Children
Blog Post: Posted August 5, 2010, 5:01 am by Lila Wade
“Lemon Aid" for Mercy Corps
Country: United States
Topics: Citizen Involvement, Children
The three young philanthropic entrepreneurs who are raising "Lemon Aid" to help Mercy Corps efforts around the world. Photo: Lila Wade/Mercy Corps
The sound of young voices calling “lemonade for sale,” is frequent on my summertime bike rides home from work. Yesterday, I was surprised to hear “lemonade for sale, benefit for Mercy Corps.”
I stopped, less thirsty than curious to find out how these kids from my neighborhood knew about Mercy Corps. Well, they explained — after pouring me a brimming paper cupful — they’re raising £90 for Mercy Corps, and the money will be due in August. So far, they’ve earned £60 from their stand, as well as a circus they put on for their neighbors.
These philanthropic self-starters — Ella, Connor, and Vincent — went into business this summer after one of their mothers received an email invitation to participate in Mercy Corps' MPower programme. She told me, “I was going to send requests to family members and friends, but then I got to thinking, why not get our neighbors involved as well?”
Also, by reaching out locally, she could lean on her team of willing helpers, giving them a great opportunity to be community activists. On their poster —written in marker — Ella, Connor, and Vincent, inscribed, “Be the Change,” a slogan they already understand better than most.
After chatting for a while, I left feeling incredibly refreshed, not just from the beverage, but also about Mercy Corps’ prospects for the future.
Blog Post: Posted August 4, 2010, 7:49 am by Usniaty Umayah
Vote now to help bring healthier food to children!
Over the past several months, we've posted many articles about our Kedai Balitaku (My Child's Café) programme to help bring healthy food to Indonesia children. You may have read about it — and now's your chance to help us do more with the programme!
Five-year-old Wulan, eating a natural orange fruit bar, is of of thousands of children that our Kedai Balitaku (My Child's Café) programme is helping. Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
From now through Wednesday, August 11, you can vote for Kedai Balitaku in the Changemakers Business for Social Change competition. Your vote will get us closer to winning a £3,000 grant that will go toward improving our work.
We're proud to be one of only 12 finalists in the competition, chosen from 448 entries from 78 countries!
As one of the managers for this healthy food initiative, I submitted our programme to the competition in order to share our experience with organisations, people and countries that face the same problems in preventing malnutrition and fighting poverty. I think this is a good chance for others to learn from us, as well as for us to get feedback and find resources that will help us do even more for the children of Indonesia.
My vision is to provide more access to healthy food for children under five in some of Indonesia's biggest cities, as well as help create economic opportunities for entrepreneurs in poor urban neighborhoods. This project can truly have a positive impact on not just families, but entire communities.
If I won this competition, the money will be used for establishing new food carts as small businesses to sell healthy food, as well as managing and scaling up the overall programme so that it moves closer to becoming a self-sustaining enterprise.
All we need is your vote! Please head over to the Changemakers website and give us your support. Thank you for your time, and we'll keep reporting on our progress in helping bring both healthy food and economic opportunity to Indonesia's cities!
Blog Post: Posted July 29, 2010, 10:50 pm by Piva Bell
"Is it healthy food or not?"
Country: Indonesia
Noni, one of the teachers at the Aisyiyah Suka Ramai Kindergarten in Aceh, shows what a healthy lunch looks like. Photo: Piva Bell/Mercy Corps
“Why, lately, has my child been commenting on the food that I cook, asking if is it healthy food or not?” was a mother's question. Yulaita, the principal of Aisyiyah Suka Ramai Kindergarten in Aceh recalls hearing the question — she's also been hearing similar question from her child. In fact, it seems like — recently — the students of that kindergarten have become really aware on what kind of food their mothers cook for them.
This kindergarten is one of nine kindergartens in Aceh that are are the focus of Mercy Corps' children's nutrition training, part of the Kedai Balitaku (KeBal) programme, which means "My Child's Café" in Indonesian. And since the KeBal team has put lots of hard work to encourage children five and under eat healthy food and mothers to cook healthy food, my smile just gets wider, knowing that local parents have come to teachers and asked questions because their children are advising them about healthy food.
The teachers didn't ignore those questions. Yulaita and other teachers gladly informed them about the nutrition training held by the KeBal programme at their school, and even transferred their knowledge about healthy food to these parents. For Yulaita, who has been teaching in various kindergartens since 1980, this nutrition training programme with KeBal is really special and she is very enthusiastic, since she never had this kind of experience before. The good news is that the parents really support Yulaita, the school principal, to keep maintaining the school's collaboration with KeBal in conducting the nutrition training. And because of it, the parents are encouraged to cook healthy food and send healthy lunches to school for their children.
