Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

     In week one, Dr. Longo provided us with Blog Resources to pursue our International contacts.  After several efforts to make contact via e-mail, no one was responding to me but I did not give up hope.  Finally, I received an e-mail from Tamalin Harper from South Africa who said she would be willing to be my international contact.  She is employed by the National Early Childhood Development Alliance of South Africa.  I did not send the e-mail to her but the director, Mr. Eric Atmore who in turn gave her the assignment of corresponding with me. 

     Ms. Harper attached a journal article written by their team to the e-mail.  The article is entitled, “Challenges Facing the Early Childhood Development Sector in South Africa” authored by Eric Atmore, Lauren-Jayne Niekerk & Michaela Ashley-Cooper on 15 June 2012.  The name of the journal was not included in the e-mail but I have been trying to locate it through Walden University Library and staff. 

     On the issue of poverty, the article says, “more than half of South Africa’s children live in severe poverty, which jeopardizes the realization of their rights as contained in the South African Constitution”   (Du Plessis, 2007). Additionally, another author states “children living in poverty are extremely vulnerable, discriminated against, and isolated.” Furthermore, Atmore says, “monetary poverty is closely connected to poor health and well-being, as well as to limited access to education, nutrition, healthcare services and safe environments” (Atmore, 15 June 2012). Through the support of the government, financial support is provided for poverty stricken families through social assistance programs.  This grant, Child Support Grant, is the largest child poverty alleviation program in South Africa and contributes towards food, education as well as basic goods and services for millions of children across the country (South African Child Gauge, 2010).

     From this article, I realize that poverty is a very serious issue for the world.  Early childhood educators, should be perplexed by the complexity of poverty.  Poverty affects so many areas of a child and family’s life.  I just began to think about some of the children who I personally know who live in poverty.  For starters, my school duty station is the cafeteria.  I see the children as soon as they exit the bus.  They come to school hungry and uncared for by having dirty faces and dirty uniforms.  As the one of the first adults they see when they come to school, I have learned to do a quick hygiene tactic with them.  I hand out wipes and combs as needed.  I have collected extra hygiene supplies over the years and sometimes, I just have to purchase it.  I then escort them into the cafeteria for breakfast.  With the help of my co-workers, we have made an extras table.  Children are encouraged to take all food items then place the unwanted items on the extras table for children who may want additional items.  I feel as though it is hard enough to concentrate when one has poverty issues at home, so the least we can do is make sure they are well fed to start  the school day. 

References

Atmore, E.,  van Niekerk, L., & Ashley-Cooper, M., (2012). Challenges facing the early childhood development sector in south  africa.

Du Plessis, P. & Conley, L. (2007) ‘Children and Poverty in South Africa: The Right to Social Security’ Educational Research and Review, 2 (4): 49-59.

Statistics South Africa. (2010) General Household Survey 2009. Pretoria: StatsSA.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2009) The State of the World’s Children: Special Edition. New York: Brodock Press.