ISSA - International Step by Step Association’s Post

Happy Children's Day - Sri Lanka Today is International Children's Day in Sri Lanka. All those who participated in this event are warmly welcomed. Today we will tell you the importance of World Children's Day. International Children's Day is celebrated on 1st June and Universal Children's Day is on 20th November and in Sri Lanka it is celebrated on 1st October every year. On the occasion of this day, to emphasize the need to protect children, the President's Secretariat launched a program called "Protect children by law". The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989, and it entered into force on September 2, 1990. Sri Lanka as well as other member countries signed this convention and it laid the foundation for the creation of Children's Day in this country. Children are the key to the prosperity and better future of the nation and the country. Taking care of children helps the state take its economy to a new level. Mothers and fathers, teachers, nurses and doctors, government leaders and civil society activists, religious and community elders and media professionals, as well as youth and children, can play an important role in making World Children's Day relevant to their societies and communities. and nations. Sri Lanka's current birth rate in 2024 is 14.391 births per 1000 people, a decrease of 1.05% compared to 2023. Sri Lanka's birth rate in 2023 was 14.544 births per 1000 people, a decrease of 1.99% from 2022. In 2022, Sri Lanka had 14,840 births per 1,000 people, a decrease of 1.95% from 2021. Happy Children's Day - Sri Lanka Join online event - https://lnkd.in/eCm9F9NF October 1, 2024. VRL Group

Interesting report on data collection and monitoring of children who are placed in alternative care. These findings correlate with my research paper on “The view of service providers on the social services available for foster children who have had multiple foster placements: An Ecological Perspective”. Follow-ups and thus having updated records of these children are needed to ensure adequate social services are delivered and the rights of these children are upheld.

Celebrating International Children's Day: A Call to Protect Childhood, especially teenage mothers whose childhood have been interrupted by armed conflict. In STREET CHILD OF CAMEROON our hearts go out to the countless children whose childhoods have been interrupted by circumstances beyond their control. Whether it’s due to early pregnancy, being forced to drop out of school, or the harrowing realities of armed conflict, too many children are deprived of the opportunity to simply be children. These young lives, brimming with potential, deserve more than just survival—they deserve to thrive. Childhood is sacred. It is a time meant for learning, playing, and growing in a safe and nurturing environment. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the fullness of this precious stage of life. Let us stand together to support initiatives like the AMEF CAMEROON and Street Child G.R.O.W project that targets teenage mothers, who became pregnant from the countless incidence of gender based violence orchestrated by the ongoing Anglophone crisis in the NWSW regions of Cameroon. Our programmes should be designed to protect and empower children, provide access to education, healthcare, and safe spaces. Let’s amplify our efforts to ensure no child is left behind, and every child can look forward to a future filled with hope and promise. On this day, let's renew our commitment to safeguarding the innocence and dreams of all children. Because every child has the right to childhood. #InternationalChildrensDay #ProtectChildhood #EveryChildMatters UNICEF Keeping Children Safe

National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022-2032 What is the Care Reform Strategy? Care reform is a transformative change within the systems and mechanisms that provide care for children separated from their families or at risk of separation. Why is the Care Reform Strategy Important? This reform aims to: 1. Shift attitudes towards family-based care 2. Ensure children's rights are upheld 3. Involve children and young people in decision-making Supported by 80 years of research and international instruments like the UNCRC, it aligns with global care reform movements. Kenya’s National Care Reform Strategy Developed by the National Council for Children's Services with UNICEF support, this strategy focuses on creating a supportive national environment for care reform. It emphasizes the importance of family-based care in the care of a child. Key principles include: 1. Prioritizing the best interests of the child 2. Promoting a family environment 3. Addressing causes of separation 4. Ensuring meaningful participation of children and youth Covering all of Kenya, the strategy targets children in or at risk of institutional care, emphasizing a collaborative and inclusive process. Let’s learn more and support this critical initiative for the well-being of children in Kenya! #ChildWelfare #CareReform #FamilyBasedCare #UNCRC #Kenya #ChildRights #InclusiveCare

What does it mean to be a good parent? Hannah and Rithy are navigating the challenges and joys of blending two cultures as they raise their children in Thailand. UNICEF works to help families navigate raising their children in different contexts while supporting their well-being. Learn more: https://uni.cf/3vr9xZa #OnMyMind

The newly revised Solomon Islands National Children’s Policy 2023-2028 which sets out the Government agenda and priorities for children to ensure that the rights of the child are at the centre of development now and in future was launched in Honiara this morning. The vision of the Policy “is for every child to experience love, care, health, wellbeing and given equal opportunities to enjoy life in all its fullness for a better Solomon Islands,” The Policy has six priority areas which focus on  Child Health, Physical Growth and Wellbeing  Achievement of full potential in all areas of learning, education & development  Protection and Safety of Children from physical harm and emotional stress  Participation and Contribution of Children in Decision Making  Research, Capacity Building and Policy Coordination The Policy is developed and launched with the support of UNICEF. The Policy is available at: https://lnkd.in/gYzTQFWy

