Impacts on Early Emotional Development

UNICEF is the largest global organization working especially for children in providing long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children in war-torn and developing countries (UNICEF, 2011). An earlier course requirement to subscribe to an international web site in and investigate child well-being has led me to continue receiving updates through the UNICEF website for the regions of Eastern and Southern Africa.

            An August 2014 UNICEF press release asserts the impact of disease, malnutrition and the weather as threats to the well-being of refugees fleeing from fighting in the town of Bentui, where an United Nations base serves as a Protection of Civilians camp (UNICEF, 2011). In March, an estimated 38,000 people fled to the refugee camp joining the 7000 people already there. The number of people outweigh the camps ability to provide clean safe water. Children were weak and malnourished after days in the bush with little or no food. With sparse resources, clean water and sanitation facilities the rapid population increase an estimated more than 20 children under 5 years old died every week.

Recent improvements have seen an increase in more clinics being set up, more safe drinking water available, about 10 liters a day has resulted in less deaths but children continue to die from preventable diseases (UNICEF, 2011).  

            Young children today in Eastern and Southern Africa are facing challenges that include work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with their schooling (UNICEF, 2011). The Eastern and Southern Africa region has the highest percentage of children involved in child labour in the world - 36 percent of all children between the ages of five and 14. A June 2013 report detailed the effects of excessive child labor is hindering the health and well-being of children ages 5 to 17. UNICEF defines child labor as work that exceeds a minimum of hours, depending on the child’s age and type of work. Domestic workers are the most exploited and abused due the following; discrimination, exclusion from labor laws, isolation and its hidden nature. The child’s age, lack of awareness of their rights, separation from family, and dependence on the employer are additional risks. (UNICEF, 2011).

            In Ethiopia, being young and pretty is a problem for many girls. They are abducted and forced into early marriages (UNICEF, 2011). “Data makes it clear that child marriage is first and foremost a grave threat to young girls’ lives, heath and future prospects and a breach of girls’ fundamental human rights”, (UNICEF, ,2011 para. 4).  Abduction is a traditional practice in this area and continues due to the expense of prosecution for the families.

            A five year joint program with UNICEF and United Nations Fund for Populations Activities          (UNFPA), and royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) has worked to prevent abduction and marriage of girls (UNICEF, 2011). The focus of the program is to strengthen the support to girls enrolled in schools by using youth clubs to raise awareness of their rights and quickly report any attempts by abductors. Girls who have been victims also speak to others at the youth club to warn them of the signs and they visit homes to ask parents to encourage girls to come to school and not marry them off at a young age (UNICEF, 2011). Providing girls with an education helps break the cycle of poverty: educated women are less likely to marry early and against their will; less likely to die in childbirth; more likely to have healthy babies; and are more likely to send their children to school (Girls' education and gender equality, 2014, para. 2).

            Challenges that deprive children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity are occurring daily in all parts of the world (UNICEF, 2011). Living without clean water, adequate sanitation, healthcare and suffering from food insecurity are challenges that affect children’s healthy development and learning (Smidt, 2006). Early experiences shape children’s social/emotional development. Negative experiences results in impaired development and affect the child’s future outcomes (Trustees of Columbia University, 2010)

            Understanding and responding to child-well-being is a global responsibility for all early childhood educators. Ensuring that all children have access to a quality education based on human rights and gender equity, creates opportunities that influences future generations (Quality of education and child-friendly schooling, 2012).

References:

Girls' education and gender equality. (2014, July 15). Retrieved from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/education/bege_70640.html

Quality of education and child-friendly schooling. (2012, August). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/education/bege_61667.html UNICEF (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry

Smidt, S. (2006). The developing child in the 21st century: A global perspective on child development. New York, NY: Routledge.

Trustees of Columbia University, The. (2010). National Center Center for Children Children in Poverty (NCCP). Retrieved from: http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_882.html

UNICEF (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/