Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) is a charity organization with a firm belief in, and intent on safeguarding the rights of a child. It was founded in 2003 with a view to reducing the alarming rate of street and abandoned children and to ensure their rehabilitation, including other vulnerable children, particularly in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
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Stepping Stones Nigeria works in partnership with local organizations in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to build sustainable futures for some of the region's many disadvantaged children. Our approach focuses on four main areas:
Street Children: Working with the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) to meet the needs of abandoned street children who have been stigmatized as being "witches" or "wizards"
Education: Supporting the Stepping Stones Model school to provide an outstanding level of education to orphans and disadvantaged children
Literacy: Training and resourcing primary school teachers in the use of synthetic phonics to significantly raise literacy levels
Advocacy and Campaigning: Advocating for child rights at a local, regional, national and international level whilst campaigning for the prevention of the abandonment of children through the PACT campaign.
Pam Dickson has earned quite a name for herself by reporting on the activities of area socialites. Dickson serves as the social columnist for The Tribune with her weekly column, “Out And About.” But readers may be interested to know that she is just as comfortable walking the halls of an orphanage in Nigeria as she is when she enters a banquet hall. “People often ask me, ‘Why do you have to go outside of this country when there is plenty of poverty right here?’” said Dickson.
Dickson talked to members of the Rotary Club of Humble Intercontinental about the extent of the poverty in Nigeria and she presented a slide show from a recent humanitarian trip to the Ministry of Mercy Orphanage in the small town of Otutulu.
She said that parts of Nigeria are plagued with political unrest. There are also places where the water is dirty and there is little or no electricity.
Dickson said that the group she works with, Children’s Emergency Relief International, has taken three trips to the area since August of 2006. The group has two more trips planned, which will take medical volunteer and medicine back to the area for approximately nine to 10 days, with two days of travel on each end.
On her first trip, Dickson said that the team saw 850 patients in four-and-a-half days. She said areas such as Lagos and Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta were near the oilfields and that there had been incidents of kidnappings in those areas.
At the Ministry of Mercy Orphanage that Dickson visited on her most recent trip, the ‘nannies’ who look after the children had to cope with rough terrain to get to a creek for water, which they carried back in pails and poured into drums for later use.
She said that they ate, slept, played and went to the restroom in the same general area, so the nannies scrubbed the concrete slabs frequently. She found the Nigerian children friendly and said they spoke English, the official language of Nigeria.
Dickson’s team learned a lot about the people of the area. For example, she said that 40 percent are Christian, 40 percent are Muslim and the rest have varied beliefs, including faith in witchcraft.
“Many of the children are not technically orphans,” said Dickson. “They have parents, but parents are unable to care for the children if they are handicapped or if the parents themselves suffer from AIDS or disease.
Dickson said that albino children were considered handicapped. Nigeria is near the equator and has no natural protection from the sun, causing albinos to be more susceptible to skin cancer.
The orphanage, according to Dickson, also goes through several periods during the year when batches of newborns are dropped off. Surprisingly, Dickson said that in the end, the children and staff at the orphanage are better fed and receive better health care than the surrounding communities.
“We try to go twice a year,” said Dickson.
She said she felt appreciated during the visits and that she felt nothing was more rewarding than to help in an area where without the team, there would be no prenatal care or basic health care.
Dickson has been active in humanitarian and educational organizations in the Kingwood-Humble area since 1994. She has also received recognition for the following: national finalist, “Zero Boundaries” 2006; Haden E. McKay Citizen of the Year Award, 2004; American Heart Association Barbara Newman Humanitarian Award, 2004; American Heart Association Northeast Region, Volunteer of the Year Award, 2003; and the Family Time Women of Achievement Award in 1994.
For information on how you can help Children’s Emergency Relief International, e-mail Dickson at pam@the-dicksons.com.
By Chuck Flagg
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| | Sixth-graders Connor Riland, Anna Macedo, Ryan Tripoli and seventh-graders Sarah Warner and Kaitlin Ramirez collected 21 sponsors for the 'Shoot Out' at St. Mary School. | | |
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St. Mary School has been educating the youth of Gilroy since 1871. As part of its mission, the school involves students in a variety of community outreach activities which illustrate the Catholic social teaching of working toward "the good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable."
This goal is illustrated in the campus-wide Lenten Mission Drive just completed, "Nothing But Nets." The students learned about the serious health problem of malaria in underdeveloped parts of Africa. The number of instances of the disease, spread by mosquitoes, can be reduced by the simple process of providing nets treated with insecticide to cover the beds of families who live in mosquito-infested areas.
