Working Globally

Working Globally

After reviewing the website presented this week (6/10); I have found that it is interesting that the in the world “200 million children fail to reach their developmental potential by age 5” (Center on the Developing Child, (n.d). I find this information interesting because here in the United States we have many children too who fail to reach the same goal. As we have come to find out that many factors are the reason why this happens.  My question and thought is this……If children in the world fail to reach their developmental potential because of location, poverty, stress, etc.; then why do we have children failing to meet standards by age 5 as well if America is suppose to be considered the land of opportunity?

Another question that made me think as a result of things I came across in my research of this website is that if people worldwide know and understand that “the early childhood years are to be the initial building blocks for lifelong health, not just school readiness” (Center on the developing Child, (n.d); then why isn’t there more of a change? Are people not listening to what is being said? Do they care or what? So then, why does it continue to happen if people hear and understand what research has proven?

Is it because when applied in a scientific way does the world, politicians, etc. treat it the same and finally acknowledge the issue. Well I see the attention the issue has gained but is there really any change that has taken place? And if so, how and at what rate? Are we going to fix this problem 100%? I don’t think that the issues we face with children failing really is anything new. There has always been a child or children out there that will fail to be developmentally on track. Now we say that is by age 5. What was done with the children then? Were they overlooked? Were they told they were stupid? Or even, were they sent to a special place away from their families, which really is the worst answer. I feel that in the past our methods to now have improved. I feel that increased knowledge has increased which is better. I do however also feel that the issues were always there.

In reality I feel that we should have always had a look at this. Even if it was kept in the back of our minds. I feel strongly about this because it affects kids. I see it now how first lady’s have taken a personal conquest to improve children’s education and the standards. My question is why now? We have always had a first lady. Now this is taking a turn into a history lesson, but I am sure you get the point. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad we are addressing the issue but why not sooner and that we way we could have had a better plan in place or that plan could have been improved because the issue has already been addressed, tried and tested. When it comes to children, they are our responsibility to ensure children are meeting the standards developmentally. We cannot expect children to have made that goal themselves. They look to adults for guidance and direction. I think that because the numbers are the way they are we have failed children. When I say we, I mean, scientists, teachers, parents, policy makers, etc., we have failed our future.

Is it wrong to tell a higher official that they are doing it wrong? That is how you open their eyes by telling them they are wrong. There are better solutions. The children are our responsibilities.

The focus for these countries and globally “brain” development. While I find their focus to be interesting and I understand how brain development is important but should that really be the focus as to why children are not developmentally ready? Is poverty a bigger problem? How much of that contributes to the issue? I see it as a contributing factor but in a way and at times I see poverty as a small factor to the issue for these programs.

 The Global Fund for Children: Excellence

Through the GFC and its partners they teach the children lifelong skills that can improve their lives for the better and make them self-sufficient. It is not just a donation they receive but also a way for them to improve their lives for the better. They can do things on their own once equipped with the right skills to sustain them. That to me is great. This happened to Jerish, a receiptant from the GFC and it’s partners. “She now has the ability and was trained in baking and agricultural” ( Global Fund for Children, 2015).

References:

 

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/about/what-we-do/global-work/

 

http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/how-a-livelihood-program-changed-a-rural-girls-life/