Save the Children ( NGO) Changes the Lives of Children - Essay Example

Save the Children Changes the Lives of Children Save the Children Changes the Lives of Children Introduction Majority of the present world population is composed of children, with many of them not receiving the social and physical support for their needs. Living in a poor environment deprived them of happiness and right to education. At present, 925 million people are undernourished as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (2011 World Hunger, n.d.). The children are the most afflicted by malnourishment (2011 World Hunger, n.d.). It has some impact upon the 5 million annual deaths in children and around 160 days of illness that a child suffers (2011 World Hunger, n.d.). It also facilitates the onset of diseases such as malaria, measles, diarrhea and pneumonia (Black 2003; Bryce 2005, cited in 2011 World Hunger, n.d.). Asia comprises more than 70 percent of the undernourished children, Africa has 26 percent, while Latin America and the Caribbean has 4 percent (2011 World Hunger, n.d.). It was reported that malnourishment starts even before birth when the pregnant mother herself is malnourished. Thus, one to six infants in developing countries are born undernourished with low birth weight. As a result, infants either die at birth, affected by disabilities in learning, mentally retarded or blind. The UNICEF report indicated that around 22,000 children die annually as a result of poverty (Shah, 2011). Around 120 to 125 million children around the world (or one in every five children) have not been enrolled in the primary school level (Schools and Scholarships, 2002). Africa has 24 million females at school age who do not go to primary school, while boys exceed them by 5 percent in 22 African states (Schools and Scholarships, 2002). Children belong to a disadvantaged group and are vulnerable socially and physically. And if they were orphaned or abandoned by their parents, they would be helpless on their own to survive, remain healthy and become educated. Concerns and Problems Involving Children Numerous civil society groups, non-government organisations (NGOs) or people’s organisations (POs) are helping the children whose social, educational and physical needs are not met. They advocate one or more rights or assistance for children so that the latter can thrive in their respective localities as human beings, and not deprived of their basic rights and needs. The children and youth sector may be the most vulnerable group of people due to their tender age and mental capacity. And if the children are abandoned or orphaned, they would easily succumb to illness or death. Even if both parents are alive but without a stable source of income, the children would still suffer from malnutrition or may not have access to education. Another issue that beset children in many countries is their exploitation in labour. Besides not being physically and mentally prepared for labour, children are not paid just compensation. They can be found in many types of work which include breaking stones in quarry sites. In the US, children had been reported to work in mines, textile mills, agriculture, glass factories, and others during the 1900s (Child Labor in U.S., n.d.). Labour unions in New England USA condemned child labour exploitation as early as 1832 (Child Labor in U.S., n.d.). Laws were passed in 1916 (which took effect two years later) that sanctioned passage of goods across state boundaries if the other state violates the minimum age requirement for workers (Child Labor in U.S., n.d.). In the industrial revolution Europe, children engaging in child labour were viewed as a solution to poverty, idleness, or their dependence upon relief (Rahikainen, 2004, cited in Doftori, 2004). It has been in existence in the agricultural sector for many non-Western nations for decades (Doftori, 2004). Thus, the United Nations passed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989 (Child Labor, 2008) after intensive information dissemination and educational programmes conducted in developing countries (Doftori, 2004). The UNs organ on labor, the International Labour Organization exerted efforts to remove children in the labour market (Doftori, 2004). Several international treaties and instruments approved by various sectors were combined in 1973 that resulted to the Convention that set the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment in order to totally eradicate child labour (Doftori, 2004). There are many social concerns that children are facing. Although international agencies and governments work hard to uplift their social conditions, it would seem that they could not give the best for all of the children around the world. Recognising this concern, non-government organisations and other civic groups are formed in order to provide assistance to the