St. Mary's students ran a fund-raising campaign to provide money for these nets through NothingButNets.net, a nonprofit organization supported by professional athletic leagues. For each $10 donation, a poor villager will receive a bed net. All administrative expenses are paid by the agency.
On March 7, fifth through eighth grade students participated in a "Shoot Out" on the school's athletic field. After collecting pledges from sponsors, the students enthusiastically shot baskets and kicked soccer goals to raise money for this worthy cause. The total amount raised had not been tabulated by press time, but the students shot 1,507 baskets and goals and over $1,500 has been collected thus far.
St. Mary provides many community service opportunities:
n The school's Advent Mission Project was called "Jump Start Oakland." Suggested by a Gilroy alumnus now attending St. Mary's College in Moraga, students raised funds to purchase supplies for preschools in poor neighborhoods of Oakland.
n Each year at Thanksgiving students focus on support for St. Joseph's Family Center, the interfaith food pantry and meal program housed in a building next door to the school. Each class strives to collect different food items - last Thanksgiving, students collected ten carts full of groceries plus enough money to buy dozens of turkeys.
n Last year, the students donated funds to Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that provides surgical procedures to correct disfiguring cleft palates in children. Working with an internet site that matched donations, the school was able to provide funds for 65 operations that cost $240 each.
n A few years ago the students heard from Father Felix Epathemi, a visiting priest from Nigeria who was assigned to Gilroy, about abandoned orphans cared for by the Archdiocese of Obadan. Through car washes, lemonade sales, and other humble efforts they presented his archdiocese with $10,000 for his work when he returned home.
n In years past, the seventh grade religion class decided to help day workers who gathered in front of Home Depot. Heeding Jesus' call to "feed the hungry," they prepared bag lunches and delivered them to the workers early in the morning before class.
n More recently, goods like socks, toiletries, blankets and sleeping bags were delivered to the National Guard Armory to help those who needed shelter during the cold and wet winter evenings.
Service to others is also an integral part of the school's curriculum - many courses contain specific units of instruction related to Catholic teachings. For instance, "Lights, Camera, Action" requires groups of students to choose an important issue and an agency addressing it (like homelessness and Habitat for Humanity). After research and study, the group creates a billboard, Web site or public service announcement to "communicate and enlighten audiences on this tenet."
Cecile Mantecon, a seventh and eighth grade teacher and the school's Religion Coordinator, says that the school wants students to "respond to the message of Christ in daily life. They need to understand that they are no longer just responsible for their own well-being. When they learn that it feels good to be selfless, they will continue to live their lives in service to others."
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Bebor Model Primary and Nursery School
The Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network
The Consortium for Street Children
Double Joy Children's Farm, Kenya
The Sustainable Development Network
The Stakeholder Democracy Network
Write a letter to Liberty Gospel Church ( One of the "churches" responsible for the kids ordeal ).
A sample letter is also provided.
Help child victims of torture by writing a letter of protest
Campaign to help Nigerian children accused of witchcraft
Becoming: a sacred gathering and the Chesapeake Pagan Community are working together on a six-month campaign to raise funds and knit toys of love, healing, and protection for these children. Funds will be donated to Stepping Stones Nigeria, a UK-based organization that sponsors a shelter and school run by Nigerian organization Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN). The toys will be sent directly to the children.
We need your help to make a difference in these children’s lives.
If you are a knitter or crocheter in the NoVa, DC, Suburban MD, or Baltimore area, you can help by knitting bears and gathering pledged donations. Our initial kick-off meeting for this campaign is March 30, 2008, 1:30pm, in Beltsville, Maryland. If you cannot attend this meeting, you can still participate in the campaign.
If you are not a knitter, you can donate directly to this campaign via PayPal or check, and volunteer at some of our outreach events.
You can register as a knitter or donate to the campaign at http://charity.becomingdc.org/.
For more information about this campaign or to keep up with our progress, check out the web site or contact Angela Roberts Reeder at angela@becomingdc.org.
Please spread the word. Together the pagan community can make a huge difference in these children’s lives.
Evergreen Center for Street Children (ECSC)
Contact data: | P.O Box 1531 Mushin |
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Year established: | 2006 |
No. Staff: | 2 |
Main contact: | Adebayo Olanrewaju (davejohn2k4@yahoo.com) |
Membership No: | 3764 |
Organization aims and activities: To eradicate street living among African children, to fight for the right of African child and to build a better tomorrow for children through seminars and workshop.
