The Girl Effect...Break the Cycle of Poverty

The Girl Effect, n.: the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate.




The Girl Effect is a campaign launched to break the cycle of poverty. Research has shown that girls have the greatest potential to be change agents in their communities. The goal is to end poverty. Making girls visible in their communities, providing them education, stays health and HIV free, a choice of when they marry, and then she can change the standard of living for her family, community, and country. Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book Half the Sky, shows through statistical evident and personal accounts that the Girl Effect is possible, investing in women within a community can eradicate poverty.


The Girl Effect is an initiative of the Nike Foundation. Here's how you can get involved send a girl to school, or help her fight a legal case, or give her a microloan, visit www.globalgiving.com/girleffect to get started. Or just spread the word, the more people know the greater their ability to be a change agent. Read the Girls Count: A Global Investment & Action Agenda http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/15154
for more information.

The Girl Effect Can't Happen Without YOU

  

For more on The Girl Effect visit http://www.thegirleffect.org/.

CHILDLINE...Connecting Children to the Help They Deserve

There is help for all children; the journey begins with one step. CHILDLINE is India’s first 24 hour, free emergency phone outreach service for children in need of care and protection. Children throughout India can call 1098, day or night and receive assistance and relief from abuse and violence, trafficking, child labor, drug abuse, child marriage, and missing children. CHILDLINE also protects street children from abuse and mistreatment.

When a call is placed the child will receive immediate crisis intervention to include emotional support and guidance as well as referral services. After the emergency is address CHILDLINE explores options with the child to study, learn a trade, go back home etc. Based on the decision of the child, CHILDLINE links the child to an appropriate organization in the city.

As of December 2009, CHILDLINE has received 17 million calls from children across the country, in its twelve years of existence. The Government of India has presented CHILDLINE as its response to the Child Rights Convention.

CHILDLINE has assisted children in taking action against violators through the legal system and has taken a case to the Supreme Court. See case studies on the work CHILDLINE has done to end cruelty to children http://www.childlineindia.org.in/1098/research-studies.htm.

There are various ways you can assist CHILDLINE in its effort to help all children in India. Make a donation and spreading the word, http://www.childlineindia.org.in/1098/donations.htm.

The UK has a program similar to CHILDLINE sponsored by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, called ChildLine. This service provides a line for children to call (0800 1111) for assistance and a line for adults to call if they are concerned about the well being of a child 0808 800 5000.

The NSPCC's vision is to end cruelty to children in the UK. They too, campaign to change the law, provide ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline, offer advice for adults, and much more. If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation visit http://www.nspcc.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-your-time/volunteer-your-time-hub_wdh72793.html.

Take a step to help the children in your community and abroad.

Three Cups of Tea

I recently finished the book Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, a heroic story of Greg Mortenson’s journey to improve social conditions in rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, through the gift of education. Tom Brokaw describes it as, “one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.”

 

His story was inspirational and intriguing as he came upon many challenges and obstacles to accomplish his goals. There are many things to learn from Mortenson’s successes and failures, three which really hit home for me were 1. Never give up, 2. Learn what the people need, not what you think is best for them and 3. Immerse yourself in the culture, i.e. learn the language and customs it will open doors and increase your impact. Mortenson’s first school, the Korphe School (left) was completed in 1996.

Mortenson’s nonprofit organization the Central Asia Institute (CAI) continues to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. To make a tax deductible donation visit CAI website http://www.ikat.org./ Or if you want to get involved the organization promotes Pennies for Peace (P4P), which is ideal for mentors, families and teachers to introduce children to cross cultural experiences and all them to see the impact they can have on others. P4P educates children about the world and how they can make an impact, one penny at a time http://www.penniesforpeace.org/.