The reflections of a recent visit to Zambia, where UNICEF and the partners improve the lives of children through impactful programs.
Key Club Volunteer, Aspen Hess, lends a helping hand during a stimulation class for children under 2 years of age and their caregivers for early childhood Kasunbanya, Zambia, Zambia, as Cristina Shapiro observe, the second row, second on the right and her colleagues from Unicef ​​USA.
At USAF USA, our mission is to rally the American people to support children everywhere. We have results to prove that when we invest in them, we build a safer, stronger and more prosperous world.
Even with The funding crisis has an impact on children nowMy recent trip to Zambia Visiting UNICEF programs has reinforced my conviction that it is possible to fold the curve, to radically improve the results for children in the world and the most vulnerable children in particular.
On the various sites of the program, I observed three strategic priorities of UNICEF at stake – of common wires which are part of the DNA of UNICEF. They are:
Partnership: By associating governments at all levels, local NGOs and community leaders, UNICEF is able to reach from afar while guaranteeing localized solutions with community membership.
Provision of integrated services: The solutions that combine health, education, nutrition and social protection at the main points of service are more effective – but require flexible funding.
Community: A significant impact occurs when the members of the community present each other for each other and take advantage of the formation of UNICEF to set up proven solutions.
Here are some examples of these three principles in action.
Fight against malnutrition
The Nutrition Program on a MANUGUA scale is an initiative led by the UNICEF government which addresses the growth problem, which affects 35% of Zambian children, by increasing Malnutrition preventionIdentification and treatment.
The implementation is located and executed with the help of qualified community volunteers to generate improved health and nutrition results. Volunteers, who are almost all women, serve as nutritional promoters, family teachers how to find, cook and preserve local food in Haute Nutriation.
Everyone is assigned to 10 other households in their rural community. All have the possibility of participating in a regrouped savings and loans program which help families under difficult conditions.
In Zambia, an “catch -up” education program supported by UNICEF and partners helps fight poverty learning among third, fourth and fifth year students. Above, the class is in session in Tundua primary school, outside Lusaka.
At Tunuya primary school, outside Lusaka, we have seen how a catch -up program – developed by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education with the motto “Forward Ever, Backwarwwobers Never” – provides third, fourth and fifth year with repair instructions to combat the radiation of poverty of Zambia, Can’t read a full sentence.
Students participating in catching up courses show learning improvements after only a month. Based on these results, the program is being expanded nationally and has already been deployed in 60% of Zambian schools.
Support the development of early childhood
At Kasunbanya Early childhood development (ECD) Hub, or Insaka In Bemba, the local language, I had the opportunity to meet Helen, Angela, Belita and Hildah – four incredible volunteers in the stimulation room for children under 2 years of age.
Kasunbanya ECD Hub Volunteers Helen, Angela, Belita and Hildah Visit with Cristina Shapiro and representative of Key Club International.
These inspiring individuals walk an hour in each direction in a difficult and muddy ground to be there for mothers who come with their babies for health checks, nutritional support and early childhood education services, including interactive game sessions that are so critical for the cognitive and emotional development of a child.
The installation of Kasunbanya is a demonstration center created by UNICEF in partnership with the government and local NGOs with funding from Key Club International and other donors. It has been so successful that the World Bank provides the funding necessary to create 200 additional ECD centers like that.
These are only three ways in UNICEF that Zambia helps to fold the curve for children. With financing reductions threatening the majority of the Zambian health budget, humanitarian aid is more than ever necessary to maintain these efforts and continue to make a difference in the life of vulnerable children.
Visitors to UNICEF USA meet UNICEF staff in Zambia to find out more about how UNICEF supports vulnerable children in the country.
