International Day of the Girl Child 

The event which focuses on the theme ““Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement”.

Why International Day of the Girl Child?

October 11, 2012 was the first day the girl child was recognized. International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of the Girl and the International Day of the Girl (IDG). The observation supports more opportunities for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as right and access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and the protection from discrimination, violence against women and child marriage.

 

Objective of IDG 2016

• Enhance national capacity and systems to collect, analyze and disseminate gender data across the age spectrum to improve statistics on gender-based violence, adolescent pregnancy and reproductive health, informal employment, entrepreneurship, unpaid work, and other priorities for girls and young women.

• Disaggregate data on boys and girls and along other dimensions (e.g., ethnicity, age, income-level, disability, location, migration status, etc.) to better understand exactly which children and adolescents are most disadvantaged and where.

• Improve data collection efforts for often undercounted groups – such as data on sexual violence against younger adolescent girls (10-14).

• Harness “big data” and technology to close the gender data gaps in areas where progress for girls is often difficult to measure due to issue sensitivity or the huge data volume required, including through analysis of girls’ opinions on key development issues on social media.

• Remedy the gender bias in existing measurement tools, particularly biases that exclude the most vulnerable. For example, improved data collection tools can prevent under-reporting of violence against girls and under counting of their births and deaths.

• Pilot and scale-up innovative real-time data platforms to monitor and adapt programming for girls, to ensure girls are active participants in program design and that programs achieve the most impactful results.

 

Global Handwashing Day- October 15th

By ChiYoWo

It is extremely important to teach our children how to properly wash their hands. According to Globalhandwashing.org every year, 1.7 billion children do not live to celebrate their 5th birthday because of diarrhea and pneumonia. Three quarters of these children are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The most effective way to prevent these diseases is to use soap when washing your hands.

Global Handwashing Day was created to promote hand washing with soap throughout the world and to raise awareness about the benefits of washing your hands. We must teach our children how to wash their hands the right way, and when they should be washing their hands.

How to properly wash your hands:
·Wet your hands with clean running water (either warm or cold).
·Apply soap (This can be liquid, bar or powder soap).
·Lather by rubbing your hands together and scrub vigorously for 20 seconds.
·Rinse hands really well.
·Dry your hands with either a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.

When to wash your hands:
· Before handling food
·Before treating wounds, giving medicine, or caring for someone who is sick
·After using the bathroom
·After you touch animals
·After you sneeze, cough, or touch your face
·After preparing food, especially raw meats
·After you get done being/playing outside

Celebrate Global handwashing Day with us every year on October 15th and help us raise awareness to the importance of washing our hands for the safety of ourselves and others. Using soap while washing your hands is not only an easy and effective way to prevent diseases, but it is also affordable.

[1.] Globalhandwashing.org – http://globalhandwashing.org/
[2.] CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/features/globalhandwashing/
[3.] Mayo Clinic – http://www.mayoclinic.org/

World Humanitarian Day on August 19 Celebrates “One Humanity”

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

On August 19, 2016 the international day observances shift to focus on the humanitarian that resides in us all. Under the theme “One Humanity”. Events on that day will pay direct homage to humanitarian aid workers and the over 130 million persons worldwide who depend on their selfless assistance.

It is vital that we acknowledge these efforts and support all plans to increase the reach and effectiveness of humanitarian aid workers. What should also be at the forefront of our thoughts is how we can contribute to make a difference. Being a humanitarian is defined as “having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people”. That concern should drive us to

• learn more about the hardships and struggles of people displaced by war and strife
• use all means available to us to spread awareness of their plight
• encourage and instigate change how, when and wherever we can

Another way in which we can allow the humanitarian in us to shine through, is to give our support in time, skills and financial assistance to charities and organizations that are working to improve the conditions of those in need. These entities work to empower the disadvantage, enabling them to make positive changes in their personal lives and in their societies.

When each individual takes these actions in the spirit of humanitarianism then we are affecting changes to the happiness, health and safety of our fellow human beings. We are acting as “One Humanity”.

“In a world that is ever more digitally connected, each of us has the power and responsibility to inspire our fellow human beings to act to help others and create a more humane world.” — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

Make It A Day To Remember

International Day For The Remembrance Of The Slave Trade And Its Abolition 2016

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

August 23 is the day set aside by the United Nations for us to focus on the lasting effects of the slave trade, the struggles that led to its abolition and what these mean to us as we try to improve conditions for all around the globe. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, puts it all into perspective when she states “All of humanity is part of this story, in its transgressions and good deeds.”

The establishment of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition comes out of UNESCO’s The Slave Route Project. That initiative is also responsible for the setting up of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).

Human nature is laid bare for open examination as we dissect the horrendous trade and the unstoppable movement to fight against it and bring about its downfall. That fight was not swift, but a centuries-long struggle running from the abolition of slavery in a handful of American states in the late eighteenth century to the 2003 banning of slavery in Niger.

