Getting to Know Your International Contacts

During this course we have learned that childhood poverty is not just effecting us close to home but all over the world. I know some believe that we can not do much from across the world but there are websites and resources that provide information of these innocent children's struggles. 

According to the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (www.childhoodpoverty.org), an estimated 400 million of the population are between the ages of 0-18. With this estimate about 62 million of these children are under the age of 5 and malnourished. India accounts for 20 percent of the worlds out-of-school children.  

Introducing Podcast Participant:

Delfena Mitchell is the director of a children's home called Liberty Children's Home on the outskirts of Belize City. The children that she houses have come to her because they have either been physically or sexually abused. Something she explained that caught my attention was when she stated when a child comes into her care she allows them time to heal. This time is not to keep them from the other children but just the chance to feel comfortable. Children shut down in ways that help them cope all alone once they have been abused. She spoke about a 9 year old boy who was physically abused and observed abuse. Due to this trauma the child had not spoken for over a year. Any educator who takes the time to show children that it is okay to become comfortable and trust them. It takes a strong mindset to open your heart to children in need and I believe Delfena is doing an amazing job. 

What have I learned:

Listening to different podcast and professionals from different parts of the world who have a passion working with children, I have learned the welfare of a child runs much deeper than providing food, shelter, and water. Putting your own personal biases and feelings to the side to help a child over come traumas only makes us more in demand as educators. As an educator I have learned from the podcast that every action a child may see me do can be uninterrupted the wrong way and be expressed inappropriately. I have learned the importance of learning how to express certain topics to children on a level they will understand. 

What will I take away from this:

I am an educator and I know that I must not over look how important my role in the children I come encounter with is. Children look up to me and it is my duty to make sure that they example I am setting will help to lead them to a better understanding of themselves. Children are like molding clay, the building blocks that you set for them to start forming will bee the start of their self reform.