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East Africa’s Children

East Africa’s Children. Poverty, Pain, Hope by Kate Royans. East Africa is a place of great diversity and natural beauty, in both its people and the land

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East Africa’s Children

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  1. East Africa’s Children Poverty, Pain, Hope by Kate Royans

  2. East Africa is a place of great diversity and natural beauty, in both its people and the land • But it is dealing with issues that are the cause of much pain and suffering for children, on a bigger scale than any other world region [1]

  3. Some of these issues and the impacts they are having on children in the region will be explained, through: • Country profiles • Topic pages

  4. This presentation gives a general picture of the state of children in East Africa in the Twenty-First Century • Their suffering does not go unnoticed, however • Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and global agencies play a huge part in the improvement of children’s lives • Please click on the various word and picture links and make use of this as a resource for researching into East Africa’s children

  5. Children • Healthy and educated children are the building blocks for growing economies and positive societies. • However they are often powerless within their society and are restricted by their surroundings and poverty. See Protecting Refugees – Questions and Answers

  6. Poverty and Pain…

  7. Poverty HIV/AIDs Disease Fear Illiteracy Drought/famine Homelessness Military enlistment Conflict Exploitation Marginalisation Gender discrimination Displacement Urbanisation Hunger Issues facing children in East Africa

  8. Street Kids • No education • Inadequate food • Inadequate shelter • No support • Abused and mistreated • Turn to crime, drugs and violence to survive • Prostitution

  9. [2] Orphans • Most of the world’s orphans live in Eastern and Western Africa • More than 5 million AIDS orphans in East Africa alone • One or both parents have died – mainly from AIDS • Cared for by extended family or left to fend for themselves • Looked after by elderly Grandparents • Drop out of school to care for younger siblings • Live on the streets and become involved with drugs and crime

  10. Orphans and HIV/AIDS “[Y]oung people are likely to be infected with HIV because they inject illegal drugs ... Or they may be more at risk because they are poor or homeless, which makes them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, for example by being forced to have sex for money. Children orphaned by AIDS are themselves particularly vulnerable to infection because they often have no one to care for or protect them, or any means of earning a living.“ [3]

  11. View The Young Face of NEPAD: Children and Young People in the New Partnership for Africa's Development View Africa's Orphaned Generations View Children orphaned by AIDS

  12. Child Soldiers • Children enticed to join military groups • Taught to kill and hate • Injuries, trauma and death • Difficult to re-integrate into society [4]

  13. Refugees • Millions of families flee from their homes • Escaping ethnic or religious conflict, persecution or drought • Temporary shelter • Inadequate health and education services • Disease, rape and abuse • Mainly women and children • June 20 – World Refugee Day

  14. Inequality Girls are the most vulnerable group • Exploitation • Abuse • Denied education • Disease - HIV/AIDS, malaria and others

  15. Gender action • There is a global campaign to achieve gender equality in education in 25 countries by 2005 • 4 in East Africa - Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tanzania • UNICEF, national governments, civil society, private sector and other actors • A commitment to educate every girl • To equip them for development • “Educated women are key to breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty” View Accelerating Progress in Girls' Education

  16. HIV/AIDS Sufferers • East Africa is home to the most AIDS sufferers in the world • HIV can be passed from mother to baby • Discrimination • Misinformation • Lack of education

  17. War-torn countries • Somalia’s collapsed state causes instability and much danger, especially to children • Countries immersed in conflict make it very difficult for relief and development action to be taken • For example, it is very difficult for humanitarian aid workers to reach children to immunise them from deadly but preventable diseases Accompanied by an armed guard, a health worker in Somalia vaccinates a child. Courtesy World Health Organization