Within Nigeria, many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled their homes out of fear of modern day slavery at the hands of insurgents. Also, Badagry in Nigeria’s Lagos State was a primary town for the export of slaves to the Americas. Whether past or present, slavery and its nuances have left an indelible imprint that tempers how societies and sectors within societies relate to each other.

It is important that the achievements of groups which were (or still are) physically, mentally and emotionally oppressed be highlighted as a way to restore a sense dignity and equality to them. In doing so we will be guaranteeing that they are able to freely continue to make worthwhile contributions to the growth of whichever countries they are in. In the case of Nigeria’s IDPs, it is worthwhile to focus on their strengths and empower them to become independent as a way to maintain their freedom.

Let us not forget the scourge of slavery but also, most importantly, let us collectively decide to focus on the powerful human traits that have led to its abolition. These are the traits that will drive the development of societies that respect and nurture all their citizens regardless their ethnic background, gender, age, or socio-economic status.

 

Giving Internally Displaced Women Hope

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

There are approximately three million internally displaced persons (IDP) in Nigeria who have been displaced by conflict. The number has been rising steadily in recent months and is accompanied by increased calls for the protection of the most vulnerable among the displaced, namely women and children.

The report Improving the Protection of Internally Displaced Women: Assessment of Progress and Challenges by Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons reminds us that women make up just about half of the persons displaced within their own countries. It also highlights the list of special rights the United Nations observes for women who have been internally displaced. These rights include:

1. Non-discrimination and the right of expectant mothers, mothers of young children, and female heads of household to protection and assistance that “takes into account their special needs”
2. Protection from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and other forms of violence and exploitation
3. The right to access all necessary documents, education and training
4. The need for internally displaced women to actively participate in decision-making at all stages of displacement

Within Nigeria, several individuals and organizations, including local and international charities, have taken up the challenge of ensuring these rights are respected. Many have gone a step further by seeking to empower internally displaced women. These efforts range from sewing machines donated by Princess Ozolua and the Body Enhancement Foundation, to the provision of psychosocial support by the government-established Nigeria Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism (Victims Support Fund), and the donation of beads and ornaments to encourage the development of sustainable livelihoods amongst women in IDP camps in Nigeria by ChiYoWo (Children, Youth and Women Empowerment Initiative).

It is unlikely that all IDPs will ever be able to return to their original homes and villages. The outpouring of concern and assistance, however, raises hopes for women in Nigerian IDP camps. Their rights are of international interest and they are being given some of the tools, power and support they need to successfully restart life for themselves and their families outside of the camps.

 

Apprenticeship – The Role of Local Businesses In Youth Development

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

There have been a plethora of studies conducted on the connection between poverty and unemployment. Similarly, studies have pointed to skills training and career building through apprenticeship as a way to help alleviate poverty.

The following can be achieved through apprenticeship:

1. Businesses can give young people opportunities to gain experience of the culture that exists in the world of work. The youth learn valuable lessons in work ethic, including: effective time management; working as a part of a team to achieve set objectives; and how to handle interpersonal relationships in a professional manner.
2. The experience of apprenticeship can teach youth appropriate and usable skills to leverage opportunities elsewhere, once the apprenticeship period has ended. By becoming more marketable, they are able to seek out jobs in sectors that were previously closed to them.
3. Youth carry with them a dynamic energy that makes them eager to learn and take on challenges. They come to the workplace with fresh ideas, enthusiasm to make a contribution and a unique perspective of the evolving marketplace. Businesses can tap into this dynamism to make apprenticeship a win-win situation for the company and the young people involved.
4. Businesses can provide mentorship through current employees who can stand as strong role models for the youth joining the workforce. The assigned mentor can assist with career coaching as well as with personal development. Often times, such examples are lacking in the communities from which these young people come.
5. Companies derive benefit from the apprenticeship programme as it ensures that there is a set of trained individuals to fill future vacancies. These persons would already possess the requisite skills and be familiar with the organization’s structure and culture.

In summary, businesses in and around disadvantaged communities must begin to embrace their role in helping to lift these communities out of poverty. Apprenticeship is one way in which they can effect change.

Volunteering Overseas – How Does It Change You?

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

There is one common result for everyone who chooses to volunteer overseas. Their view of the world, what is important in it and what needs to be done is profoundly changed. Here are a few other ways in which you will change by becoming a volunteer in a foreign country.

