Hey there, how is life? As promised I want to tell you more about Plan International, the Charity I am doing volunteer work here in Nepal. I got introduced to their work through my parents. Their foundation is set up through the help of Plan and it supports Plan's projects worldwide. I also have my sponsored child through Plan. So here is a short overview of the charity's work. I tried not to put too many facts into it to make it easier to read :) *Most info taken from Plan's webpage*
Plan is a child-centred community development organisation: it works with children, their families, communities, organisations and local governments to bring about positive change. Including children in the decision making process is essential to Plan’s work. Plan's work is linked to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which spells out the human rights of all children, including the right to:
· survive
· develop to the fullest
· be protected from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation
· participate fully in family, cultural and social life.
Plan works mainly through Sponsorship money and established foundations. Like my parents and my brother Frederik and his girlfriend Yvonne, I myself sponsor a child. His name is Sudip and he lives in western Nepal. He just turned five, and his mother is younger than me (born 1989). A sponsorship is very easy to set up and it costs around 25€ a month – an amount that some people spend on a normal "night out” in the bars.
The money one gives does not go to the individual child. Instead the money is pooled with contributions from other sponsors to support programmes benefiting communities worldwide.
Plan first talks to the communities, parents, and children about how the money can be used to effectively provide lasting improvements in children’s lives. And so the money will be used to provide education, sanitation, training, and more to ALL villagers. The sponsored child does receive personal gifts and letters however.
Plan first talks to the communities, parents, and children about how the money can be used to effectively provide lasting improvements in children’s lives. And so the money will be used to provide education, sanitation, training, and more to ALL villagers. The sponsored child does receive personal gifts and letters however.
I am here to support Plan's work by editing documents, taking pictures of the projects, providing useful input and suggestions, documenting field work, helping with the field work, writing reports and case studies, etc.
Plan focuses on 8 main areas for development in all countries:
Education:
Plan invests more in education than any other programme area and works to ensure that children, young people and adults get the knowledge and life skills they need to realise their full potential. Especially girls, people from low casts, and the disabled are supported by scholarships and training programs.
Plan invests more in education than any other programme area and works to ensure that children, young people and adults get the knowledge and life skills they need to realise their full potential. Especially girls, people from low casts, and the disabled are supported by scholarships and training programs.
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| The alphabet painted to the walls of a Plan School |
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| At least we have a "european style toilet" at the office, and a gate for security reasons :) |
Health:
From supporting immunisation programmes to training volunteers on strategies to combat malaria, Plan's health programmes help to save thousands of children's lives every year. Through immunisation, child nutrition and hygiene promotion, thousands of newborns have been saved. Plan gives particular emphasis to the 5 main causes of death among children aged 0 to 5, including malaria, diarrhoea, acute respiratory diseases, malnutrition and measles.
From supporting immunisation programmes to training volunteers on strategies to combat malaria, Plan's health programmes help to save thousands of children's lives every year. Through immunisation, child nutrition and hygiene promotion, thousands of newborns have been saved. Plan gives particular emphasis to the 5 main causes of death among children aged 0 to 5, including malaria, diarrhoea, acute respiratory diseases, malnutrition and measles.
Water and Sanitation:
Plan works with communities to improve access to safe drinking water and to raise awareness of the importance of waste management. More than 2,200,000 children die every year - that is ONE every 15 SECONDS - as a result of diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation and hygiene. Every year Plan helps communities build 2,000 school latrines and in the last 3 years has helped families and communities build an average 100,000 toilets per year, benefiting several million people.
Plan works with communities to improve access to safe drinking water and to raise awareness of the importance of waste management. More than 2,200,000 children die every year - that is ONE every 15 SECONDS - as a result of diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation and hygiene. Every year Plan helps communities build 2,000 school latrines and in the last 3 years has helped families and communities build an average 100,000 toilets per year, benefiting several million people.
Protection:
Protecting children from violence is a key priority for Plan. Violence against children has a devastating impact - threatening children's survival, development and participation in society. Plan initiated programs to target such problems as child trafficking, corporal punishment in schools, female genital cutting, and child marriage.
Protecting children from violence is a key priority for Plan. Violence against children has a devastating impact - threatening children's survival, development and participation in society. Plan initiated programs to target such problems as child trafficking, corporal punishment in schools, female genital cutting, and child marriage.
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| How about my right to a desk, I can fit my knees under?? okay sorry, inappropriate joke :) |
Economic Security:
Millions of people struggle to meet their most basic daily needs, leaving them extremely vulnerable to economic shocks or disasters. Children are often the first to feel the effects, being forced to go hungry or leave school to earn an income for the family like the Kamalari girls. Plan works with poor children and families to build up their income and assets, helping them to become more resilient and better placed to cope when the worst happens. Together with the education for young people, the cycle of poverty can be broken.
Millions of people struggle to meet their most basic daily needs, leaving them extremely vulnerable to economic shocks or disasters. Children are often the first to feel the effects, being forced to go hungry or leave school to earn an income for the family like the Kamalari girls. Plan works with poor children and families to build up their income and assets, helping them to become more resilient and better placed to cope when the worst happens. Together with the education for young people, the cycle of poverty can be broken.
Emergencies:
From providing disaster relief to running recovery projects, Plan works to protect the rights of children and young people during emergencies, ensuring their immediate and long-term needs are met. With Plan’s extensive relationships and knowledge of communities, local structures and institutions, Plan is best placed to help children and their families when disaster strikes.
From providing disaster relief to running recovery projects, Plan works to protect the rights of children and young people during emergencies, ensuring their immediate and long-term needs are met. With Plan’s extensive relationships and knowledge of communities, local structures and institutions, Plan is best placed to help children and their families when disaster strikes.
Child participation:
Children have the right to take part in decisions that affect their lives, but all too often their involvement is limited or non-existent. Attempts by adults to solve children’s problems are unlikely to succeed without taking into account the first hand experience of young people. Plan’s Child Centred Community Development approach helps millions of children to learn about their rights and take an active role in their communities’ development. Plan works directly with children, their families and communities to identify problems and implement solutions, and to form youth groups, community meetings, etc.
Children have the right to take part in decisions that affect their lives, but all too often their involvement is limited or non-existent. Attempts by adults to solve children’s problems are unlikely to succeed without taking into account the first hand experience of young people. Plan’s Child Centred Community Development approach helps millions of children to learn about their rights and take an active role in their communities’ development. Plan works directly with children, their families and communities to identify problems and implement solutions, and to form youth groups, community meetings, etc.
Sexual Health and HIV:
Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases affect tens of millions of children and youths because they are denied the right to protect themselves. Plan’s awareness-raising and direct response programmes help to empower children.
Okay, so I know this was extensive, but I hope also interesting and informative. If you are really interested in Plan's work you can check out the web for more information. I will be writing more about my personal work here, so stay tuned in!
Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases affect tens of millions of children and youths because they are denied the right to protect themselves. Plan’s awareness-raising and direct response programmes help to empower children.
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| Ah and that's my "office" with the sooo small desk |
Namaste,
Annika
Annika
Hey girl, miss ya! Glad your experiencing all this. I think it's great! This year's FFC is August 27. "HOPE FOR MANHATTAN KIDS"
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