School Days

As the school year winds down, we’re all looking forward to the summer- hanging out at the pool, sleeping in on the weekends, and catching up on our favorite TV shows. I just finished my first year of graduate school, and, like many students across the country, I was counting down my final days of class before summer break.

But as excited as I am for more rest and relaxation, I really do love school. I love reading about people and events in other countries, sitting with my friends in class, and that feeling I get after working hard and earning a good grade on a paper or exam. I feel really lucky that I have been given the opportunity to attend school for 18 years (!!), especially when I know so many youth across the world have not been afforded that same opportunity. Unfortunately, many children and youth face daily barriers to attending school and attaining a quality education.

Here are some obstacles that children and youth might have to overcome to get an education:

10 Common Barriers to Education:

1. Lack of money- Many parents lack the necessary fees for tuition, school books and supplies, uniforms, or food, and therefore cannot afford to send their children to school regularly.

2. Distance- In rural communities, schools are often few and far between, requiring children and youth to take long and often unsafe walks to school every day.

3. Responsibilities at home- In rural communities, children and youth often have many duties at home, which might take away from their time in the classroom. Some of these chores may include caring for younger siblings, housekeeping, and fetching water for the household.

4. Value of girls’ education- In some societies, little value is placed on a girls’ education. In these communities, girls struggle against social and familial pressures in order to attend school.

5. Child marriage- In some parts of the world, children, especially girls, marry at very young ages, often to save the family money. A young wife must often take care of her husband and household, which interferes with her ability to go to school.

6. Pregnancy- A lack of comprehensive health education, a lack of access to contraception, a societal taboo against discussing reproductive health, and the prevalence of child marriage can all contribute to early pregnancy among girls and adolescents. If a girl is pregnant or has a young child, she will not be able to regularly attend school or focus on her studies.

7. School facilities- Often schools are not properly maintained or lack adequate facilities, and therefore do not offer safe and healthy learning environments for students. Classrooms can also be hot, crowded, and lacking in materials such as desks, chalkboards, and books, which impair student learning.

8. Sanitation facilities- In addition to classrooms, students should also have access to safe and healthy bathrooms, including separate spaces for boys and girls. Children and youth also need access to clean drinking water throughout the school day, which often schools cannot provide.

9. Teacher’s Investment- In some instances, teachers are underpaid, inadequately trained, or not fully invested in providing quality education for their students. So even when students attend school, they sometimes do not receive personal attention or effective instruction.

10. Child Labor- Millions of children around the world are engaged in the labor force in order to help contribute to their family’s income. These jobs can include unpaid and paid work (though often for very low wages) in agriculture, domestic service, textiles, and other industries. Sometimes this work can be dangerous, and can require long hours. Children are sometimes also trafficked illegally within their own country or internationally. If children are working, they often do not have the energy to keep up with their studies. While working, children and youth often miss days of school, or withdraw from school all together. (For more information on the impact of child labor, make sure to check out the upcoming issue of YUGA’s E-News in June.)

Have you ever faced any of these obstacles, or do you know anyone who has? Which obstacles do you think would be most difficult to overcome? Do you think obtaining universal access to quality education for all children and youth is important? Why or why not? Can you think of any other barriers to education youth around the world face? Please be sure to e-mail your ideas to Plan at yuga@planusa.org.

As for me, next time I am nervous for an exam or tired after a long night of doing homework, I’m going to try to think about what it would be like if I had to study while facing any the barriers mentioned above. While I will no doubt enjoy my break from classes this summer, I will try to keep in mind how lucky I am to get to attend school on a regular basis. And I’m sure that when August comes around, I will be very excited to start classes once again.

Good luck finishing up the school year and happy (almost) summer!

Go Green

Today is Earth Day!

Get outside and celebrate! Today, let's commit to making a lifestyle change for greener living, a healthier planet, and a more sustainable environment.