Children at the Aisyiyah Suka Ramai Kindergarten learn about better nutrition through storytelling. Photo: Piva Bell/Mercy Corps
Nona, one of the teachers who is helping Mercy Corps monitor the eating behaviour of Aisyiyah Suka Ramai's students told me that, besides the games, the children really like the story telling session of the training. They talked about it a lot.
Without asking, these children have also taught the new students about healthy food, and encouraged their new friends to eat healthy food like them. This has made Yulaita really happy, and she hopes that in the future Mercy Corps will maintain the collaboration with her kindergarten.
Since the programme began ten months ago, Mercy Corps' KeBal programme in Aceh has reached 1,023 kindergarten students and 688 adults, as well as promoting healthy food to other 1,420 children. Counting nutrition trainings and customers reached by KeBal's food cart operators, we've served a total of 7,318 people. I am sure that with KeBal, more children and parents in Aceh will continue caring more about eating healthy food.
Blog Post: Posted July 22, 2010, 7:34 pm by Sandra Castañed...
Chile's first Comfort for Kids programs hold closing ceremony
Country: Chile
Children and family gather for the closing ceremony of the first group of Comfort for Kids programmes in Penco. Photo: courtesy of EPES
On a chilly winter day in the community of Penco, we held the closing ceremony for the Comfort for Kids programme, implemented by the Educacion Popular en Salud (or EPES) Foundation with the support of Mercy Corps. Approximately 150 of the 200 children that participated in the programme in this community (there are more than 1,000 children participating in the entire programme) showed up for the celebration accompanied, for the most part, by a significant adult — mother, father, grandfather, grandmother or aunt.
Local authorities in attendance included representatives from the mayor´s office, the Talcahuano Health Service and The Lirquén Hospital Local Development Council, as well as a Senator and Council Representative of the community. The ceremony was covered by journalists from the local government as well as the Talcahuano Health Service.
During the ceremony, the coordinator of the Penco Department of Health and the community Senator offered a few words, and two children shared their experience of participating in the Comfort for Kids workshops.
Posters made by the children that read "After the storm comes the calm, after the rain comes the rainbow." Photo: courtesy of EPES
The Penco school hall was brightened with coloured balloons representing each group of children from the programme — in total, eight groups corresponding to the sectors of Nueva La Greda, Lomas del Conquistador, La Fech, La Ernita, Penco School, Jorge Montt School and Baquedano. Some groups came prepared with banners, thanking EPES for their support, others with drawings alluding to the hope for reconstruction after the disaster.
Each group was represented by one or two children who received, on behalf of the whole group, the diplomas made by EPES and handed out by the Senator and Council Representative and Department of Health. EPES also gave a certificate to and acknowledged the work done by the 13 facilitators who conducted the workshops, who after being voluntarily trained had the time and motivation to work in their communities with the children affected by the earthquake and tsunami. At this time a special atmosphere was created, as each facilitator was named, the children chanted the names of their “tias” or “aunts” as they were affectionately called.
Finally, the ceremony ended with a small celebration where all the children — together with their families and invited guests — enjoyed a delicious cake, juice and soft drinks.
Blog Post: Posted June 29, 2010, 9:54 am by Mirjam Hendrikse
VIDEO: For the Children of Gaza
Country: West Bank/Gaza
Since February 2009, immediately after Operation Cast Lead, Mercy Corps in Gaza has been implementing a comprehensive psychosocial programme funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). The programme provided emergency psychosocial assistance to over 20,000 children, youth, and family members across the Gaza Strip.
During the final months of the programme, the Mercy Corps psychosocial team expressed an eagerness to show a larger public the activities that were being implemented and the impact that these activities were having on (the behaviour of) children and families affected by the Gaza War. At the same time, Maurice Jacobsen, an American independent filmmaker, walked into our Gaza office and asked if we were interested in working together to make sure that stories about people’s life in Gaza were shared with the rest of the world.
Our partnership resulted in a 25-minute video following five children as they participate in our programme and go through the journey of self-discovery and healing.
Here is the 6-minute abbreviated version, posted on our YouTube site:
And here is the 25-minute version, posted on a free video site that contains ads:
The story is told through the eyes of Roba, Soad, Abeer, Monzer and Hala. They are young Gazans, between the ages of 12 and 15, who live with their families in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Using the Comfort for Kids (C4K) workbook as a focal point, the children all share information about their lives with us. While they are telling their story, their homes are visited, their parents or neighbours interviewed, their participation in the psychosocial support sessions shown.
