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.  

National Black Child Development Institute

The organization that I choose to do more research on is:
National Black Child Development Institute:  www.nbcdi.org

This organizations mission is to improve and advance the live of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education. They are built up of volunteers all over the nation who have the same desires and motives in helping young children. Some of the focuses of this organization are to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and vital information regarding our children's health. 

What caught my attention about this organization was their focus in their Early Childhood Education section. Being and African American daughter to a single mother of two, I was automatically put into a stereotype that I was going to struggle to make something of myself and that I was going to fall into the foot steps of my mother. I was blessed to have a supportive family and hard working mother who would do anything to see her children succeed. I know that not every child has that choice. Not every child has parent's at home who can help them with their homework or be a support in their lives. This particular section of this website shows different workshops that are offered to parents to help them with knowing how to support their children, starting with the building confidence and self esteem for themselves. 

As an educator I believe that going to workshops that are not directly related with our jobs can be extremely beneficial to our children and and families. I  have decided that I am going to look into attending at least one workshop a year and see what I can take back with me and apply to my own classroom and community. 

Getting Started-Establishing Professional Contacts

During this course I have decided to do my research on Africa. I have found it interesting to see how different parents of the world apply particular areas and subjects that we sometimes over look here in the U.S. My ultimate goal is to be able apply different procedures and tactics that others use to my own program and learn to expand from them. I decided to use the UNICEF website to access my two professional connections.

This week I sent emails to the both the contacts in both Congo and Ghana. I have not received a response from either of these emails but I do not believe that I need to choose the alternate part 1 assignment.


I am interested in finding out the different areas that my colleagues choose to research and how they plan to use what they have learned and apply this to their own teachings.

My Supports

Preparing for this assignment I thought about the factors of what my supporters are. I started this process over multiple times and what I finally came up with is that my support factors are those most important in my life. 

My Motto In Life

These words hang above my bed. Every morning I remind my self of this and apply it to my day. Everyday is not promised to be the way that you want it to be. So therefore with this motto I have learned that there are things that are going to be out of my control and I have to learn how to deal with that.  

Bam Bam 

 Even though he can not talk my dog is the first "person" I see in the mornings. He supports me because I know that if I do not take care of my responsibilities that he will not be taken care of. When I am sad or stressed some how he always seems to make me situation better with a nose nudge or lick of my hand. Bam Bam is one of the most important factors in my life and without him I believe it would take away some of my dedication to succeed. 

 My Little Big Sister

Everyone has that person in there life that they call on when they have crazy ideas. Well my sister is the one I call on when I have the life changing ideas. No matter what I ever decide to do my sister always seems to give her advice and end our conversation with no matter what I do she will SUPPORT me through it. There is one thing that I always keep in mind when I make a decision, and that is in the long run is the choices that I choose to make for my life influence my sister to do great things in hers. Without my sister I feel as if my life would be lost. 

Needs No Title 

This goof right here has been one of the biggest supporters in my life. As bad as this may sound she has taught me how to write a 2 week notice and accept the fact that in the long run no matter how anyone feels about it I have to look out for myself and do what's best for me. She has no sensors and tells it like it is rather I am going to like it or not. I feel as if she was not in my life that I would not have anyone in my life who would be honest with me about things. 

Sometimes in life support can come from multiple different areas in life. Mine just so happen to be my family and those who I would trust to look out and want what's best for me in life. 

My Connections To Play

My representation of play

1. “Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry)
2. “The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” ~ Plato (Greek philosopher

When I was growing up, the use of play and imagination was a vital role in my family. My parents took them time to play with me when I was younger. The encouraged me to use my imagination in games such as tea party and playing with my babies. 

In today's society I believe that the dynamics have changed greatly.  As most people would agree today children are more in tune with their electronics rather than sitting down and playing and or engaging in activities that require them to use their imagination. For my own children I am going to try my hardest to give them the option of playing with games that help to increase their imagination and also giving them the opportunity or play with electronics so they are not picked on or considered an odd child. 

No matter how old you become the role of play still exists. As a child it helps to show development and as an adult it helps to encourage imagination. 

Relationship Reflection

I have realized that life would be pointless and lonely without healthy relationships to share it with.

Baby Sister, Daddy and I

My dad sister and I have always been close. From laying around the house watching (sleeping) football games to practicing driving on the right side of the road. 
My dad has always been one of my biggest supporters. When ever I felt as if I couldn't do something he was always there to help get me back on track. Having my dad as a strong back bone has shown me how important it was to stick by family and those who are close to you.

Mom and Her Twins

My mother sister and I share a lot of things. Our favorites are fashion sense and luggage and tote bags. 
My mother has always inspired me to seek for more than what was right in front of me. "Education is key, you will make it farther with an education under your belt than you will with anything else." She has instilled this into me since I could remember. With this thought in mind it has helped me get where I am today. I believe in myself and my abilities.  

Mini me and I 

My sister and I are extremely close. She is my focus to keep pushing to succeed. I want to be the best role model and I can be. Watching my sister grow up and for so many years want to walk in my foot steps has only inspired me to make sure that I stay on the right track.

Just like in most families there comes a time when you just want to branch off and do things for your self with no one looking over you. Some difficulites that I have faced is feeling pressured to be perfect for my family. I felt as if I failed at anything that it would disappoint them. I later found out that no matter what I do that my family would always love and care for me. My family would always support me.

Support is a special characteristic that make relationships strong.

My personal expierences with relationships/partnerships has only inspired me to work within this field even more. Working with children is a true passion of mine and having healthy relationships will help me to continue on as a child care provider.

Child Quote

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."

Wess Stafford, President, Compassion International