David Ramushu Secondary School in Kabwe is situated in one of the most lead-polluted areas in Zambia. The effects of lead poisoning, coupled with other issues, have devastating effects on the health of, not only the learners, but also on members of the community at large. This is naturally of grave concern to FutureLife-Now! with its focus on the health and wellbeing of those in the school communities it serves. So, to support the school and its community, in May and October last year, the FutureLife-Now! programme organised health services jamborees for learners, teachers and members of the community at David Ramushu Secondary.
The relevance and importance of such events are summed up by Richard Ngoma, teacher and FutureLife-Now! focal point person at David Ramushu.
Through various presentations by health officials from Kasanda Health Centre, I was reminded about the realities of the gap that existed on crosscutting issues and how teachers and stakeholders are the driving force … when it comes to information dissemination. More schools are becoming more widely recognised as a focal point for the initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of our young generation … .
If we wish to solve major health and societal issues, we must approach learners early, before they face issues which may prove insurmountable to their health and wellbeing. The ideal location to accomplish this job is in schools, where the vast majority of the youngsters congregate every day. With FutureLife-Now! conducting health services jamborees at our school it has become evident that health education and services are more important than ever.
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As one of the FutureLife-Now! Phase 1 pilot schools, Fobane High School bears witness to the positive impact the programme is having on its learners. This is true for climate change, with many learners demonstrating improved awareness of climate issues, and importantly, now engaging actively to address some of the challenges. There is even evidence of positive behaviour change not directly related to their schooling.
Nkuebe Moshoeshoe, the FutureLife-Now! focal point teacher at the school, provides some background. The community where the school is situated has only recently (2019) been supplied with electricity: before that, the population was dependent on having to cut down trees to supply firewood for cooking and heating. This resulted in severe de-forestation: unfortunately, the cut-one, plant-two rule was unknown in these parts. The school faced the same challenges as the community: with trees gone, it was difficult to find firewood for cooking the daily meal provided to learners. Furthermore, it had to buy the produce, such as cabbage, to be cooked.
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The effects of climate change are increasingly felt across the globe, not least in southern Africa. Malawi has been particularly badly hit, with, for example, the monstrous Cyclone Freddy having wreaked devastation across the country last year. So FutureLife-Now!’s focus on climate action has resonated in the schools where it has been introduced.
This was the backdrop for two exciting virtual interschool climate dialogues that FutureLife-Now! facilitated in October 2023. Under the theme, “Understanding Climate Change: Exploring its Impact on Different Sectors”, the main objective was to afford learners a platform to exchange experiences, share best practices, discuss challenges and propose solutions pertaining to climate change. Ngowe and Natola Community Day Secondary Schools engaged together in the first of the dialogues on 9 October, with Mbinzi Community Day Secondary School and Dowa Secondary School following the next day.
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SC financially supported the Zambian Law Development Commission (ZLDC) to undertake consultations with communities and traditional leaders and conducted joint advocacy activities with the Joining Forces Alliance, which led to all six major international organisations working in the child rights sector in Zambia to prioritise advocacy on the Children’s Code Bill. SC joined forces with the National Child Rights Forum (NCRF) to lobby representatives of Italy, France, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Canada, Slovenia, Sweden, and Slovakia to urge the Zambian Government to adopt improved child legislation while building the advocacy capacity of local partners (e.g., NCRF).
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In a groundbreaking effort to address the concerning low literacy and numeracy rates for early-grade children in Malawi, Save the Children has, since 2019, collaborated with the Ministry of Education to revolutionize teacher support and enhance inclusive education in the country. This collaborative approach includes partnering with local organisations - Livingstonia Synod, Community Action for Sustainable Development (CASDO) and Blantyre Synod - with the shared goal of creating sustainable and impactful solutions.
The initiative is aligned with the National Education Sector Implementation Plan (NESIP) 2020-2030, which emphasizes the need to review and digitize the teacher education curriculum to prepare Malawi's youth for the challenges of the 21st century.
Malawi's National Reading Programme Assessment in 2017 revealed disheartening statistics, with a stark lack of special needs teachers in 94% of schools, hindering inclusive education efforts. Save the Children recognized the urgency of the situation and embarked on a transformative journey to empower teachers and elevate the quality of education, thanks to support from NORAD.
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Children are among the most vulnerable members of society and need special protection. It's our shared responsibility as parents, families, communities and government to ensure that all of our children are safe from harm and grow up in nurturing environments. To ensure this, children have special legal rights which are enforced by the state.
What are children’s rights?
Children’s rights are entrenched in Section 28 in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa. These rights are in the best interest of all children under the age of 18 years old. The drafters of our Constitution have made children's rights a priority. When it comes to any matter affecting a child’s well-being, the Constitution states that the best interests of a child are of paramount importance.
Understanding children’s rights
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Gaborone/Nairobi, 23 November 2023 – The prevalence of sexual, physical and emotional violence in several Southern African countries is among the highest in the world, according to a new report by UNICEF and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Across the region, an average of 17 per cent of girls and women experience forced sex in their lifetime and 80 per cent of children experience violent discipline at home in Southern Africa.
This report compiles a statistical profile of the prevalence of violence against children and women in Southern Africa and found this violence to be pervasive and persistent, affecting millions of lives.
The mortality rate from homicide among children, adolescents, girls and women in the SADC region was nearly double the average for the rest of the world. Child marriage is also prevalent in Southern Africa, with 30 per cent of young women married before the age of 18. Among these young brides, nearly a third (31 per cent) have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in the past year and across the region.
This violence takes many forms, including physical, sexual and emotional violence along with neglect and exploitation. Violence is often hidden, under-reported and perpetuated by harmful social norms, gender inequality, poverty, conflict and other structural factors, destroying not only individual lives but also threatening national economies, mental health and educational outcomes.
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Children and young people from Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe identify priority bold solutions to issues deeply affecting them
Walvis Bay, Namibia, 16 November 2023 – Children from Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have voiced the priority issues affecting them and that they want to address to their leaders for action.
This call to action emerged from a virtual gathering facilitated by UNICEF in which children and young people discussed topics that have the greatest impact on their lives. The discussions resulted in a series of calls to action that they will present to the Presidents of their countries at a regional summit taking place in Walvis Bay, Namibia, on 18-19 November, to mark World Children’s Day on 20th November, the day commemorating the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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On November 2, 2023, UNESCO will celebrate the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School with a virtual debate on "Promoting Mental Health: Building Safe Environments."
JOIN in the fight against School Violence and Bullying! Take the "Pledge against School Violence and Bullying (including Cyberbullying)." This Pledge represents our shared commitment to empathy, respect, and mental well-being in our schools and communities. Let your voice be heard! Sign the pledge here today: https://tally.so/r/mKxAok
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