 

While we can't all be green experts, simple steps in our everyday lives make a huge difference. Below are YUGA's Top Ten Ways to Live Green - but there are many more. Don't forget to comment below and tell us how you live green every day!

1. Ditch the water bottle.
Americans go through more than 70 million water bottles every day, and only 14% get recycled. Not only are they filling our landfills, but they require huge quantities of oil to make, transport, and dispose. And here’s the kicker: manufacturing plastic water bottles requires two times more water than the bottles will ultimately contain.

2. Go veggie.
Producing enough meat for one hamburger emits the same amount of greenhouse gas as a six-mile car ride. In the US, we eat an average of 8oz of meat every day- more than twice the amount consumed by those in developing nations. According to Environmental Defense, if every American substituted one meal with chicken for a vegetarian meal, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off the roads.

3. Stop the spam.
Do you or your family constantly get spam sent to you in the mail? Click here to have your name removed from direct mailing lists.

4. Hold the bag.
If you were to collect all of the bags you (and your family) received in a week, how many would you have? Reusable sturdy totes are inexpensive and can save a family hundreds of wasted plastic bags each year. If you're purchasing just a few things, opt to carry them out instead.

5. Take-Out Smart
Next time you call for take-out, be sure you know what not to order! If you don’t need napkins, tell them so. If every American gave up one paper napkin a day, we’d save one billion pounds of paper from going into landfills each year. If you don’t need plastic utensils, extra condiment packets, or chopsticks ask them to leave those out as well. China cuts down nearly 25 million trees each year to make chopsticks that oftentimes get thrown away unused.

6. Turn off the lights.
...and the faucet, and the engine (when it's not running). Electricity production generates more than 1.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year! Energy to power lights and appliances make up two thirds of all electricity used in the US’s residential sector. Being conscientious about turning off unused lights and appliances adds up quick- and it’s easy to do!

7. Use your dollar wisely.
Choose reusable instead of disposable. Buy items made from recycled materials, and support companies with sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Green companies are easy to find, and your dollar helps create demand for even more eco-friendly products.

8. Clean green.
Are you doing more harm than good when cleaning your house? Abrasive household cleaners do a number on the environment, and can make indoor air up to five times more polluted than the air outside! Disinfectants and other chemicals washing down our drains contaminate more than two-thirds of U.S. streams. Opt for a nontoxic cleaner, or make cleaners yourself. Click here for ideas and recipes for cost-effective, homemade cleaning supplies.

9. Take a shower
While a relaxing bath is nice once in a while, the average 8-minute shower uses less than half the amount of water; a typical bath uses 30 to 70 gallons, but an 8-minute shower uses only 17 gallons. If your family is purchasing new appliances or fixtures, make sure they're energy efficient too.

10. Beautify the neighborhood
Get outside and beautify your entire neighborhood by planting trees, bushes, and flowers. According to Carbon Footprint Ltd, each tree planted can offset your environmental impact by ‘breathing’ in around 1 ton of CO2 over its first 50 years!

World Water Day

The United States uses 346,000 million gallons of fresh water every day.

A girl in Niger can walk four hours to reach any.

Today is World Water Day. What are you going to do about the water crisis?

The world is on target to meet the Millennium Development Goal for water, but it doesn't mean that everyone has access to clean and safe water just yet. Many of the world's poorest countries are still without, including many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifteen countries in the region are not on track to meet the MDG target for water, and nearly 40% of the world's population still lives without access to adequate sanitation.

Investing in safe drinking water not only sustains life, but promises a future. Every $1 invested in water and sanitation improvements returns an average of $8 in increased economic productivity and preventing health issues. Providing clean water to a community reduces the occurrence of deadly waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid fever.

Visit www.planusa.org/walkforwells to find out about our national walk-a-thon, Walk for Wells, and how you can help.

It's Coming... YUGA Summer Leadership Camp!