  18. Effects... • Grief and stigma • Vulnerable and exploited • Unsupported • No encouragement • Sickness and disease

  19. Video footage Ugandan children flee their homes to escape abduction

  20. Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: “rights should be protected without regard to your “race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status [our italics]”, and that would include being HIV-positive (infected with HIV). But because of ignorance, fear and prejudice, children whose parents are infected with HIV, whether or not they are themselves infected with the virus, are often refused access to education, health or social services, and are excluded from community life. Sometimes HIV-positive children are even abandoned by their families, communities and societies.” [5]

  21. Country focus…

  22. Ethiopia • Population: 68.9 million • 36.1 million children under 18 years old • 989 000 AIDS orphans • 230 000 children living with HIV/AIDS • 30% Primary School attendance • 171 in 1000 babies will not live past the age of 5 • 82% of population live on less than $1US a day CURRENT ISSUES: • Limited access to education and safe drinking water due to conflict and drought http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/ethiopia_statistics.html

  23. Uganda • Population: 25 million • 14 million children under 18 years old • 884 000 AIDS orphans • 110 000 children living with HIV/AIDS • 87% Primary School attendance • 141 in 1000 babies will not live past the age of 5 • 82% population live on less than $1US a day Current Issues: • Civil war in the North • Successful HIV/AIDS initiatives http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/uganda.html

  24. Eritrea • Population: 3.9 million • 2 million children under 18 years old • 24 000 AIDS orphans • 4000 children living with HIV/AIDS • 61% Primary School attendance • 47 in 1000 babies will not live past the age of 5 Current Issues: • Drought and landmines on the border http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/uganda.html

  25. Tanzania • Population: 36.3 million • 19 million children under 18 years of age • 2 million AIDS orphans • 170 000 children living with HIV/AIDS • 49% Primary School attendance • 165 babies in 1000 will not live past the age of 5 • 20% population living below $1US a day Current Issues: • HIV/AIDS crisis http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/tanzania.html

  26. Rwanda • Population: 8.27 million • 4.3 million children under 18 years old • 264 000 AIDS orphans • 65 000 children living with HIV/AIDS • 67% Primary School attendance • 96 in 1000 babies will not live past the age of 5 • 36% live on less than $1US a day Current Issues: • Inadequate human resources • Growing political instability http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/uganda.html

  27. Somalia • Population: 9.48 million • 5.1 million children under 18 years of age • … AIDS orphans • … children living with HIV/AIDS • 11% Primary School attendance • 133 babies born in 1000 will not live to be 5 years old • … live on less than $1US a day Current Issues: • Many statistics are not available due to political and social instability • Warlords and factions are attempting to gain control of certain areas of the country http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/somalia.html

  28. Djibouti • Population: 693 000 • 343 000 children under 18 year of age • 6000 AIDS orphans • 33% Primary School attendance • … children living with HIV/AIDS • 143 babies in 1000 will not live past the age of 5 • … population live on less than $1US a day Current Issues: • Also unable to produce full statistics http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/djibouti.html

  29. Kenya • Population: 31.5 million • 15.7 million children under 18 year of age • 892 000 AIDS orphans • 72% Primary School attendance • 220 000 children living with HIV/AIDS • 78 babies in 1000 will not live past the age of 5 • 23% population live on less than $1US a day Current Issues: • 300 000 children are living on the streets or working in dangerous environments • Safe water and sanitation access have declined • Malnutrition and child mortality have risen http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/kenya.html

  30. The worth of children is recognised by many… But there is HOPE

  31. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989. See:http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_157.html • “Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding”

  32. Addressing Youth Issues • “Young people offer the greatest hope for defeating the epidemic [AIDS]. In countries like Ethiopia [and] Uganda, … responses that involved and treated young people as a priority have paid off, with drops of up to a third in prevalence rates.” [6] • The issues that children are faced with prevent them from becoming leaders of tomorrow. Lack of skills, health, education and care destroys their chances of positively impacting society in the future… See http://www.younglives.org.uk/data/focus/index.htm

  33. International Youth Day 2003 “International help to care for Africa's orphans is essential not only for their immediate welfare but also to protect the long term prosperity of these countries.”[7]

