Catholic Relief Services’ Post

Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa signaling that #earlychildhooddevelopment is a key priority in his State of the Nation Address, the 2024 budget failed to allocate the funds necessary to fulfil all children’s rights to quality ECD services. Our new ECD Budget Review unpacks the 2024 Budget from an #earlychildhood perspective, focusing on funding for ECD programmes, early nutrition, and the Child Support Grant. We discuss: 📉 Why the decline in real spending on public services will impact the most vulnerable in our society.  🧒 The Department of Basic Education's capacity and expertise to realise universal, quality ECD services. 🍎 What needs to be considered as government pilots an ECD nutrition programme.  💸 How failure to increase the ECD subsidy over the past 6 years has impacted early learning programmes in the poorest communities  🏗 Why more resources need to be allocated to infrastructure and registration support.  👶 The inadequate increase in the Child Support Grant in the context of escalating child poverty. Download the full ECD Budget Review below:

Without strong national child-centred developmental leadership we face the risk of weak policy coherence and an aligned supporting budget directed at building human capital by equalising and optimising children's development as our number 1 national development priority.

🚸 Policy in Practice launches Healthy Start campaign with four London boroughs A campaign encouraging families to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme will launch across London Borough of Redbridge, Haringey Council, Lewisham Council and Royal Borough of Greenwich. 👨👩👧👦 The campaign will send letters to households informing them how to access crucial nutritional and financial support for their young children. Healthy Start is worth up to £280 a year and can help you buy food and milk for your children if they are under 4 years old or for yourself if you are over 10 weeks pregnant. This can be life changing for children who are facing the horrific impact of child hunger and poverty. By directly contacting 4,260 households with young children across London we can raise awareness of support for people who may be missing out. This week three of the four boroughs have started their campaign with: ✉ 2,974 letters sent 📱 3,302 text messages sent If you think you or someone you know may be eligible for Healthy Start support you can complete a free benefits check using our Better Off Calculator: https://lnkd.in/eZ5Ekm3m

This white paper about boarding schools is crucial and relevant in the current era of care reform. Many orphanages are transitioning or disguising themselves as boarding schools to maintain their operations without major disruptions. It is essential to understand that changing the name/ or transitioning to boarding school does not necessarily address the impact of institutionalization on children. This paper raises important points to reflect on by governments and other stakeholders- including orphanages.

What I witnessed in Baghlan is beyond words. Families lost loved ones, swept away by the flash floods, and their livestock and homes were destroyed. The green lands were transformed into a rocky, sandy, dried-up riverbed. The trauma and loss these communities have experienced are profound and will take a long time to heal. Our interventions are crucial in helping these communities navigate through these hard times. Thanks to our emergency response staffs for their commitment and dedicated services under very hard conditions, these families, severely affected by this natural disaster, have received essential assistance. However, more support is needed. It is imperative for stakeholders to provide increased support for climate-resilient infrastructure and natural risk reduction programs to prevent such devastation in the future. #AfghanistanFloods #SCI

Check out our ECD Budget Review 👇 unpacking the 2024 National Budget from an early childhood development perspective

Haitian Global Health Alliance latest update: #HAITI'S HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 11 million #Haitians are on the brink of famine. 200 criminal gangs have seized more than 90% of Port-au-Prince. 362,551 people are internally displaced, predominately women and children. 93% of all displaced people are due to gang violence. 94 refugee camps and many families are enduring multiple displacements. Over 80% of the healthcare system is non-functional, including 50% of the hospitals in Port-au-Prince. The closure of seaports and major roads in and out of the city have been blocked, which has prohibited the delivery of food, medications, and critical healthcare equipment to those who are desperately in need. Over 300,000 Haitians have fled from Port-au-Prince, including 38% of our medical staff, in fear of their lives. GHESKIO's Rapid Response Program in partnership with the Ministry of Health (Haiti) includes strategically deploying 17 mobile teams including physicians, nurses, social workers, and community health workers that will visit 12 refugee camps in the vicinity of our network sites. Our teams will provide essential services such as healthcare, nutritional support, sanitation, and shelter. We will also maintain our youth education program that affects 350 primary school students by offering virtual classes. We've designed this project to begin immediately and continue through November 2024. Our goal is to provide care for a minimum of 10,000 displaced persons. You can support them by donating here: https://lnkd.in/gpzkN3yb

Empowering Afghan Women and Children: Maternity and Child Benefit Program: I'm excited to highlight the transformative impact of the Maternity and Child Benefit Program, sponsored by the World Food Programme (WFP). This initiative is a beacon of hope for Afghan women and children, providing crucial support in challenging times. Key Benefits: Support for Mothers: The program ensures that expectant and new mothers receive the nutrition and healthcare they need, promoting healthier pregnancies and safer deliveries. Child Nutrition: By providing essential food and nutritional supplements, the program helps combat malnutrition among young children, setting a foundation for lifelong health and development. Education and Awareness: Alongside direct support, the program educates mothers about health, nutrition, and child care, empowering them with knowledge to nurture their families. Community Strengthening: By fostering healthier families, the program strengthens entire communities, contributing to long-term stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. The Maternity and Child Benefit Program is a testament to the positive change that can be achieved through international support and collaboration. Together, we can help Afghan women and children thrive, ensuring a brighter future for all. #WFP #Faradata #Afghanistan #MaternityAndChildBenefit #MCBP #WomenEmpowerment #ChildNutrition #CommunityDevelopment

13 February each year marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, who suffered trauma because of past government policies of forced child removal. Many of these removals occurred as the result of laws and policies aimed at assimilating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population into the predominately white community. Stolen Generations survivors are some of Australia’s most vulnerable people and many have kept their stories and experiences secret for many years, even decades. As many of the Stolen Generations are reaching an age where additional support services may be needed, much past trauma can resurface. Helping Hand has developed a free online elearning course which is an introduction to understanding the impacts of childhood trauma for people now entering aged care. It focuses on the experiences of Forgotten Australians, Stolen Generations, Former Child Migrants and people affected by forced adoption. Find out more and access the training by following the link: https://lnkd.in/gq2HPzyy The five-petal flower shown in the picture is known as the Native Cotton, Desert Rose, or Native Hibiscus, and is an emblem chosen by members of the Stolen Generations. It symbolises the scattering of the Stolen Generations and their resilience to the past policies of Australia.

Shining a light on #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay Have you ever heard of 'Orphanage trafficking'? Children are taken from struggling families and put into institutions to meet the demand for volunteer placements in orphanages. Despite promises of education and food security, these children rarely get the care they need and deserve. Instead, they face high risks of harm and abuse. Just how big is this problem? It's hard to say, as the data on this isn't clear as we would like. However, for our 2021 Cycles Of Exploitation report on this very issue, we received submissions by individuals and organisations from over 50 countries. So you can imagine how many children this impacts. Let's break the silence, spread awareness, and put an end to this hidden crisis. Learn more about the effects of human trafficking in orphanages: https://lnkd.in/ew-9BqWU