Making it happen in Haiti
Almeta's bright and beautiful smile was a wonderful ending to Joan's trip to Haiti.
Sponsor Joan Huguenard is a columnist for the "Sonoma Valley Sun" in California. The following article has been reprinted with her permission.
A child’s right to love and safety
When I started supporting a poor child in another country a quarter of a century ago through Plan International, I couldn’t know it would lead to a marvelous reunion in 2005.
Plan USA, home of Childreach Sponsorship, has grown in scope and intention in the intervening years. Recently, Plan has tenaciously embraced Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) as its mode of operation. As their literature puts it, “Children are at the heart of everything we do!”
The organization has always focused on helping children around the globe deal with the devastating effects of poverty. However, many years’ experience brought recognition that for their safety and full cultural development, children also need to know they have inalienable rights.
One illustration of the creative methods developed by Plan lies in the Children and Media program. Thousands of youngsters have been trained to use media effectively in promoting their rights.
Some, schooled in journalism, write articles on issues affecting children in their own communities. Others learn to conduct radio programs to speak of their rights as well as their significant contributions. There are classes in photography, video production, internet research, and theater. Trained young people organize teachings, conferences and cultural events for children and adults. For World Youth Day in August, many conducted debates on such topics as “Is violence necessary in the life of a child?” and “What can we do about child trafficking?”
In Western Africa, where few radio programs are designed for children, a series called “I am a child but I have my rights too!” is a giant success. With input from children, professionals offer engaging dramatizations of important, sensitive issues, empowering listeners to make life-protecting choices.
One beneficiary is Mariama. Having been promised in marriage to a much older man, she had to quit school at age 15. Her father insisted she stay home to learn house-wifery. On the day before the wedding day, Mariama turned on her favorite radio show. The featured story: “Daddy, I don’t want to marry now.” Afterwards she was able to say those very words to her own father in a way he could accept.
The Children and Media project is just one of an impressive array of efforts to boost children along on healthy life journeys. Meanwhile the powerfully effective organization continues to accomplish the very basic things I expected when I “adopted” a Plan child in 1979. Working with the wider community, yet mindful of the sponsored child’s particular needs, Plan promotes health care, potable water, adequate latrines, and other components of a simple life. While traveling in El Salvador last June, I was thrilled to discover that Plan is a consistent partner with Seeds of Learning in meeting children’s educational needs.
Plan maintains the sponsor relationship only to the age of 18, so I have supported youngsters from various countries through the years. Last year for the first time, I designated my country of choice.
Seven weeks ago, when I agreed to be a member of a human rights delegation to Haiti, I quickly called 1-800-556-7918 to talk with Donor Relations of Plan USA. Though I was quite consumed with momentous tasks in Haiti, Plan personnel in both the Rhode Island headquarters and the Port-au-Prince country office went way out of their way to welcome me and to assure the opportunity for me to meet my sponsored child, Almeta.
With time running out, I dejectedly announced there would just not be any chance for me to go to my Plan child’s home. Samuel, my English-speaking contact in Port-au-Prince, immediately responded, “Then we’ll bring her to you!”
Early on the day of my departure I exchanged hugs with a beaming 11-year-old Almeta. I can’t begin to describe the thrill of the moment. After sharing breakfast with her, her sister (who had been a Plan sponsored child in her younger years) and an interpreter, I had just enough time to go through a bag of small gifts I had brought and explain how to enjoy a couple of the more complicated activities. It was gratifying to observe Almeta’s concentration and diligence in following directions. I felt she must be a very good student and she admitted she loves school very much.
We reached the bottom of the bag with just enough time left for a couple of snapshots before I dashed off to the airport with a heart fairly bursting with joy and love.
Forty-seven thousand of the poorest of the world’s children are sponsored in Haiti through Plan. Yet 10,000 more are on a waiting list, desperately hoping to begin a relationship with a big-hearted sponsor. If your heart happens to be big enough, you’ll find sponsorship terribly easy. The almost negligible monthly fee is automatically deducted from my bank account. Occasionally I send a short letter. It will be so much more fun to write now that I have seen those bright-shining eyes and dazzling smile.