  34. Millennium Development Goals [8] 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development View The Millennium Development Goals: They are about children

  35. Global Agencies • The UN, the World Bank and other international and national organisations recognise the worth of children and act accordingly • Their value for the present and the future is immeasurable and they attempt to support children in many ways There was a UN special assembly for children in 2002 See http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/ [9]

  36. UNICEF • UNICEF is the specialist children’s organisation of the United Nations • Works with African children and youth in numerous ways. • Educating about prevention and healthy life choices to reduce HIV/AIDS and other diseases. • Caring for and supporting orphans and HIV-infected children.

  37. UNICEF • Working throughout East Africa • “Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 158 countries through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation.  UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination.  In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.” [10]

  38. UNICEF’s role Advocacy, research and action that will: • Create a protective environment to allow every child the best start in life • Ensure every girl and every boy a quality primary school education • Safeguard every child against disease and disability • Stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide care for every child affected • Shield every child from violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination

  39. World Bank - Children and HIV/AIDS • “HIV/AIDS severely challenges families and communities to meet basic needs. Children affected by HIV/AIDS may suffer from loss of family and identity, psycho-social stress, loss of inheritance, forced migration, homelessness, malnutrition, and fewer opportunities for schooling, education and health care. These factors make vulnerable children more at risk for starvation, dropping out of school, becoming involved in crime, child labor, prostitution, and even exposure to HIV infection.” [11]

  40. “In the past decade, the World Bank has given increasing attention to the needs of children by devoting more of its resources to poverty reduction, human and social development, and supporting programs specifically addressing the needs of children. Such areas as girls' education, basic education, maternal and child health, immunization, and nutrition were given more support and strengthened.”[12]

  41. They acknowledge the damage that poverty and conflict does to children and intervene to help children develop Health, nutrition and social development are key priorities for this World Bank department

  42. Religious leaders and HIV/AIDS • Religious leaders are helping to educate youth to care for and eliminate discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers See Religions for Peace – Annual Reports

  43. "Religion plays a central, integrating role in social and cultural life in most developing countries… there are many more religious leaders than health workers. They are in closer and regular contact with all age groups in society and their voice is highly respected. In traditional communities, religious leaders are often more influential than local government officials or secular community leaders.“ [13]

  44. Faith-based Organisations “Faith-based organizations and religious groups have become important partners in UNICEF's work with children across the globe. In developing countries, UNICEF works very closely with religious communities - ranging from those of the Buddhist and Islamic faith to several denominations within the Christian faith - whose tenets of religion include an interest in the health and wellbeing of people, and particularly of children.”[14]

  45. Save the Children • Country programs that address the root causes of poverty to improve the lives of children • HIV/AIDS prevention • the provision of food relief • development of agriculture • water schemes • primary education (formal and non-formal) • support to urban working children and refugees • development of rural health infrastructure and services

  46. Plan International Supporting the rights of children giving protection to unregistered children Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Visit Global Movement for Children

  47. International Youth Foundation ‘Empowering Africa's Young People: A Holistic Approach to Countering the HIV/AIDS Pandemic’initiative Health, education and life skills for East African youth

  48. Music, Dance and Drama • Music is a major aspect of culture in East Africa • Plays are performed to raise awareness of AIDS and other issues facing children. • An outlet and expression for children See http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/aids/713_827.html Singers in Tanzania

  49. International singers raise global awareness of the plight of children in East Africa U2’s Bono dances with Children of Uganda singer Ireen Nassaka in Entebbe, Uganda on May 28th, 2002, during his Africa fact-finding mission with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill. (Reuters)

  50. Hope for African Children Initiative Providing care, services and assistance to children, especially those facing HIV-related issues Care International, Save the Children, Religions for Peace, World Vision and other agencies coming together to support community-based initiatives to address issues that children face

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