Getting to Know International Contacts

• Share the new insights and information you have gained from these conversations (or the podcast and Harvard website)

                      This week I listened to the Podcast from world forum foundation and the speaker was Delfina Mitchell.  Delfina Mitchell is the Director of the Liberty Children's Home in Belize, Central America.  This home was started in 2005 and is licensed to house 40 children that have been the victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment or neglect   Generally the home serves the children from the ages of birth to 5 years old, but if the child comes in with older siblings, accommodations are made.  Belize is the number one country for child abuse.  One child in particular was described on this podcast; his name was Joe and he been at the home for 9 months.  As a rule, the children are given a healing period to cope with what they went through before being put back to school and regular duties.  Joe came in with his 6 older brothers and sisters and had been the victim of physical abuse and observed his sisters being abused.  Joe shut down from this stress and had not talked for over a year.  Joe had been home schooled and then sent back to public schools.  He was kicked out of the public school after 1 week.  The center started spending time with him and taking him outside to the gardens and working with the horses.  He started to open up and talk and it was then that the center found out that Joe had been physically abused with a whip from his grandmother or other adults.  When he wanted to eat he would have to take his food and hide under his bed so no one would take the food.  After several months, Joe started talking more and everyone at the center would listen because he had never talked before so they were interested in what he was saying.  

  This is a perfect example of a great foundation that is under funded but provides a great place for children to go to.  

            The website I looked at this week was the Global Children's Initiative.  This from the center on the developing child at Harvard University.  This program draws on lessons and data from the US by engagement and leadership development.  There are three area that are focused on:

1. Re-framing the discourse around child health development
2. Supporting innovative, multi disciplinary and research of demonstration projects
3. Building leadership capacity in child development research and policy.  

The Initiative is building a portfolio of activities in 3 domains:

1. Early Childhood Development
2. Child Mental Health
3. Children in Crisis and conflict situations

Contributions for these efforts are from Mother Child Education Foundation.

Smaller countries are using science of data and research to drive their programs for early childhood.  

• Describe in particular the additional information about issues of equity and excellence you acquired from your international sources

I am amazed and inspired by the countries that are working to develop programs for children and their families.  Even with little supplies and money, these countries are providing the best they can for children.  The US has so many resources that we should be doing more for the children here and in other countries.

Reference

http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/world-forum-radio/

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/