* * * * *
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A child’s right to love and safety
When I started supporting a poor child in another country a quarter of a century ago through Plan International, I couldn’t know it would lead to a marvelous reunion in 2005.
Plan USA, home of Childreach Sponsorship, has grown in scope and intention in the intervening years. Recently, Plan has tenaciously embraced Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) as its mode of operation. As their literature puts it, “Children are at the heart of everything we do!”
The organization has always focused on helping children around the globe deal with the devastating effects of poverty. However, many years’ experience brought recognition that for their safety and full cultural development, children also need to know they have inalienable rights.
One illustration of the creative methods developed by Plan lies in the Children and Media program. Thousands of youngsters have been trained to use media effectively in promoting their rights.
Some, schooled in journalism, write articles on issues affecting children in their own communities. Others learn to conduct radio programs to speak of their rights as well as their significant contributions. There are classes in photography, video production, internet research, and theater. Trained young people organize teachings, conferences and cultural events for children and adults. For World Youth Day in August, many conducted debates on such topics as “Is violence necessary in the life of a child?” and “What can we do about child trafficking?”
In Western Africa, where few radio programs are designed for children, a series called “I am a child but I have my rights too!” is a giant success. With input from children, professionals offer engaging dramatizations of important, sensitive issues, empowering listeners to make life-protecting choices.
One beneficiary is Mariama. Having been promised in marriage to a much older man, she had to quit school at age 15. Her father insisted she stay home to learn house-wifery. On the day before the wedding day, Mariama turned on her favorite radio show. The featured story: “Daddy, I don’t want to marry now.” Afterwards she was able to say those very words to her own father in a way he could accept.
The Children and Media project is just one of an impressive array of efforts to boost children along on healthy life journeys. Meanwhile the powerfully effective organization continues to accomplish the very basic things I expected when I “adopted” a Plan child in 1979. Working with the wider community, yet mindful of the sponsored child’s particular needs, Plan promotes health care, potable water, adequate latrines, and other components of a simple life. While traveling in El Salvador last June, I was thrilled to discover that Plan is a consistent partner with Seeds of Learning in meeting children’s educational needs.
Plan maintains the sponsor relationship only to the age of 18, so I have supported youngsters from various countries through the years. Last year for the first time, I designated my country of choice.
Seven weeks ago, when I agreed to be a member of a human rights delegation to Haiti, I quickly called 1-800-556-7918 to talk with Donor Relations of Plan USA. Though I was quite consumed with momentous tasks in Haiti, Plan personnel in both the Rhode Island headquarters and the Port-au-Prince country office went way out of their way to welcome me and to assure the opportunity for me to meet my sponsored child, Almeta.
With time running out, I dejectedly announced there would just not be any chance for me to go to my Plan child’s home. Samuel, my English-speaking contact in Port-au-Prince, immediately responded, “Then we’ll bring her to you!”
Early on the day of my departure I exchanged hugs with a beaming 11-year-old Almeta. I can’t begin to describe the thrill of the moment. After sharing breakfast with her, her sister (who had been a Plan sponsored child in her younger years) and an interpreter, I had just enough time to go through a bag of small gifts I had brought and explain how to enjoy a couple of the more complicated activities. It was gratifying to observe Almeta’s concentration and diligence in following directions. I felt she must be a very good student and she admitted she loves school very much.
We reached the bottom of the bag with just enough time left for a couple of snapshots before I dashed off to the airport with a heart fairly bursting with joy and love.
Forty-seven thousand of the poorest of the world’s children are sponsored in Haiti through Plan. Yet 10,000 more are on a waiting list, desperately hoping to begin a relationship with a big-hearted sponsor. If your heart happens to be big enough, you’ll find sponsorship terribly easy. The almost negligible monthly fee is automatically deducted from my bank account. Occasionally I send a short letter. It will be so much more fun to write now that I have seen those bright-shining eyes and dazzling smile.
Sponsor a child today!
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