Operational level: Community-based
Works with age groups : Children 0 - 18
Organization type: Child/Youth led organization
Organization mandate: Provide training or education on child rights, Research child rights, Undertake legal casework on behalf of children, Work directly with children, Work in partnership with organizations, Work with media and press
Areas of expertise: Child labor and working children, Children and education, Children and participation, Children and the media, Children and violence, Children in armed conflict, Children in conflict with the law, Children working and living on the street, Individual cases of violations, Rights based programming
Countries in which this organization works: Nigeria
Other organizations based in Nigeria:
- Action Health Incorporated
- African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect - Nigeria Chapter
- Afrihealth Information Projects
- Alliance Cornerstone Youth Orgnaization
- Anti-Child Abuse Society of Africa
- Campaign For Child Rights
- Centre for Development, Constitutionalism and Peace Advocacy
- Child Association of Nigeria
- Child Rights Network
- Child Rights Organization
- Child Welfare League of Nigeria
- Children's Rights Network
- Country Associates Network
- David Folayan Memorial Library
- DEC Nigeria
- Defence for Children International - Nigeria Section
- Edem Children Foundation (ECF)
- Fortress Nigeria
- Girls' Power Initiative
- Kids Education Awareness Initiative
- Live Alive Foundation
- Living Hope Organization
- Movement for the Protection of the African Child
- National Centre for Youth Development
- National Coalition on Children's Rights
- Niger Delta Academic Foundation
- Nigeria centre for peace education
- Nigeria Youth Foundation
- Office of the Public Defender
- Organization Mondiale pour l'Education Prescolaire
- P.M. News
- Save The African Child Initiative
- UNICEF - Nigeria
- World Hope Foundation
- Youth Media and Communication Initiative
Organizations working in similar fields:
- African Child Association
- African Child Policy Forum
- African Commission on Human and People's Rights
- African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect - Regional Office
- Anita Home
- Association Communautaire Pour la Promotion et la Protection des Droits de l'Homme
- Association Défis - Jeunes pour le Développement
- Autre Vie
- Bangladesh Coalition for Child Rights
- Bangladesh Mohila Unnayan Sanghstha
- Center For Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC)
- Center for Women and Children's Rights
- Center for Women's Studies - University of Nijmegen
- Center pour la Promotion des Droits de l'Enfant et de la Femme
- CFG International
- Child Helpline Cameroon
- Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre
- Child Rights Information Network
- Children Concern Organization
- Children Today Center
- Children's Law Center
- ChildRight
- Consortium for Street Children
- Defence for Children International
- Defence for Children International - Costa Rica
- Department of Social Welfare - Gambia
- Droits de L'Homme sans Frontieres
- Enfants du Monde - Droits de l'Homme
- Fondation Chretienne des Enfants Campagnards d'Haiti
- Generosity International Lifecare Development Coalition
- Genuine Empowerment of Mothers in Society
- HAQ: Centre for Child Rights
- Homeland Community Development Agency
- Human Rights - First the Child
- Human Rights Information and Documentation Center
- Human Rights Watch, Children's Rights Division
- Integrated Regional Information Networks - IRIN
- International Center for Child and Youth Studies
- International Friendship Society
- Jonathan's Child Care Center Sierra Leone
- Jubilee Action - UK
- Kinderombudsman
- Lembaga Advokasi Anak Indonesia
- Maison des Droits de l'Enfant
- Meerut CHILDLINE
- National Center for Human Rights
- National Center For Playwork Education - North East
- New Life Foundation of Bangladesh
- Nigeria Youth Foundation
- Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
- Nucleus
- ONG Espoir pour les enfants
- PAN AFRICAN YOUTH COUNCIL
- Philippine Resource Network on Child Protection
- Right to Education Project
- Save the Children Sweden - Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa
- Save the Children UK - DRC Office
- Save the Children UK - Liberia Office
- Save the Children UK - Sierra Leone Office
- Somali Children Rights Organization
- Spanish Committee for UNICEF
- The Ombudsperson for Children Republic of Croatia
- UNICEF - Bhutan
- UNICEF - Colombia
- UNICEF - Ethiopia
- UNICEF - Malaysia
- UNICEF Podgorica
- UNICEF Togo
- World Vision - Japan
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse is an organization concerned about cruelty against the African Child. We are the premier organization promoting the welfare of African children in the UK. We also work in partnership with other organizations in Africa and across Europe.
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1 comments:
Thank you for posting about our knitting and fundraising campaign.
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