News & Views

Australia’s near-neighbour Papua New Guinea is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a mother and there are signs the country’s health crisis is getting worse, a report has found.

Women in PNG are 35 times more likely to die during pregnancy than women in Australia (1 in 120 in PNG compared to 1 in 8700 in Australia), according to an evaluation of maternal health by the aid agency ChildFund Australia.

The Ending Violence Against Children Taskforce commends Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) for today introducing H. Res. 910, which calls for increasing and improving the United States Government’s efforts to end violence against children. Written with input by the Taskforce, the resolution condemns all forms of violence against children and youth globally – including physical, mental, and sexual violence, neglect, abuse, maltreatment and exploitation.

ChildFund International The Gambia has presented two 40 and 20 foot containers of ‘Toms Shoes’ to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE) meant to enhance retention of students in school in the country’s Upper and Central River Regions. This is the 8th handing over of shoes to the Education Ministry.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the ChildFund national office, the fund’s country director, Musukuta Komma said they have been collaborating with different donors such as Toms, Pearson and other individuals for the past years to support ChildFund The Gambia with education related gifts such as books, shoes, and other school materials.

“As a child protection and development agency, we strive to tackle underlying causes of deprivation, exclusion and vulnerability. This is why we partner with Gambia government to ensure the promotion and protection of children.”

Read the full article in "The Point."

FIROZABAD: They sat crouched for hours by a burner, inhaling toxic fumes while their deft fingers picked up and moulded the ends of glittering bangles.

No longer, though.

More than two months after Papua New Guinea’s strongest earthquake in almost a century, stranded survivors are turning to an unexpected lifeline: a small domestic violence hotline run by a non-governmental organisation [ChildFund].

Although the risks of violence against women rise after disasters, most callers aren’t women. They’re men reaching out for support, enquiring about how to obtain food, shelter, and other services, or fearful of violence that has broken out in some areas after tribal clashes.

ChildFund Australia recently conducted a poll that shows a majority of voters believe Australia has “an obligation” to continue to provide aid to poorer nations.

“We can afford to have a strong Australian aid program,” said Nigel Spence, CEO of ChildFund Australia.

Read the article in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Our new spotlight feature "Girls score a goal to end child marriage in India" tells the story of 16-year-old Raniya, who was saved from child marriage through her participation in ChildFund India's “Mind Without Fear” program.

ON APRIL 16, 2007, my two worlds collided. During lunchtime at my new job, I was told my son was calling. I remember thinking how strange it was for him to call me at work, something he never did.

When I picked up, it wasn’t him — it was an emergency room doctor near Blacksburg saying my son had been shot in class that morning, words I could not comprehend. Within minutes, though, Colin got on the phone, and his words I understood: “Mom, come.”

Read the full article by ChildFund International CEO Anne Lynam Goddard, in The Virginian-Pilot

By Ángeles, CCFC former sponsored child, Paraguay

(Translated by Maria Ferreira, program officer, Paraguay)

It’s been a busy few months for Ángeles, a former sponsored child from Paraguay. This past fall, she attended a violence-prevention meeting in Ottawa, hosted on behalf of the World Health Organization and the Government of Canada. And, she’s just returned from a global meeting in Sweden. The 17-year-old attended the End Violence Solutions Summit with academics, civil-society organizations, private-sector leaders and government officials. (She even met the Queen of Sweden!, See below.)

Here Angie opens up about her impressions of this special trip — one she shared with Leticia, a peer from SOS Children’s Villages.

Tirupati: Child Fund India’s new child protection project, Child Friendly Accountability (CFA) inaugurated by the Special Judge Sai Kumari at a function held in Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS) here on Wednesday.