UNICEF - Child Supporter abd Protector

I felt a little like dropping in on an old friend when I went to the East Asia and the Pacific area of the UNICEF website this week. One of the first names I see is Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF's representative in China. She has worked tirelessly to get the Chinese Central government to put real effort behind their words of caring for the poverty in this country. Her special interest in children and families has set the path for the projects I will speak about today. Her passion for the welfare of this country and relentless 'badgering' of the officials has shown leaks of success in this mission.

Most recently UNICEF is launching a fund to provide schools to improve and provide education for those who are marginalized . These include girls, some ethnicities, those with disabilities, those in poverty and those in remote areas. They are providing inclusive education which is largely unheard of in the mainstream schools here. The schools for the blind,  cognitively challenged and the like are far from the support at the center of the city and public support.

With the help of these funds, UNICEF is looking to train teachers to include all children,  providing an anti-bias and  first class education. This  education will include life skills: health, nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, HIV prevention and safe drinking water. A similar program has been successful in Africa and now it is coming  Asia Pacific including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines as well as China.

These children face a life of exclusion and hopelessness and one that is often cut off too soon with little hope for the next generation. The need is huge and I find it overwhelming. I need to visit this site more often and stay in contact. Because, UNICEF is making a positive difference and have a reputation that is worth putting your money, time and skills behind.

Another issue that UNICEF is supporting is that of breast feeding. By way of a Chinese social network and web chats with experts and professionals they are offering the modern mother with facts and support for breast feeding.  This practice is under attack by the formula making companies and culture. With UNICEF support they are able to stand up for what is right for their child and provide a healthy beginning.

One more set of children that UNICEF is protecting is the child of the migrant worker. These children are often left at home with grandparents with often little or no education opportunities. They are separated from their parents and often live in poverty and unsafe conditions.UNICEF is looking for ways to unite the children with their parents in the place of work and see that they are able to enroll in area schools. Coming to the city and even seeing traffic lights is often foreign to these children so again UNICEF is reaching out to give them survival/life skills for city living.

My principal brought back news a few months ago about the school board looking to close the schools for migrant children. The reason they gave is that they need to be in their home area because the school budget here cannot support them. This does not consider that there may not be adequate or any schooling in their area.  It looks like UNICEF is working with the governments and the National Working Committee on Women and Children (NWCCW) here in Beijing to find ways to provide support for these families.

UNICEF seems to have its finger on the pulse of what is needed for the marginalized children in this country to find hope, health and success. I suggested at  our last staff meeting that we not exchange gifts this  year but choose a cause to donate to. The support of these inclusive schools may be my choice. Perhaps we could even offer some teacher training and supplies.  It makes me imagine that these children that have gone without for so long just might be the best educated in the country.

UNICEF puts the child as its first priority. This means supporting the expectant mother, the family, the community and the education and health institutions. Seems to me they are going about the solution in the best way to make a better for the child.

Reference

www.unicef/eastasia and the pacific.com