The psychosocial programme ended successfully in March 2010. But the video illustrates the continuous need for our activities. It illustrates the importance of the programme, as well as its impact and effectiveness.
Update from Haiti: A Six-Month Report:
Posted June 28, 2010 by Lisa Hoashi
A Youthful Vision for a New Haiti
Country: Haiti
Fleurismus Valine, 10, who attends the art therapy programme Children’s Place, is just one of the many children we’ve helped through Comfort for Kids. Photo: Nancy Farese for Mercy Corps
Harnessing the energy of young people is instrumental in rebuilding a stronger Haiti. Our youth programmes put that belief into action by addressing young people’s unique psychosocial needs and investing in their development.
Comfort for Kids
Immediately after the earthquake, Mercy Corps began Comfort for Kids trainings for parents, teachers, pediatricians, psychologists, social workers and other childcare professionals. These workshops offer practical ways to help kids heal from the psychological trauma they experienced, so they can go on to lead healthy lives.
The workshops have immediate impact, says Mercy Corps psychologist Murielle Volcy. “Parents tell us, ‘I didn’t know this information. I didn’t know why my child always had a stomachache or bad dreams. Now I know it is stress from the earthquake and that I can help them with their feelings.’”
Mercy Corps will train a total of 3,150 parents and professionals in Comfort for Kids. They, in turn, will help some 63,000 children. Next, Mercy Corps is launching Moving Forward, a programme that will train 50 youth workers and coaches at 25 organisations to use sports and play with 1,500 kids to restore their self- confidence and sense of normalcy.
Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids and Moving Forward to help children recover from many other disasters, including September 11 (2001), Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005), as well as earthquakes in Peru (2007), China (2008) and Chile (2010).
Re-imagining Haiti
Even before January 12, Haiti struggled with a weak economy, limited educational opportunities and severe environmental degradation. The destruction caused challenges. But many Haitians agree that if there were ever a time to start over, it’s now.
Mercy Corps is working with Haitian youth to become active participants in what many are calling the “re-imagining of Haiti.” This fall, our youth programme plans to bring together 100 Haitian artists and educators to offer arts workshops to 1,500 youth and cultural events to more than 5,000 young people. Through photography and storytelling, these youth will learn to communicate their personal vision for change. Their artistic self-expression is a powerful
first step to taking ownership of the challenges their communities face.
Mercy Corps is also bringing Cinema Under the Stars (Sinema Anba Zetwal in Creole) to communities across Haiti. Cinema Under the Stars is a series of multimedia street events that use short films, skits and music to share positive, educational messages — including those in our Comfort for Kids programme — with the public. These interactive events will reach 100,000 people over two months, building morale and strengthening their community bonds.
Blog Post: Posted June 25, 2010, 3:37 pm by Mirjam Hendrikse
'I wish I was like the rest of the children in the world'
Country: West Bank/Gaza
Topics: Children, Conflict & War
Roba wants to be an English teacher. Soad a lawyer. Abeer a psychological therapist, and Monzer a doctor. Hala has not yet decided what she wants to do in the future, but for now is determined to achieve the highest scores in school.
Although Roba, Soad, Abeer, Monzer and Hala have very different aspirations for the future, they have many things in common as well. They are young Gazans, between the ages of 12 and 15, and live with their families in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Their daily lives have been profoundly affected by the Israeli military blockade. Through the restrictions on import of basic goods into Gaza, for example. Or the travel restrictions, as people are only able to leave Gaza if they obtain rare medical or religious permission.
Making conditions even more difficult in Gaza, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has over the years lead to many fatalities (including children). A large number of homes and schools was destroyed. Roba, Soad, Abeer, Monzer and Hala have all been exposed to violence and injury. They grew up deprived of the basic requirements needed for life.
And there is something else that Roba, Soad, Abeer, Monzer and Hala have in common. They all participated in Mercy Corps psychosocial programme, attending guided psychosocial sessions over a period of at least six months.
Evaluation results show that the programme played a significant, and overwhelmingly positive, role in the children’s lives. Parents reported that their children demonstrated significantly fewer behavioural problems, and more positive behaviours, at the end of the programme than they did at the beginning. This enabled Roba, Soad, Abeer, Monzer and Hala to focus more on the future again, instead of remembering past events.
Roba wants to travel. She wants to study abroad and become the best English teacher there is. She also wants the border crossings to open “so that all the injured people in Gaza can receive the necessary treatment. I want them to be cured and come back to Gaza feeling happy.”
Abeer was inspired by the psychosocial programme and wants to follow in the footsteps of Mercy Corps staff. “I want to help children so that they can express themselves more easily. I want to help eliminate some of their psychosocial problems. Children should not have any worries on their mind.”