Family-based care is the best form of care for children. It provides the love, stability, and support that every child needs to thrive. As we focus on care reform, it's essential to shift our attitudes and systems towards promoting family-based care for all children, especially those separated from their families or at risk of separation. Why Family-Based Care? 1. Emotional Support: Children receive consistent love and emotional nurturing. 2. Stability: A stable home environment fosters better development. 3. Community: Children grow within a community, building social connections and a sense of belonging. 4. Rights and Participation: Aligns with global care movements and ensures children's rights are upheld, involving them in decisions about their lives. Kenya’s Commitment to Care Reform Kenya's National Care Reform Strategy for Children 2022-2032, developed by the National Council for Children's Services with UNICEF support, is a monumental step towards this goal. The strategy emphasizes: 1. Best Interests of the Child: Every decision prioritizes the child's welfare. 2. Family Environment: Encourages family-based care over institutional care. 3. Root Causes: Addresses the reasons behind family separation. 4. Youth Participation: Ensures children and young people are involved in shaping their care. This inclusive and collaborative approach aims to create a supportive environment for all children in Kenya, ensuring they grow up in loving families and communities. #FamilyBasedCare #CareReform #ChildWelfare

The celebration of International Day of Families on 15th May 2024, themed, "Climate change and impact on families well-being", doubled up as the launch of National Policy on Family Promotion and Protection. The Policy aims at key strategic interventions for stable and cohesive families. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection draws its mandate from the constitution of Kenya, The Children Act 2022 . It preserves and promotes the rights of children to ensure that children rights are observed to the latter. Child Rights are; name and nationality from birth; education; nutrition, shelter and health care; protection from abuse, neglect and exploitative labour; parental care and protection; protection from sexual abuse to name but a few. Child protection policies provides relevant guidelines for individuals and institutions to be conscious, as they interact with children in the rapidly evolving landscape of upbringing and child care; ensuring a safe environment for children. Child abuse and neglect can have lifelong consequences on the affected children, the effects of childhood trauma end defining, individuals as they are absorbed into the society and ends up causing disharmony, hence impeding social-economic sustainability of communities. The first lady of Kenya, Rachel Ruto called on parents to adopt "positive parenting" which supports the full development of a child through a nurturing, empowering and non-violent approach. Families offer an environment of warmth, love, sense of belonging and understanding, which is essential for the emotional and psychological development of their members. The emotional stability provided in the family fosters self-confidence and self-esteem in individuals, making them resilient and capable of dealing with life's challenges. Healthy families are the foundational units of healthy communities, social development and sustainable communities. #Childprotection #healthycommunities #families #empoweringcommunities

A bit of a summary of today's Save the Children UK's #LearningNetwork event which focused on the impact the pandemic has and continues to have on the youngest children, who are often missed out from the conversation. We launched the now externally available Early Years Knowledge Bank; specifically curated resources on how babies and young children were impacted by the pandemic (alongside other themes) https://t.co/15lC9mScDQ. Amy Brown spoke to how perinatal services were affected by the pandemic and how this continues to have an impact on parents, babies and young children. Megan Watson gave a whistle stop tour through the rich data of Public Health Scotland's CEYRIS study which clearly shows how the pandemic has hit already marginalised children hardest and that its impact is cumulative and ongoing. Katie Parsons from Loughborough University looked at changes to outdoor and nature access as a result of lockdowns and how this may be harnessed for positive change in the "slow pandemic" of the climate crisis. Louise King from Child's Rights Alliance for England/Just for Kids Law and Jenny Steele provided a child's rights perspective and how children's rights and interests were side lined during the pandemic, which the engagement with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is trying to set right. You can watch this powerful film on why this matters: https://t.co/yYDl16Tt4J. You can also read this Save the Children report "What about the Children" which contributes to refreshing a child's rights perspective for now and the future, offering a child's perspective and giving children a voice: https://t.co/Jra5FhdmCq. A lot of resources and a long post - but I hope it's useful!

Within this important project we address the difficult circumstances faced by Ukrainian large families following the onset of the full-scale war on February 24, 2022. A Family-Type Children’s Home is a distinct family unit formed by the commitment of a couple or an individual to care for a minimum of 5 orphaned children or children without parental care. Presently, there are approximately 1500 family-type children's homes in Ukraine, providing care for over 9000 children. ↘ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: We supply essential goods, household appliances, and furniture to enhance living conditions. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: We provide educational materials, school supplies, and cover expenses for extracurricular activities to support children's educational development. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀: During crises, we respond to immediate needs by providing generators, charging stations, water purification systems, food, warm clothing, and medicines. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲: We facilitate access to healthcare by covering medical treatment expenses and supplying necessary medical kits. Family-Type Children’s Homes play a crucial role in fostering a balanced and secure environment for the development of children facing challenging life circumstances. Supporting these families represents an investment in the future of society, as it lays the groundwork for the healthy and joyful growth of the next generation. In 2024, our commitment to supporting Family-Type Children’s Homes remains unwavering. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who shares our dedication to creating a brighter future for children and who lends their support to the “Help for Family-Type Children’s Homes” program. Together, we are paving the way for a better tomorrow. #CenterSocial #CenterSocialOrg #HumanitarianAid #SocialImpact #FutureGenerations