Thursday, October 29, 2015

A brief look at children living in the margins

 Global poverty on a whole has declined dramatically but extreme poverty has receded into the most unstable and violent places in the world. These places are the most dangerous places to be a child.

These children living in the margins are most at risk of  being trafficked, hunger, disease, violence, early marriage, at risk of  becoming a child soldier or even losing their own parents, leaving them alone to the predators preying on them. As people flee the violence the most vulnerable go deeper and desperately in the hard to reach areas, the edges of society. These children are in the most fragile states.

 I listed here some practical ways to help these children in the most fragile states. Many more can be found on the World Vision site. http://www.worldvision.org/

Here are listed 8 fragile states of children at risk living in the margins.
Child exploitation is a major issue in the DRC. Many children are kidnapped and forced to fight as child solders, become sex slaves or work as porters. About 6.3 million people in the DRC are food-insecure, and half of the children under 5 are chronically malnourished. Sponsor a child from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-new?campaign=226220126
Job brokers prey on the most vulnerable by offering a good job and a better life for their children. Instead children as young as 8 have been forced into prostitution. Boys and girls are both at risk. Invest in a child though sponsorship. http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-new?campaign=226220126  Child protection work and child friendly spaces are vital in protecting children. donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/girls-women/help-stop-human-trafficking-1+226220126. Helping children with counseling, medical care, education, skills training, job support and connection with legal and protective services.




Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries. Around 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. World Vision was working in Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic by helping with safe burials and by raising community awareness on symptoms, transmission, and prevention. Many children lost their parents during that crisis and are being raised now by a relative with the memories of this awful disease that overtook so many people in their village.  Sponsor a child here from Sierra Leone.http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-new?campaign=226220126
 In an area of what seems to be in constant turmoil, Child-Friendly Spaces offer a safe place where children can play, learn, and heal emotionally from traumatic events.
 Sponsor a child from Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza. http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-new?campaign=226220126

  Haiti has been hit by repeated disasters in recent years, each new crisis has delayed the recovery from the last. Clean water and sanitation saves lives. Sponsor a child here.http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-new?campaign=226220126 or gather a small group together and provide a well for Haiti. donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/clean-water=226220126
The Syrian crisis is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time and the needs are growing more and more. The number of Syrian refuges is equal to the number of people displaced during WW2. Child friendly spaces, warm clothes, dry shelters, food, counseling are some of the needs in this crisis. Help by becoming  a child crisis partner.  http://donate.worldvision.org/child-crisis-partner-monthly-1?campaign=226220126
There are now more than 800,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon and 20% of Lebanon's newest population are Syrian refuges. This crisis has increased child-related vulnerabilities. Sponsor a child in Lebanon. http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-new?campaign=226220126
A few notes...4.6 million people in South Sudan are facing starvation and the country is on the brink of famine. A 15 year old girl is most likely to die from childbirth then to complete school. Some of the small children's arms that are being measured are skinnier than a plastic bottle cap. 1/5 of children at the nutrition program are in danger of malnutrition.  Share with your church some fundraising ideas on how to help end hunger. https://magazine.worldvision.org/in-depth/south-sudan 

Monday, October 19, 2015

Sailboats on the water

With my camera in need of repair I took a few shots with a phone of some distant sailboats and a red ginger plant. I miss the quality of my old camera but I shared it anyway.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;
 for he founded it on the seas
    and established it on the waters.~Psalm 24 1-2