• You discover sides to yourself you never knew were there. Your strengths in particular shine through and you realize you are capable of caring deeply for strangers and empathizing with their conditions.
• You understand deeply what is meant by the phrases “working lunch” and “a full day’s work”. You wake up earlier than you have ever done, help to complete tasks while you grab a bite and often work into the late hours of night assisting where it is needed.
• You know full well the restorative value of sleep. It is not just the tasks but also the new experiences that draw on your physical and mental energy. A strange room and a strange bed are of little consequence when sleep calls at the end of a day of sharing yourself.
• You place a new meaning on the word “stranger’. You easily strike up conversations on all manner of topics with people you have never met before. A ride on public transportation becomes a chance to share cultures and exchange views on world events.
• You realize long-distance relationships really can work. The friendships you make can survive the distance and the different cultures that separate you. Home becomes more of a feeling and less of place as you return year after year to continue you good work.
• You acknowledge your place in the global village. The ways in which we impact our “neighbours” from the great distances of own home countries becomes abundantly clear. From the brands you now choose (and refuse) to support to more conscious treatment of the environment, you take others into consideration.

Take a moment to share in our forum how being a volunteer has changed you.

Teen Girls The Focus Of World Population Day 2016

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

On July 11, 2016 the United Nations Population Fund UNPF will ask the world to pause and contemplate the potential that lies in “Investing in Teenage Girls”. The year’s theme seems a natural progression from World Population Day 2015 observations which focussed on “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies”.

The UNPF’s introduction of World Population Day 2016 highlights the challenges faced by a large percentage of teenage girls worldwide. Among the points it is asking us to consider are that within their communities, these young women often

• have difficulty accessing “basic information about their health, human rights and reproductive rights”
• are thought to be ready for marriage and motherhood
• are involuntarily kept out of school
• are “vulnerable to illness, injury and exploitation”

For all the teenage girls around the world who face these issues and are left without a voice, we must determine to become their voices.

Making a change for these girls starts with understanding the subtleties of the communities in which they live. We must aim to reach at-risk teenage girls with programmes to impart the requisite knowledge, skills and power they need to take greater control of their lives.

This, however, is not enough. We must also aim to reach the members of their communities and enlighten them of the benefits for all when girls are given access to a solid education, are protected from exploitation and are given the chance to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health.

In greatest need of our active input are those girls who are part of the tens of millions of displaced people. Along with the physical and emotional trauma of the circumstances that led to their displacement, they must now try to exist in conditions where their privacy and safety are often comprised.

Speaking out on behalf of disadvantaged teenage girls and supporting programmes that seek to empower them are just two ways we can help from anywhere in the world. If enough people get on-board and demand positive changes for these girls, then their voices will be heard through ours,

Protecting Children From The Violence Related To Social Norms

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

A recent UNICEF analysis of available data from 62 countries revealed the following worrying statistics.

• Of children between the ages of 2 and 14, 80% (or 4 out of every 5) have had to endure violent means of discipline.
• Within 23 countries, most of which are affected by conflict, 1 in 5 children have been subjected to corporal punishment in its most severe forms.

These types of correction are part of the social norms of many cultures and are generally viewed as accepted behaviour. As such, they prevail and are perpetuated, with harsh punishments being meted out to children both at home and at school.

Identification of what drives these norms, making violence against children an accepted mode of disciplining them, is crucial to change. Understanding how to approach the protection of children from unnecessary acts of violence will require an in-depth look at the dynamics of the societies in which they live. Once such careful research is conducted and analysed, proactive interventions can be developed with the aim to change the mind-set of adults and begin the formulation of new social norms.

Organizations that offer aid are in the unique position of being able to reach and influence communities in a way that other entities cannot. They must be given the resources to design and implement preventive strategies that will assure the protection of children along with the development of their communities.

The reduction of violence toward children must be made a priority and those in the best position to help must be given priority support as well.

 

Practical Ways You Can Support A Charity

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

You know the need is out there and you want to help in a meaningful way. But how? There are a variety of ways in which individuals can support charities aside from donating cash. Yes, the cash is very important and the lack of it has stalled many charities in their efforts to help.

But you may be unable to make monetary donations, are weary of how your money will be spent or just want to do something more involved than write a cheque. If so, here are some great ways to support a charity.

1. Make Other Donations – Find out what materials the charity needs aside from cash. Often times you may already have it or can easily access it. If they have drop-off points then take the material to them. Requesting that they collect from you is something they may agree to but it will cost them extra to do it. Remember, for charities and their beneficiaries – every dollar counts.
2. Spread the word – Tell your social media network about the charity’s deeds and its needs. Ask others to pass it along. Mention it to your neighbours, at work and at religious gatherings. Start or sign online petitions in favour of the causes of charities and charitable organizations which you support. When you think about it – your voice is the charity’s the best advertisement.
3. Volunteer your time and skills – You don’t have to be particularly good at something to help get it done. Charities often need help with physical labour, mentorship programs and record keeping.
4. Give Money – Helping the plight of those in need will invariably have costs attached for which only monetary donations will suffice. If you have lingering doubts then seek clarification. Ask specifically what the funds are used for. Many charities will gladly tell you because they need and respect your help.

So don’t be afraid to volunteer, the good turn you do could mean a lifetime of opportunity for someone else.