AACCIOW CHARITY UPDATE SEPT 2014
For the past two-plus decades the Foundation has been contributing to the goal of facilitating balanced development through the design and implementation of education and training programs in China. These programs place a special emphasis on building the capacity of families and especially women and youth living in China's rural areas.
TheFoundation has had the privilege of working with a wide variety of government agencies and academic institutions in China in pursuit of this goal, including national, provincial, and local Poverty Alleviation Bureaus, as well as provincial and local Women's Federations. The Foundation has also collaborated with international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations World Food Programme, and UNICEF in their efforts in China. The support and encouragement of these collaborators has contributed greatly to the development of the Foundation's programs and to their understanding of the process of bringing about balanced development in China.
In 2013 significant progress was made to build institutional capacity in community-based organizations (CBOs) in China which contribute to the moral and intellectual empowerment of junior youth and youth using the Moral Empowerment through Language (METL) Program.
METL aims to strengthen the capabilities of rural junior youth (ages 12 -15) to better serve their communities. It does this while helping them improve their ability to express themselves in English by using English materials. This program recognizes that the ages of 12 – 15 is a special time in a young person’s life when they begin to develop in a new way both mentally and physically. They begin to think about their future and develop lifelong beliefs and habits. The materials used in METL integrate intellectual, social and physical education while helping youth to develop a profound understanding of moral concepts to guide them through life.
We have also in China provided Assistance at the scene of natural disasters,
- Equipping the handicapped to better cope with their limitations,
- Caring for orphans and the aged that would otherwise be neglected,
- Providing medical equipment and supplies to relieve and prevent illness,
- Aiding education so that everyone can be well educated, and
- Generally alleviating sufferings and helping people to help themselves.
Through raising funds from the public, and the opening up of non-governmental channels for assistance, we help to provide orphans with no custody or adoption, homeless children, dropouts, problem juveniles and otherchildren with special difficulties, to disseminate and promote philanthropic concepts and culture through charitable assistance.
FIVE TYPES OF CHILDREN AS TARGETS OF ASSISTANCE
Orphans
Children who lost their parent from various reasons deserve most of our sympathy and concern. Children who have mothers are cherished at home; orphans should be cherished and favored by the big family which is society.
Homeless Children
Homeless children with no definite residence and sufficient food should not appear in our society. We should provide them with a permanent home and guaranteed meals so that they could stop wandering and grow up like other children. It is the responsibility of our society.
Children on the street
For children who are 14 or more but less than 18 years old and have completed the nine-year involuntary curriculum, some could not continue schooling due to various reasons such as poverty, etc. Since they have not reached the age to be employed, they become idlers in society. Society should help them continue their education or obtain vocational skills to become useful.
Problem juvenile
In most cases, problem juvenile commit misconduct either because they were tempted by criminals or sins when they were young and ignorant, or because they acted on an impulse. Our society should provide a good atmosphere, relaxed environment and necessary measures to teach and support them get back on track and live like other youngsters.
Destitute children
With the process of industrialization and urbanization, and movement of the population, many farmers become migrant workers in cities. Their children are left at home or become floaters in cities. Some of them are disadvantaged and their difficulties calls for attention of our society. Society is responsible to help these children by providing for their education, vocational training, physical and mental health.
Five Aspects of Assistance
Survival Assistance: - Establish a home of benevolence with suitable condition for children in difficulty to survive;
Medical Assistance: - Set up channels to provide medical assistance to relieve pain and suffering for children with difficulty;
Psychological Assistance: - Eliminate mental and psychological barriers so that children with difficulty can communicate their emotions
Vocational Assistance: - Provide vocational training so children with difficulties can obtain employment opportunities;
Developmental Assistance: - Provide scholarships to pave the road for children with difficulties to become well trained.
Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft. A child with a cleft has twice the odds of dying before their first birthday. Children with cleft conditions who survive may have difficulty eating, speaking, hearing or breathing properly. In some places, they are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can't afford the surgeries they need to live a productive life.
Every child deserves access to safe, quality surgical care. Every child deserves a future filled with hope.
That's where we come in as the largest volunteer-based children's charity providing free cleft surgeries. Since 1997, through the help of dedicated medical volunteers we have provided 5,000 free surgical procedures for children and young adults. Our work creates a lasting global impact. We provide money to train local medical professionals in developing countries and strengthen healthcare systems so more children in some of the poorest areas in the world can be treated.As one of the most prominent charities for children in the world, we work in many countries to heal children’s hearts and bring hope for a better future. Together, we are saving children’s lives.Thanks to the generosity and spirit of volunteerism shown by our supporters, we heal thousands of children per year.
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In Africa, we continueto assist the elderly in rural areas by enabling them to obtain skills & facilities for their livelihood. The needy rural elderly vary from those staying alone with no relative to those with orphans and grandchildren. Also, we are dedicated to promoting reading and improving literacy in schools, homes and the community across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana through advocacy and outreach plans.Enabling orphaned and deprived children to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their society.
In Nigeria and alsoKenya, providing a happy, secure environment for HIV+ children orphaned as a result of the post election violence of 2008 and AIDS.
We assist children suffering from malnutrition, diseases and lack of education in the Democratic Republic of Congo, central Africa. We are alsoserving the needy of Dodomaand Singida regions in central Tanzania through education and nutrition programs.In theSomaliaprogramswe give education to the Somali children and to provide clean water and basic health care.
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One aspect of a child’s life in South America is that, for many, possessions are few and toys a luxury rarely afforded. Thus a rural child has little concept of “play” as a British child would know it. Therefore the provision of a Toy Library in areas offers a rare opportunity to children. Our library was set up and for many months the Toy Library has been a hit with the children of the surrounding villages and provided a useful learning device for hundreds of children.
The provision of playground facilities, also lacking in many areas, was another task we undertook to provide kids with outdoor activities in many South American Countries.
We have also set up safe houses for families, they are fed, clothed, respected and loved. In return they take on the typical chores expected of family members and attend the local school and play a part in local life and society by having basic security in their lives coming together as a community.
We provide a nutritious daily meal for the poorest local children in a number of areas on most schooldays. Many walk several kilometres to school from the surrounding areas.Schoolssometimesinsist that they wear a uniform but this sometimes means that they cannot afford to eat.