The SOS Children’s Villages Ghana will launch a worldwide children’s rights campaign on November 20, 2016, themed; “No child should grow up alone”.
The Children’s Village noted that, one in ten children, or 220 million children worldwide, are growing up without the loving care of a parent or the support they need as children.
This puts the child’s emotional, physical, mental development at serious risk, but the organisation explains that, loving care for a child means a loving and stable care from at least one adult, a home that guarantees the child’s physical and emotional safety, and well-being and adequate nutrition, health care, education, and other basic needs as children.
The SOS National Director, Alexander Mar Kekula, explained that “if even one of these three things is missing, it can have serious consequences for a child’s physical, emotional, and mental development. This burden is like a backpack they have to carry for the rest of their lives, and the more serious the situation, the heavier the backpack.”
“Every mom and dad knows that raising a child is a major challenge. When parents struggle with poverty, depression, illness or domestic violence, it can become very difficult to give a child what they need to grow.”
“The very real threat of downward spiral in a vulnerable family’s situation too often results in children missing out on the care they need, or even growing up alone and extremely vulnerable. This situation is what SOS Children’s Villages absolutely wants to eradicate.”
1 in 10 children is growing without adequate care
This is why SOS Children’s Villages is launching the worldwide children’s rights campaign: NO CHILD SHOULD GROW UP ALONE
One in ten children, or 220 million children worldwide, are growing up without the loving care of a parent or the support they need as children. This puts the child’s emotional, physical, and mental development – and thus his or her future – at serious risk. SOS Children’s Villages therefore is launching a worldwide campaign on 20 November, Universal Children’s Day: No child should grow up alone.
* Loving and stable care from at least one adult;
* A home that guarantees the child’s physical and emotional safety and well-being
* Adequate nutrition, health care, education, and other basic needs as children
“If even one of these three things is missing”, says (Alexander Mar Kekula, National Director), “it can have serious consequences for a child’s physical, emotional, and mental development. This burden is like a backpack they have to carry for the rest of their lives, and the more serious the situation, the heavier the backpack.”
In more than 125 countries and territories SOS Children’s Villages supports families in crisis and provides caring families for children who have lost parental care or who are at risk of losing it.
“Every mom and dad knows that raising a child is a major challenge. When parents struggle with poverty, depression, illness or domestic violence, it can become very difficult to give a child what they need to grow. The very real threat of downward spiral in a vulnerable family’s situation too often results in children missing out on the care they need, or even growing up alone and extremely vulnerable. This situation is what SOS Children’s Villages absolutely wants to eradicate.”
SOS Children’s Villages calls on everyone to leave no child behind. Every child has the right to a family that cares for them. And because investing in these children, so that they can develop into strong adults who contribute to society, is important for a sustainable future.
We ask that:
* Government puts children who have lost parental care, or who risk losing parental care, high on their political agenda and commit the resources required to support them with quality care, which is their right as children;
* Businesses, as powerful entities, invest in building a society where no child is left behind;
* Parents listen to children, learn about children’s rights, and be aware of how many children do not get the loving care they deserve and need;
* Every person who is in a position to help – please help. Don’t look away from children who are alone and vulnerable. Join us in taking action to ensure that no child grows up alone.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