Get inspired, connect with others from around the globe, and make a better future at YUGA Leadership Camp! 

Who: All youth ages 12-18
When: July 17-23, 2011
Where: Camp Aldersgate North Scituate, Rhode Island

At YUGA Camp, you'll meet friends from across the country and around the world who are interested in global issues like poverty, HIV and AIDS, climate change, and child exploitation.

YUGA Leadership Camp brings together a committed group of 65-100 youth for a week of interactive workshops, community building, games and outdoor activities. The week is packed with programming that will prepare youth to advocate for global issues like poverty, HIV and AIDS, climate change and child exploitation. 

Apply today!

The YUGA Leadership Camp online application asks basic information and questions about your interests in global issues. The application must be submitted online in its entirety and is due by May 31, 2011. All participants will be notified of their acceptance by June 14, 2011.

To find out more, visit www.planusa.org/yugaleadershipcamp or contact Corrie at corrie.bonham@planusa.org.

NYC Day 1

We’re at the United Nations….hotel.

Hey, this is Sara & Kirby from Plan USA. We haven’t made it in to the United Nations yet, but we are in New York City. We arrived around noon, after a bus from Rhode Island. It is very windy in New York City and very cold compared to the other countries that are here — like Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Indonesia. Girls from Canada are also in New York City, and delegates from Finland should arrive soon. Going over the schedule tonight, cued in on the importance of our participation here. We are going to speaking to members of the United Nations, people with important roles in deciding international policy and agendas. Even though we are still in the United States, I still feel incredibly far away from home, surrounded by girls that are from all over the world. I guess it still hasn’t hit me where we are and what voice we have, but I am anticipating such an tremendousness feeling walking into the UN, wearing Plan shirts and calling ourselves girl delegates for the world.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more updates!

Blake Middle School Skypes with Haiti

The earthquake in Haiti was over one year ago, and since then hasn't been free from further tragedy. Flooding, a cholera outbreak, and political unrest disrupted relief efforts and prevented Haitians from rebuilding their lives. While we can't fix all of the problems in Haiti in just a year, it is certain that the world has not forgotten about Haiti.

Throughout the country's struggles, students at Blake Middle School in Massachusetts raised awareness of conditions in Haiti and fundraised to support Plan programs operating there. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, nearly 750 students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade joined on a Skype call with Haitian youth and Plan staff. Students gathered in their school auditorium to ask questions about the livelihood, education, and conditions of their peers in Haiti. Some even practiced their French, asking questions in Haiti's official language.

While we were hoping to connect with a youth group in Croix de Bouquets, difficulties in internet connection and electricity made it difficult to communicate back and forth. Instead, we connected with Maureen- a Communications Assistant working for Plan Haiti. Maureen was very kind and generous with her time, and answered all of the questions our youth had about life in Haiti.

Some of the more popular questions that Blake students asked were:

Blake: What do you do for fun? What sports do you play in Haiti?

Maureen: Soccer! Soccer is by far the most popular sport in Haiti. Other than that, youth like to play video games, hang out with friends, play games. Same as kids in the United States.

Blake: Do you feel like the world has moved on from the earthquake in Haiti? That people aren't paying as much attention anymore?

Maureen: We felt overwhelmed with support from the rest of the world. Everyone came, there are so many volunteers. There is so much being done here- a lot more to do, but we just really felt the support and care from the rest of the world. A lot of people are living in tents, which is not a good condition and doesn't protect from the rain and keep people safe. But I don't feel like people have forgotten about us, not at all.

Blake: What is your favorite food in America? What do you normally eat in Haiti?

Maureen: American food- probably a cheeseburger. [Maureen was born in Haiti, but spend the majority of her life living in the United States. She's no stranger to American food!] In Haiti we eat a lot of rice and beans, plantains.

Blake: What can we do to help?

Maureen: Support. Support is really the biggest thing. We just really appreciate knowing that people are still thinking of us and supporting us. Thank you so much.