youth and children. The NGOs played a great role in the alleviation of the plight of children. They developed innovative educational strategies to properly address the problems involving child labour and reduce their exploitation in the developing countries (Doftori, 2004). The NGO chosen for the case study is Save the Children founded in UK during the early 20th century. The research methodology used is this paper is the quantitative approach wherein available literature in the internet are utilised. No hypothesis will be considered in the paper since the organisation is presented as a case study. Overview of Save the Children Save the Children has been in existence for nine decades now (Our Past Inspires, n.d.). It was founded by Eglantyne Jebb in UK on the belief that all children, no matter where they live, should be happy, healthy and fulfilled (Our Past Inspires, n.d.). Such vision tells that the organisation aims to provide all kinds of help to children so that they will be able to live a fulfilling life. It was founded in 1919 (after World War I) out of compassion to the children dying of hunger in Austria and Europe (Mankind, n.d.). Save the Children’s efforts were focused on upholding the welfare of the children (Mankind, n.d.). Working against public opinion lodged against Jebb for helping the “children of the enemy,” she started the organisation’s first relief operations for the hungry children in Austria (Mankind, n.d.). During that year, Jebb was assisted by Dorothy Buxton (her sister) in setting up the Save the Children Fund through a public meeting held at the Royal Albert Hall in London (History, n.d.). Fund raising has been the primary tool of Save the Children in helping the children all over the world (History, n.d.). Jebb had been credited as the founder of the rights of children which have been embodied in the laws of numerous countries around the globe (History, n.d.). She passed away in 1928 (History, n.d.). The NGO was not formed to be a permanent institution but rather as an emergency group that would respond to existing needs (Mankind, n.d.). But it has remained after a very long time due to its relevance in society and the effectiveness of its operations in helping children around the world. Strategies and Activities Save the Children used solicitation, advertisements and showing of film footages about famines and disaster work to raise funds. As a relief agency, it provides food, clothing and money to target beneficiaries (Mankind, n.d.). During the early times, the money raised in its Fight the Famine campaign were turned over to other groups in Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, the Balkans, Hungary and Turkey (for Armenian refugees) which were engaged in helping children (Mankind, n.d.). Donations came at two shillings to £10,000 in a single transaction (Mankind, n.d.). Jebb was highly persuasive and effective which is manifested during the Russian famine in 1921 wherein 650,000 people were given food (Mankind, n.d.). Besides providing for the material and physical needs of children, Jebb also advocated for the rights and welfare of children (Mankind, n.d.). She framed the Declaration of the Rights of the Child which was adopted by the League of Nations and from whence the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was based (Mankind, n.d.). Jebb even embarked on a research projects to explore what rights should be accorded to children (Mankind, n.d.). The group’s study in 1933 – Unemployment and the Child: An Enquiry – described the connection of the prevalent unemployment and poor nutrition of children (Mankind, n.d.). Save the Children campaigned in the 1930s that children should have the right to sufficient nutrition up to the time of the passage of UKs Education Act of 1944 mandating provision of meals and milk to all schools (Mankind, n.d.). In the 1920s, it was able to establish a children’s recuperative school at Fairfield House (Kent), provided assistance to impoverished families of young miners (in Wales and Cornwall), and supported a school operated under the code of cooperation (Hungary) (Mankind, n.d.). Jebb wanted to expand the assistance and operation of Save the Children beyond Europe. This vision became a reality in the 1930s when it lobbied for children’s rights in Africa and Asia (through its Child Protection Committee), and establishment of a nursery school in Addis Ababa (1936) (Mankind, n.d.). Within UK, it had also established nursery schools in impoverished areas, as well as in Wales during the same decade (Mankind, n.d.). The Second World War hindered the international operations of the group in Europe, and decided to focus in UK instead. It had put up residential nurseries for young children of those who evacuated from the cities, day nurseries for those whose parents work in wartime industries, and play centers in air-raid shelters