping that holiday spirit in mind…
January 3, 2008
| Yes, yes, we know, the holidays are over, back to business. Consider this though: all of us sit around our holiday tables with the ones we love and speak of good tidings and being fortunate, but is the holiday season really the only time we need to do that? Shouldn’t that be a year round thing? We’d like to think so… |
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| A family at SOSCV Malawi enjoys a meal together |
| Â As this brand new year begins, let me remind you of a few things. We are very blessed in this country to have not just the luxury of political-personal freedom (a bear of a privilege as it is!) but the good fortune to be able to sit around a table covered with platters of delicious food with the members of our immediate family in our own comfortable home. Some of us take this for granted, potentially even spurn the mandatory nature of this forced gathering that almost always ends in bickering. But for what purpose or reason? I can give a few that will keep you in contemplative mood. |
| Â Not everyone is as lucky as us; consider an SOS family and its elements. They have a fulfilling but in no way extravagant meal, and the chances that someone at their table is member of their original blood family are slim to none. Their accommodations are comfortable but that word as defined in places like Malawi versus in the United States are very different. They do not have “a decent place in the suburbs” or that new C-class your neighbor is obsessed with, but they get by successfully and go on to have successful lives. This is not an accusation or indictment, just food for thought as another year wears on. |
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Elaboration on topics of the SOS Ghana debate
January 2, 2008
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So 2008 is finally here, meaning several things: an extra day in February, the American people choose a new president, and only two more years until the next world cup in South Africa. In the meantime, Africa is gearing up for their Cup of Nations soccer tournament on the 20th of this month, but the festivities have already begun. So you’ve already read in one of our previous posts about the activities SOS Children’s Villages Ghana sponsored back in December, lets examine that a little more why don’t we… |
| Among other activities was a debate, comprised of children from 6 local schools there. The topics: how could soccer be used as a catalyst for peace and as a thoroughfare for the addressing of children’s social issues? I think Dr. Kojo Mattah, director of the SOS Village there, said it best. According to angelfmonline.com… |
| The motive behind the debate is therefore to portray football as not only about playing, singing and winning but rather to show that strength and powers of football can be used to address issues related to the rights and plights of children and the development and enhancement of peace. |
| Certainly, it’s possible, but positive competition must be promoted for it to work and that isn’t always the easiest thing. Its so much easier to kick dirt in your opponent’s face after a tough loss than to shake his hand like a man and look him in the eye and say “Good game”, isn’t it? It starts with good training and good teaching, on the field and in the classroom, one of the many things children educated in SOS villages come away with. |
| Now I honestly disagreed at first that soccer can be used to resolve social issues, but then it hit me: if we can get children to discuss with other children the problems that they face, slowly but surely an entire generation will understand. Thats not to say that current conflict won’t convince many that a life of violence is the only way to live, but the time for change is now and it must start with children. With a combination of promoting healthy competition and getting children to discuss issues with each other on and off the field, peace can come into sight at the end of this long road Africa has been travelling down for some time now. |
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Cycling for Funding SOS Children.
December 14, 2007
Cycling isn’t my thing. But I’ve known countless people who have biked long distances through park trails, others who have ridden through mud, dirt, and rocks in the mountains, others who race as part of triathlons and other events, and even more people who just like to go for a relaxing ride once in a while.
Cycling can also be used for fundraising. Earlier in the year, a small group of cyclists traveled from Portland, Oregon all the way to Costa Rica to raise money and awareness for SOS Children’s Villages.
And now, we have news of the 2nd Annual Fun Ride in the Philippines. After the fun ride, an SOS child shared inspirational words with the participants. The money raised will go directly to the education and other living expenses of the children at SOS Children’s Villages Iloilo.
For more on the ride, check out the story.
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Diamonds Support SOS Children’s Villages.
December 10, 2007
SOS Children’s Villages is no stranger to diamonds. In 2006, the practice of mining diamonds to finance conflict was brought to the big screen in the film, Blood Diamond. SOS Children’s Villages has villages in areas of conflict, and parts of the movie were not only filmed near SOS villages, but some of our children appeared as extras! The Blood Diamond movie has brought welcomed attention to these areas of conflict, and to SOS Children’s Villages.
But the diamonds I refer to in the title are not related to the Blood Diamond movie.
The Dalumi Group is a diamond company that through a yearly fund for 12 children will aid towards food, clothing, medication, and school supplies in Botswana. And news from The Dalumi Group’s Director of Marketing, “I’m proud to highlight that our commitment is a long lasting one. At the end of the first year of this project we will meet again with SOS Children’s Villages Botswana and discuss ways to develop our support to this project based on the feedback we’ll receive.”
Thank you!
Topics: Childrens Village news, Africa | Comments Off
