CREATING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS FACING CHILDREN TODAY

Children of the present time are faced with a lot of problems, both social and economic. Probably because of their size, innocence and vulnerability, children are more easily harmed. What many people fail to understand is that children are the future. It is the responsibility of not only parents, but the community as well, to ensure the well being of children, the future generation. Unfortunately it is hard to believe that children are stil drained in the puddle of problems whose causes neither lie on their faults nor their doings. It brings great grief to see children suffer from problems, brought about, not by themselves, but by others. Of all the hardships that children face, few of the worst that are sickening and arouse great despair, even to the unaffected are: Poverty. Although poverty extends to a wider area of influence, including adults as well, children are the ones directly and more severely affected. According to the findings by the United Nations International Children s Education Fund (UNICEF), more than 2500 children die each day due to poverty. Poverty has become a major global issue that has had a taste in every part of the world. Children in less developed areas such as South Asia and the Sub-Saharan Africa are the major victims of poverty. Poverty denies a child the required basic needs and a quality of life suitable for an innocent and pain-undeserving being. Shocking statistics show that 10.6 million children in the world died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5, due to poverty. This number corresponds the combined children population in France, Germany, Greece and Italy. It is sad to comprehend that many parents live with the fact that their diseased children will not survive their early years, in most cases where the diseases are preventable. Child Labour and Neglect. Only the most cruel and with no trace of humanity would neglect a child of their own, much less force a little replica of their own to engage in hard and tiresome work. Many children who are mostly underage are forced to work beyond their physical capacity and in conditions that threaten their life. They receive little or no pay at all. They face physical and verbal abuse. Furthermore, violence against children continues to increase. The United States Third National Incidence Study Of Child Abuse And Neglect revealed that the number of maltreated children increased from 1.4 million in 1986 to 2.8 million in 1993. Maltreated children are more likely to exist in disrupted families, those living in unfavourable circumstances, suffering from economic hardship or isolated from community. Maltreated children are commonly in trouble in school. They face learning difficulties and general conduct problems such as depression, isolation, aggressiveness and trouble making. It usually starts with frequently running away from home and ends with conviction for crimes. All these and more, these little gifts of nature are up against. However, contrary to the aspect of child labour, child neglect leaves no visible marks but negatively affects a child . Effects of child neglect are, however, permanent. Compared with the abused, neglected children score the lowest in IQ tests. They mostly delay in language comprehension and articulation. Parents that neglect their children think that they lessen the burden on them, a burden which is actually a result of their own doings. However, by doing so, they unknowingly leave an unoccupied space in their children s hearts, that would stay the same no matter who or what tries to fill it. Neglected children are also permanently affected psychologically. Low Access to education. Education is a very essential factor in our current technological and modern world. Many children have little or no access to education, thus forcing them in shaping an unknown future ahead of them. More than 100 million children currently in the world have no access

to education. Many others drop out. However, girls are more affected due to either religious or cultural reasons. There is actually a big percentage gap, of about 10%, between boys and girls enrolled in schools. Education access is a problem in areas such as India, Togo, Yemen, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Children who are mainly affected are AIDS orphans, the physically challenged and those living in rural areas. Lack of enough money is a major causative factor that denies children access to educational services. What can be done to stop these problems? This is probably a million dolar question. Billions of dollars are being spent and many thousands of people are working in programs to help children overcome these problems. Identifying reasons for the existence of the problems is crucial in finding a permanent solution. Unfortunately, the expected is stil yet to be reached. This is because many government agencies and organizations tend to look only at symptoms and effects of the problem without addressing the true causes. Many look to education as a solution to problems facing children without realizing the true cause or nature of the problem itself. Causes of the problem are often confused with the effects. Example, thinking that the cause of poverty is just lack of money by poor people may bring the conclusion that the solution is to give them more money. But the solutions are more to it than meets the eye. Effective strategies should be formed to permanently get rid of the problems that children all over the world face. Strengthening the family unit is a major step towards freeing children from these problems. Parents and guardians must take responsibility for their children by providing a conducive environment free of neglect, violence and abuse. Parental care and guidance provides psychological relief and satisfaction to children hence improving their general welfare. Children in a stable family seldom experience misconducts such as forced labour, neglect or other related problems. They are also free from economic hardship and poverty situations. A dysfunctional family acts as the root of all child sufferings. Furthermore, increasing the awareness of the general public on the problems that children face may help reduce and finally end the sufferings of children. This can be done by Non - Governmental Organizations (NGO s), private institutions as well as private individuals. Advertisements through brochures, posters, electronic media and billboards will help people notice the usually unrecognized and ignored situations that chidren face. The more the people know, the better. The government also has a lot to do in creating solutions to problems facing children. The government should support employers to ensure jobs are decently paid for and are genuinely accessible to people, especially those with parenting responsibilities. They should also find a way to raise the income of poor families. In many countries, people pay tax but not everyone claims the benefits from them. Foster homes should also be established. However, not only establishing, but also constantly managing them and improving them when necessary so as to care for street children and children with no permanent shelter to avoid instances of child abuse, child labour and juvenile delinquency. I contend that not enough is being done to address the problem. The response to the problems facing children has at best been muted and still remains ignored by the government and the public. Unfortunately, most of the rich people have come to actually like having poor people, including children, around and believing quite incorrectly that having poor people benefits them economically. Some prefer being benefactors, soothing people s poverty rather than liberators, lifting them out of

it. However, all eyes are towards the government. What would be the purpose of a government if it cannot deal with the problems of the citizens? In actual sense, if there had been a will, the problem should have been behind us by now. All in all, efforts from the government itself cannot accomplish th expected. The public ought to also contribute their efforts to resolve these problems, instead of waiting for an imaginary hero, never to come, to pull them out of the puddle. People should stop thinking that someone will one day come and solve these problems. Furthermore, it isn t an overnight process. From the saying Rome wasn t built in a day , people s thoughts and expectations should be reflected. God willing, all the struggles and efforts will not be in vain.

BY: YONAZ CHARLES 4B