Updates from the field

Updates written by children involved in Plan programmes around the world.

Bangladesh: Children of the Khamar Para Union under Dinajpur District of Bangladesh tell us how they are working hard to stop child marriages in their area.
Benin: A group of children from Péhunco in northern Benin, with the help of Plan and their community leaders, have formed a Youth Media Club and their aim is to discuss with adults issues promoting their rights as children.
Bolivia: In Bolivia an early learning project that involves learning through play is improving the quality of life for children.
Brazil: Children and teenagers from the city of São Luís in northeast Brazil share their opinions and feelings on the serious effects of pollution and environmental destruction which has caused damage to all of them and to mankind in general.
Cambodia: Children from Ponhea Kraek, one of the areas where Plan Cambodia is working, tell us of their concerns about sanitation.
Cameroon: Plan Cameroon together with the government and other partners have started a project called ‘Rights of the Child’. This is to create awareness among parents on the need for birth registration.
China: Members of a Children's Club from Luozhen, Xixiang, which was established and is supported by Plan, talk about the Wenchuan earthquake on 12th May 2008. One year later they still cannot forget its terrible impact.
Colombia: In Colombia Plan is helping children to work together and with local government institutions and organisations to identify their needs and to seek solutions to problems and achieve their rights.
Dominican Republic: Greetings from the Dominican Republic! We, the young people of Azua, would like to share our experience of a Youth Business Education Programme called “Build Your Dreams” ....
Egypt: A group of children and adults from El-Beheira, a governorate in the northern part of Egypt where Plan is working, write about a problem that affects their daily lives - violence in schools.
El Salvador: Children from El Salvador write about the serious effects of violence and delinquency in their country and how one brave woman police officer is overcoming discrimination to give them strength and hope for the future.
Ethiopia: Children and adults from Addis Ababa discuss the impact that unclean drinking water has on health, how poverty is a contributing factor since they cannot afford individual tap water connections at home. They are keen to participate in Plan pprogrammes because "...we want to live a better and healthy life and fully realise our potentials".
Ghana: Greeting from Ghana! We are a group of children from Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana and we would like to share with you the story of how our mother’s can now contribute in decision-making and own property.
Guatemala: In the past decade, the enrollment rate for children in Gutemalan primary schools reached 96.3%, but drop-out rates remain very high. For eight years, Plan Guatemala has implemented the New United School (NEU) to improve the quality of education for children in rural areas...
Indonesia: Children from the villages of Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia tell of their involvement in improving the environmental health of the villages through what they called a “Community Led Total Sanitation” programme.
Kenya: Children from Kaarani, Mutuguni, and Muthsya primary schools from the Eastern Province of Kenya would like to take you through their journey of hope, starting with their good foundations in education, their green schools, and their new fascination…Information & Communications Technology (ICT).
Laos: Children from the PhaOudom district of Bokeo Province, Laos say that because Plan is working in their area they have, for the first time, been given an opportunity to discuss important issues with children from different villages in their area. They share their views on issues related to education, particularly the problem of school “drop-outs”.
Liberia: Children living in the Lofa area of Liberia share their experiences and ideas on education including problems such as poor school facilities, unqualified teachers, lack of basic textbooks and compulsory early marriages for girls all of which have contributed to the low standard of living in the area.
Malawi: Some years back, with the support of Plan, a group of children and young people from Lilongwe and Kasungu started a radio project which allowed children across Malawi to participate in presenting programmes, contributing to discussions, and writing letters. Here they tell us how they formed a “listeners club” which meets regularly to discuss the topics aired…
Mali: Members of the Plan Kati Children’s Club in a Malian village called Sanambélé share their experiences of promoting the enrolment of more girls in school.
Mozambique: Children and youth, supported by some adults in Jangamo district and members of the “Disaster Risk Reduction” Group, tell how they are playing a role contributing to soften natural disasters their area face.
Nepal: Children from the Morang district of Nepal describe their reactions to a workshop on health and sanitation in their area which was organised by Plan to tackle the problem of open defecation.
Nicaragua: Children and adolescents of Llano Norte in Northern Nicaragua describe how they are rebuilding their lives after the devastation caused by a hurricane.
Niger: Niger is experiencing grave economic difficulties which have adversely affected children, especially in rural areas. Children, parents, opinion leaders and community elders are being taught that education is a vital weapon in the campaign against poverty and migration.
Pakistan: Boys and girls from Pakistan discuss the issues of climate change, global warming and its impact on their local environment and share their experiences of a project, “Clean and Healthy Environment through Greenbelts” which is implemented by a local farmers’ organisation which is supported by Plan.
Paraguay: Greetings from Paraguay! ... children from different areas in Paraguarí, one of the departments in which Plan Paraguay works, tell about the opportunity they had to learn, strengthen their leadership in a positive way and share with other children.
PERU update 2010: Children and adolescents in the Child Media project invite you to have a look at their work - No Apto para Adultos – (For children only or Not Suitable for Adults) is a magazine “by children for children” which is broadcast on television and the Internet, offering children and adolescents an informed vision of the world and the society they live in, so they can understand what happens around them.
Philippines: Children of South Leyte in the Philippines, which is prone to mudslides, share their experiences of taking part in a programme to reduce the risks and impact of disasters which ultimately resulted in the transfer of their school to safer ground.
Senegal: Children in Sengal are using theatre, video, photography and other art forms to challenge traditional attitudes to early marriages and as a tool for development generally.
Sri Lanka: Children of the Mayuragama area outline the "Enhance Children’s Education Programme" which tackles the various reasons why many children in Sri Lanka miss out on school - reasons such as financial difficulties, a lack of understanding about the importance of children's education, social background and the non-availability of a birth certificate.
Sudan (North): Warm greetings from, the children in Kassala Rural area! We would like to share with you our thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions regarding the issue of violence in our schools that affects our lives and future.
Tanzania: Children in Kalangalala in northern Tanzania are promoting child rights and opposing child labour. They tell of the children working in the mining industry, as house-helps, and as street vendors.
Thailand: Children from the Maefaluang area of Thailand, one of many areas where Plan Thailand works, write about how, with support from Plan and the local government, the people from ethnic minority groups who were often left behind are now seen with "happy faces with hope for a brighter life opportunity".
Togo: Children from Elavagnon, a village east of Est-Mono in Togo, tell how, with the help of Plan, they are eradicating water borne diseases in their area.
Uganda: Greetings from Uganda! We, the children and adults from Tororo area, would like to tell you about our challenges; the roles we play; and the support we have received so far, regarding the important issue of child abuse. We would also like you to know that we are working hard to have a world where all children are safe and our rights are respected.
Vietnam: Children involved in Plan's programmes in Vietnam discuss the difficulties they face in accessing education and birth registation.
Zambia: Children of the Chadiza district in the Eastern Province of Zambia would like to tell you about their Children's Tribunal and Parliament. Although most people in their area are poor, and some children are not properly looked after, they are working with Plan to turn things around.
Zimbabwe: Greetings from Mutoko in Zimbabwe! As a group of children, we would like to tell you how we have worked with our parents, Plan, the Justice for Children Trust, and government departments, to keep many of us in school and to bring our friends back (especially girls) who have ‘dropped-out’ of school.

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Updates from the field