located in big cities (Mankind, n.d.). It also formed junior clubs for older children and the first sports group in UK called Hopscotch (Mankind, n.d.). Save the Children provided support to a child welfare center in Calcutta, established a health center at Ibadan in Nigeria (Mankind, n.d.). After the war, more than a hundred staff of the NGO provided assistance to the victims of war (e.g. children, refugees, survivors of concentration camps) in France, Greece, Poland and Yugoslavia (Mankind, n.d.). The 1950s saw the NGO giving more focus in Asia. It entered Korea in 1952 to assist the victims of the Korean War and remained there for 20 years (Mankind, n.d.). The bulk of financial support of the organisation was also being poured into Asia (Mankind, n.d.). Besides pushing for hunger alleviation, fighting famine, helping refugees and evacuees (e.g. Tibet, Vietnam and Nigeria during the 1960s), or establishing nurseries and sports groups for children, Save the Children taught mothers on nutrition at Mulago Hospital in Uganda (Mankind, n.d.). The various groups of Save the Children in many countries (e.g. Sweden, Denmark, Norway, US, among others) created in 1972 the International Save the Children Alliance (Mankind, n.d.). It was engaged in development work and assistance during crisis in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Sahel region in Africa (during the 1970s), and launched in 1979 the Stop Polio Campaign in order to eradicate polio around the world (Mankind, n.d.). To uphold the dignity of children and their families, it engaged in education, treatment and prevention strategies to fight HIV and AIDS (Mankind, n.d.). Save the Children also concentrated its efforts on the rights of children affected by the wars in Iraq, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Sudan, Colombia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Angola Sierra Leone, and the Balkans, as well as rights of children soldiers (Mankind, n.d.). Conclusion Save the Children is one social organisation that has provided assistance in more than one societal concern. While other groups have merely focused on providing food and relief goods to victims of disasters and calamities, Save the Children also advocated for the rights of children, their dignity and overall welfare. Thus, for children to maintain their mental and physical soundness, sports groups were organised for them. Moreover, so that the children can attain healthfulness, the mothers were also engaged in nutrition training and education. The broadness of the services rendered and offered by the NGO may have been facilitated by its near-century of existence. It has a broad spectrum of experiences gained from two world wars, several famines and calamities, and other social conditions. It has functioned according to the needs of the times, and responded according to what the children and the people need. It has not reported any problem regarding financial sourcing. With the nobility of its purpose and the persuasiveness of its members, financial donations go into their coffers. A single donation also comes in thousands. However, money does come not without an effort from the group. Save the Children had to advertise in a whole page at national newspapers (Mankind, n.d.). Resource allocation also depended on the prevailing situation. It withdrew from Eastern Europe when prevented to operate by the Iron Curtain (Mankind, n.d.). Then, it left the Middle East when the Suez crisis occurred in 1956 (Mankind, n.d.). Generally, the organisation has efficiently allocated its resources to the different projects and programs that it implemented. At present, it remained a strong and efficient organisation capable of addressing the needs of the least fortunate and the victims of different social and political conditions. Save the Children has established operations in all continents and more than 120 countries (Where We Work, n.d.). References 2011 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. (n.d.). . [Accessed 29 September 2011]. Child Labor in Developing Countries. (2008). 28 September 2011. . [Accessed 28 September 2011]. Child Labor in U.S. History. (n.d.). . [Accessed 27 September 2011]. Doftori, M.R. (2004). Education and Child Labour In Developing Countries: A Study on the Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Bangladesh and Nepal. . [Accessed 26 September 2011]. History. (n.d.). Save the Children. . [Accessed 27 September 2011]. Mankind as a Whole is Responsible for the World as a Whole. (n.d.). . [Accessed 28 September 2011]. Our Past Inspires Us to Believe in the Future. (n.d.). . [Accessed 28 September 2011]. Schools and Scholarships. (2002). The Global Fund for Children. . [Accessed 26 September 2011]. Shah, A. (2011). Poverty Facts and Stats. . [Accessed 27 September 2011]. Where We Work. (n.d.). . [Accessed 27 September 2011]. Read More