International Children's Day...

- May 30, 2008

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I just got this email from Nina of Bizymoms.com with the following attachment. It's an original article written by Bizymoms.co m about International Children's Day and she wants to share it all with mothers like me and some of you out there. So I am reposting it here as International Children's Day is just around the corner - June 1, 2008!

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY

The 1^st of June was declared as International Children’s Day, but each country changed the date according to their ease. Children being the heart and soul of the future are suffering from many difficulties around the globe. Here are some of the statistics to show the pathetic state of children globally:

· About 4,500 children die each day from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation facilities.

· Over 90 percent of deaths from diarrheal diseases due to unsafe water and sanitation in the developing world occur in children below 5 years old.

· A child born in Europe or United States is 520 time less likely to die from diarrheal disease than an infant in sub – Saharan Africa, where only 36 per cent of the population can access hygienic sanitation.

· On average, women and girls in developing countries walk 6 kilometers a day, carrying 20 liters of water, greatly reducing the time they have for other productive work or for girls to attend school.

· Children living with HIV/AIDS 2.2 – 2.6 million

· Children newly infected with HIV in 2007 0.35 – 0.54 million

· Child AIDS deaths in 2007 0.31 – 0.38 million

· Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

· The latest education statistics show that 75 million children were out of school in 2006, down from 103 million in 1999. Girls account for more than one half of the out – of - School population.

· In a regional perspective, South and West Asia reported the greatest progress. This was mainly due to changes in India, where the number the children out of school fell by over 12 million as participation in primary education significantly improved for girls [accounting for more than 75% of the decrease]

· Sub-Saharan Africa also made important strides, with a reduction of 10 million. This was largely the result of progress reported by the Governments of Ethiopia and the United Republic250, 00 of Tanzania.

· Over half a billion children are struggling to survive on under $ 1 per day.

· 250,000 children and young people are infected are infected with HIV/AIDS every month.

· It is estimated that 25 million children will have lost one or both parents to AIDS by 2010

· 130 million children lack access to education.

· 246 million children are child laborers.

· 8.4 million children are trapped in slavery, trafficking, debt bondage, prostitution, pornography and other illicit activities.

· 300,000 young people under 18 are exploited as child soldiers.

· 300,000 children die each day from preventable diseases.

Even when people around the world volunteer to help the children, the number of children who are being affected by various epidemics and other peril, which literally pose a threat to their lives, is not decreasing in comparison with the increasing rate of help offered. But in the mean time, we also have to agree to the fact that more people are willing to help these days and in some regions actual progression has been made.

Still the numbers are not declining. The main reasons for the lack of decline are that most of the help offered is short termed, and in most of the rural regions lack of proper management also contributes to the increasing numbers.

These children do not have the choice to choose how they want to live. It has already been given to them. We do not have to be a popular or rich person to make a difference in the lives of these children. Just help with what you have and join hands to make this a better place for our future, which lies in the hands of every single child.

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

[John W. Whitehead, The Stealing of America, 1983]

“I don't know who my grandfather was, but I am more concerned to know what his grandson will be."

[Abraham Lincoln]

“I thought I couldn't have children. Then I worked with a people called the Mudugumor that disliked children. And I decided, no matter how many miscarriages I had, I was somehow going to have a child. Because having a child is a necessary attachment to life and to the future.”

[Margaret Mead]

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