As stated by Jim Emerson, the Country Director for Plan Haiti,

"Disasters have a way of uniting people across geographies and cultures, and often bring out the best in humankind. In the days following January 12, 2010, the whole world embraced Haiti with an outpouring of support... [Plan is working] with the people of Haiti to build a country that promises a better future for its children, one in which they can reach their full potential and where their rights and dignity are respected."

Click here to read Plan's Haiti Report 12 months after the disaster.

Child Marriage Bill Fails in the House

Last week, the Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act failed in the House of Representatives. Given that the bill was supported by both Democrats and Republicans- and had passed unanimously in the Senate- the result was a disappointing surprise.



A 15-year old girl gets married in Pakistan.
Many from the poorest families are married
even younger.

If passed, the bill would have authorized the president to provide assistance to prevent child marriage in developing countries. It would have mandated that Obama's administration develop a multi-year strategy to prevent child marriage, and integrated child marriage prevention programs in current development work. Additionally, forced marriage would have been included in the State Department's annual evaluation of countries' human rights practices.

What happened?

Prior to the vote, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen sent a memo to the Republican Party whip objecting to the cost of the bill. Instead, she introduced her own version of the bill which she indicated would cost only $1 million. However, the bill fails to include procedures for implementing the legislation which critics claim would significantly limit its impact. (To read Representative Ros-Lehtinen's "Dear Colleague" letter, click here).

After this letter went out, hours before the original bill was voted on, an additional alert was sent to Republican representatives urging them to vote against the bill, stating that the bill may support funding for abortions. However, the bill did not contain any funding for abortions and federal funding for abortions is prohibited by law. After these two letters went out, many Senators rescinded their support of the bill.
 

Said an enraged Senator Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip who introduced the Child Marriage Bill,
"The action on the House floor stopping the Child Marriage bill tonight will endanger the lives of millions of women and girls around the world... Those who voted to continue this barbaric practice brought shame to Capitol Hill."

What’s next?
While the bill failed this Congress, the efforts brought support from around the globe from individuals and organizations who remain committed to addressing child marriage. (Read this article by Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu, or this article about child marriage in Zambia.)

Plan remains committed to this issue and protecting the rights of girls and boys. Child marriage is a violation of children's basic rights to a safe childhood, education, good health, and the ability to make decisions about their own lives. Feel free to comment below about your reactions, and how you'd like to take action on the issue.

 

Move to Stop AIDS Dance-a-Thon a Success!

Youth from around the state danced the night away at Plan USA's 5th annual Move to Stop AIDS Dance-a-Thon!

We were thrilled to raise $5,500 for Plan's HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe, thanks to the hard work of YUGA youth, raffle prize money, and a generous donor who agreed to match everything raised at the Dance-a-Thon!

Check out pictures pictures from the Dance-a-Thon taken by YUGA member Rachel from Cranston East High School. Thanks to everyone who came out to a great night!



Two bands from Cranston East High School performed a song for the Dance-a-Thon.



Everyone at the Dance-a-Thon enjoyed music from DJ Tatu!

The finished pieces! Dance-a-Thon attendees helped paint four canvases to
reflect their feelings about AIDS in different communities of the world.

Mayor Cicilline came to our Dance-a-Thon! He had great things to say about YUGA, and was excited to receive a plaque of thanks from YUGA members.

Pictured above: Clare, Arisa, Livia, Angie, and Carissa.

Representatives from Edesia hosted a table at the Dance-a-Thon. Edesia is a global nonprofit that treats malnutrition and extreme hunger, located right here in Providence! To learn more, visit http://www.edesiaglobal.com/.



Dancers from PAIS performed a traditional bellydance!



PAIS dancers perform a dance they choreographed themselves!



Above, Linda and Daniel- mother and son- do a capoeira demonstration.



Emily and AliceMae had a great time at the Dance-a-Thon!



