The area I chose to look at is Latin America and the Caribbean. I picked this region because I was recently in Mexico and some of the areas that we traveled through did not look like it was habitual, but we saw families living there. We had children coming up to us and begging for money. It was so sad that this blog post is a great way for me to research that area.
What I found out is that “60% of children under 12 years of age and 50% of adolescents between the ages of 13-19 live in poverty” (http://www.unicef.org). That is one thing that I saw for sure. There were huts that barely had a roof, and didn’t look like it would fit more than 2 people. Some of the children who live in this region are social excluded because of disease and disabilities. “The Caribbean has the 2nd highest prevalence of AIDS in the world, after sub-Saharan Africa, and has an increasingly adolescent female face” (http://www.unicef.org).
Another challenge that children face is chronic malnutrition. “Children in these communities have lower levels of nutrition and limited or non-existent access to basic services” (http://www.unicef.org). The severe malnutrition affects one of five children according to the website. Violence is a huge factor also,“Nearly 85,000 children die annually as a result of violence in the home, violence affects over 6 million children and adolescents” (http://www.unicef.org). A final challenge that children have to deal with are natural disasters such as, floods and hurricanes.
Another challenge that children face is chronic malnutrition. “Children in these communities have lower levels of nutrition and limited or non-existent access to basic services” (http://www.unicef.org). The severe malnutrition affects one of five children according to the website. Violence is a huge factor also,“Nearly 85,000 children die annually as a result of violence in the home, violence affects over 6 million children and adolescents” (http://www.unicef.org). A final challenge that children have to deal with are natural disasters such as, floods and hurricanes.
Those challenges that the children have to put up with, can have a huge impact on their development and emotional well being. If you are hungry and scared, it would be hard to focus on anything. If your house was destroyed by a flood or a hurricane then you would be wondering where your family is going to live. When any of the above challenges happen to a child, they might have a hard time sleeping, focusing on school, they might be anxious, scared, or even angry.
As a person I feel lucky to have grown up where I did, and how I did. I had a nice home with loving parents and I never had to worry about if I was going to get supper or not. I can not even possibly imagine what they children go through that I saw in Mexico. I want to adopt them all, and help them grow, and so them love. I also want to do that as an early childhood professional because it breaks my heart that children have to go through that. However, I feel that it is very important for an early childhood professional to know about the challenges that children from this region face, if they are going to work with them. “Understanding how the issues are different for each family type makes it possible to adapt the fundamental approaches so we can be as thoughtful and supportive as possible” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p.116). If little Johnny can’t keep his eyes open in class, it might be because he was scared to go to sleep last night, and was worried about his family. Knowing about a child and what they might be dealing with is a huge part of educating children. This is one of my constant reminders that I have to give myself.
References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
UNICEF (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/
Rachael,
ReplyDeleteThank you for an informative post! I liked that you chose this region, as this is a region I had considered, as well, due to my travels to Jamaica in the Caribbean in prior summers. I, too, witnessed inhabitable circumstances for these children and witnessed children asking for help and money, "just 1 dollar so I can go back to school". It was heartbreaking and we of course gave the children the $1 each for the five of them asking to help in any way possible. As I have mentioned before, learning of such struggles children face make me incredibly grateful for the opportunities we have in our country but also inspire me to help others. A few courses back I had researched an organization called Save the Children who work to support children throughout the world. Learning about these circumstances in varying countries this week have once again inspired me to revisit the organization and find ways to help.
Ashley Richards
I find it heartbreaking that for each area of the world I have read about, written about, and commented on poverty, malnutrition, and AIDS are in the top 3 challenges facing the healthy development of children in 3 different areas of the world. I found this weeks blog assignment depressing in spite of the positive spin many of the UNICEF articles I read tried to put on the progress being made. Although credit is due for the work UNICEF has achieved in the areas each article I read ended with the exhortation that we do more because more needed to be done and really left me feeling glass half empty. You wrote a very informative post on n area of the world I wouldn't have even been concerned about. I think of Mexico and I think of drug cartels, I think of the Caribbean and I think of beach resorts. Thank you for your research and insights.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachael I can relate to poverty. It's everywhere. As a young child I remember not getting enough to eat and going to school hungry , not being able to stay awake because of hunger pains and sleep felt better. I remember the teacher wanting me to come up to the board I refused because I didn't have the strength of Job. I also remember her not taking my no kindly and having to stay after school because she really didn't understand or maybe she was sensitive enough to my need and understanding. The best thing that could have happen was the free lunch program. My lunch consisted of an apple , white milk and a peanut butter sandwich who cared I ate it everyday until they expanded the lunch menu. I must say that this could be the only meal children received and would like to see more early childhood programs that can provide a comprehensive service to all children.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that you have done your research and I am shocked at the numbers that I see. I have taken a cruise twice to the Caribbean and I did not know that suffered with these devastating numbers of HIV/AIDS. I have never been to Latin America although I would love to but yet again I would not think that their children suffer from so much malnutrition. I am glad that UNICEF is in places in these countries but feel that we as people can try to do so much more for people who are suffering.
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