Hala wants the old days to come back, “when all the crossings were still open and people could go wherever they wanted to go. Including me. I want to travel and see beautiful places.”
Monzer is eager to help the people who are injured. “I want to make sure that families are not losing their loved ones. I want to reduce the pain that people feel and see smiles on their faces instead.”
Soad is dreaming of being a lawyer, so she can achieve justice in her society. “We are different from people in other countries, but I wish I was like the rest of the children in the world. I want to see other countries, be free to travel like everybody else.”
If you want to find out more about the lives of Roba, Abeer, Hala, Monzer and Soad, please watch our documentary For the Children of Gaza.
Posted June 24, 2010
H is for Haiti! Mercy Corps Partners with Sesame Workshop to Help Haiti's Children
Country: Haiti
Topics: Children
Mercy Corps has teamed with Sesame Workshop to integrate Elmo, Cookie Monster, and other Sesame Street characters into the emotional recovery work we're doing with children in Haiti.
The partnership brings engaging, educational programming to Haiti's children. Sesame Workshop has dubbed one DVD featuring two Sesame Home Videos into Creole, and produced three short original films shot in Haiti specific to the country’s post-earthquake challenges.
Mercy Corps will distribute at least 1,000 DVDs of this programming to schools, orphanages and other child-friendly facilities in the country.
The Sesame Street films provide entertainment and learning opportunities for children, and stress the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, teamwork, and play.
- Cinderelmo, starring Keri Russell, Kathy Najimy and Oliver Platt, follows the trials and tribulations of Elmo as he escapes from his evil stepmother and seeks true love with a princess.
- Happy Healthy Monsters features Wyclef Jean, India Arie, other celebrities and a host of Muppets promoting healthy, active lifestyles.
Accompanying the DVD releases are three live action films created by Sesame Workshop and the filmmaker Linda Costigan after the earthquake. The films, built around original footage shot in Haiti in partnership with a local production team, promote cooperation, self-esteem, creativity and hope.
- “Helping Hands” features children helping each other and adults in such activities as preparing food and pitching a tent
- “I Am Haiti” reinforces the message that children will be key to Haiti’s recovery
“Recycled Car” uses a metaphor of two young boys building a toy car to suggest that Haitians will build their country anew.
Blog Post: Posted June 18, 2010, 1:09 pm by Phil Ottum
From our photo library
Country: Central African Republic
Topics: Children
Photo: Jenny Bussey Vaughan/Mercy Corps
A couple of years ago, someone mentioned that I should look at the photography of Mercy Corps staffer, Jenny Bussey Vaughan. At the time she was working in Central African Republic. The disc of images I received was filled with excellent work.
Since then we’ve used her photographs in a variety of ways (two are included in the permanent collection here at headquarters). She mixes beautiful portraiture with evocative detail shots. Jenny’s sense of the moment and use of light is consistently strong.
This photograph feels like her take on Grant Wood’s "American Gothic" from half a world away. The resolute grip this boy has on his simple bent rake draws me into the frame.
Blog Post: Posted June 12, 2010, 9:03 am by Lisa Hoashi
Rooting for Messi!
Country: Haiti
Benoit Samuel, 9, is rooting for Lionel Messi – his favorite football player – who’s playing today for Argentina in the World Cup. Haiti doesn't have a team in the Cup, but that doesn't mean that Haitians across the country aren't watching their favorite teams: Argentina and Brazil.
Photo: Nancy Farese for Mercy Corps
From here in the States, I’m rooting for Benoit. He’s just one of some 900 kids who attend Children’s Place (Plas Timoun), an arts therapy programme for children initiated shortly after the earthquake by First Lady of Haiti Elizabeth Préval. At Children’s Place, children get a chance to learn, play, and start the healing process in a supportive atmosphere.
Approximately half of the kids at Children's Place are currently living in camps and not able to attend school. Haitian artists, led by internationally renowned artist Philippe Dodard, work with the children on a variety of art therapy projects, such as pottery, dancing, singing and drawing. Mercy Corps has trained these artists, and continues to train the children’s parents, in our Comfort for Kids methodology, which gives them the tools to address children’s special mental and emotional needs post-earthquake.
Benoit has been attending the arts programme for about two months, coming here after school. He was lucky to survive the earthquake. “When the earthquake happened,” he said, “I was at home alone, studying. My parents were at work. I went outside because the house was shaking.”
Benoit’s favorite thing to do at Children’s Place, obviously, is playing sports, especially football. And the activities are helping him. “Here I talk to the other kids about the earthquake,” he says. “I feel better to be with the other kids.”
I’ll be cheering for Benoit today—and his favorite football player.
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