To host a Dance-a-Thon at your school or community center, contact yuga@planusa.org!

Landmark Legislation to Prevent Child Marriage is On the Move!

On December 1^st, the US Senate unanimously passed the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act- a bill to protect girls in developing countries from early marriages. Girls as young as twelve can be married in many countries, which puts them at a great disadvantage for their health, education, and well-being.

“Tens of millions of women and girls around the world have lost their dignity, independence and lives due to child marriage,” said Senator Durbin, who first introduced the bill. “Child marriage denies these women and girls of an education, economic independence and is the root cause of many of the world’s most pressing development issues – HIV/AIDS, child mortality, and abject poverty. This bill is a powerful statement of our priorities as a nation and something that will change the lives of millions in some of the world’s forgotten places.”

The legislation will require the U.S. government to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent child marriage, with the goal of eliminating the practice worldwide. The bill also seeks to promote the educational, health, economic, social, and legal empowerment of women and girls, and ensure that child marriage is globally recognized as a human rights violation.

UNICEF estimates that 60 million girls in developing countries now aged 20-24 were married before the age of 18. If current trends continue, this number will increase by 100 million over the next decade. This past summer, YUGA members learned about child marriage at YUGA Leadership Camp and several YUGA youth delivered 11,500 letters signed by our supporters to Congress. Now that the bill is on the brink of becoming law, we need even more support to ensure that it gets passed!

Urge your Representatives to approve the legislation. Send pictures, make a phone call, or find other creative ways to let your Representatives know that the bill should be passed. Make sure that everyone you know understands the importance of this bill, and that they should urge their Representatives to pass the bill, too! To find out who your state’s representative is, visit https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

Click here for more information about Plan’s work and the Preventing Child Marriage Act.

You may also want to read an Op-Ed in the Washington Post from Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, about child marriage.

What in the World are YOU doing on World AIDS Day?

written by Katie Appel, DC Intern

On this December 1^st, youth all over the world will unite to show support for the global battle against HIV/AIDS. The World AIDS Campaign’s website hosts an international calendar of World AIDS Day (WAD) events, and here is a sampling of ways young people across the globe will be acting out against AIDS:

• Members of the South Asia Regional Youth Network will change 10,000 Facebook profiles to support WAD 2010 in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iran.
• In Nairobi, Kenya, youth volunteers who teach HIV/AIDS prevention through the performing arts will host a Youth Seminar for other teens.
• Students in Bangkok will sell baked goods and merchandise and the profits will benefit a local home for disabled HIV positive children.
• In Mexico City, university students will gather to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS transmission and testing.
• Students in Canada will present the “Viral Monologues,” stories performed by youth and written by those infected with HIV/AIDS.
• Lastly, students in Providence, RI will host the YUGA Move to Stop AIDS Dance-a-thon!

So now that you know a little about what youth all over the world are doing on World AIDS Day, what will you do? Hang a poster in your school or community to spread awareness. Announce World AIDS Day through your personal social networking sites. Research how the spread of HIV/AIDS has impacted the population of one specific country. Sign up to volunteer at a local HIV/AIDS clinic or resource center. Make and pass out red ribbons to family and friends. Attend a local World AIDS Day event. Check out a documentary on HIV/AIDS from your local video store. Wear red! And don’t forget to get your friends involved because the more people that speak out against HIV/AIDS, the louder the voice will be!

Hopefully with worldwide participation and cooperation, we will one day see the end of this terrible epidemic. Until then, thank you for participating in World AIDS Day 2010, and for everything else you do to raise awareness for global issues the other 364 days of the year!

To check out the World AIDS Campaign’s international calendar visit: http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/World-AIDS-Day/WAD-2010-Events-Calendar

To find an HIV/AIDS documentary title, visit http://www.planusa.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/86637#AIDS

To learn more about the YUGA Move to Stop AIDS Dance-a-thon visit: http://www.planusa.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/255078