Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Out of its 9.5 million population, two thirds overall or 80 percent in rural areas live below the poverty line. The World Food Programme (WFP) provides meals to around 80,000 children in Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in Latin America, where around 40 per cent of children under five in communities like Huarimarca suffer from stunting as a result of chronic malnutrition.
Providing meals in schools such as Huarimarca School is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways WFP can make a difference in the life of a child. The children in Huarimarca face a long walk to their school and by the time they reach their school, they lack the energy to focus in their lessons. Nutritious meals provided by WFP not only help to keep kids in class, but give them the nutrition they need to grow and learn.
Watch Ximena, WFP Communications Officer in Bolivia deliver this simple request from you, dear readers.
No, Ximena is not asking you to donate. She wants to invite you to get to know some of the kids WFP is supporting at the Huarimarca School in Bolivia. Visit this link and introduce yourself and submit some questions for the students. Ximena will return to the Huarimarca School to share your messages in a few weeks. Be sure to leave your name and email, and you might be one of the lucky ones to get a personal response.
It’s important that children in Bolivia get the nutrition they need so that they can stay focused in school and pursue their dreams.
Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of the causes of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.
Halloween Trick or Treat is a tradition that my husband started in our family. As a kid, I never grew up in the Halloween tradition of the Western world but hubby did. Halloween Celebration through the years is a memory that my kids treasure because of the yummy treats and magical costumes. Though my kids are all adults now, I still decorate my home with Halloween themes without fail. I even got to join trick or treat in San Francisco when I visited my sister two years ago.
It gives me joy to see that this tradition gives kids the chance to help others through the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF project. What started out more than 60 years ago to help children abroad during World War II has evolved into a revolution driven by kids. Thanks to this project, kids all over the world receive the help they need for happy and healthy lives.
Collect donations for UNICEF in your box by going trick-or-treating or by raising funds in your own unique way. The money you raise will help UNICEF provide clean water, nutrition, education and more to millions of kids in need around the world.
A brand new cast of characters are featured on Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF collection boxes. Meet Frank, Count Change-ula, Lady Pennyworth, Bertha DeBroom, Shadow, and Patches!
2. Trick-or-Treat Online
You can also create your own fundraising webpage and share on Facebook or Twitter or email friends and family to make donations and get the ball rolling! Get started here.
One winner from each age category (children 4–8 years , 9–12 years, 13 years and older) will be chosen and announced on Halloween, Oct. 31. You should order your fundraising kits while supplies last. The contest runs from September 1 through October 26.
Share your Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF pictures and posts on their Facebook wall or use #ToT4UNICEF on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr or Google+
It is true that for as long as we are kids (even at heart), we will be helping other children in need. Be a part of the past, present and future by participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!
Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of the causes of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.
“In stories and posts flooding Vancouver’s social media networks, #RIPAmanda is trending as people post news and condolences for the teen identified as posting the video, Amanda Todd.
In a post on its Facebook page, G Force Gym, Home of the Vancouver All Stars cheerleaders, wrote:
Today we feel the loss of our former VAS family member Amanda… I ask that we all watch her video and share her story so that her loss is not in vain. Allow this to be her legacy… Allow us all to look around & find the next Amanda before another precious spunky teenager is lost. We have a responsibility today… Is there a kid in your school that made a mistake and is being shunned? Your challenge is to be a LEADER … Be the Game Changers you are and sit with them today… reach out… smile… let them know that they are NOT alone in this harsh world. It’s always EASY to do the EASY thing; we teach you to NOT do what is easy and instead, do what is right!! You will be surprised, how many people will follow YOU when you stick up for what is Right and honorable AND, forgiving those that have made mistakes in their YOUTH is the RIGHT thing to do!!
In the video, the teen told her story that was printed phrase by phrase on sheets of paper that she held up for the camera.
““I’m struggling to stay in this world, because everything just touches me so deeply. I’m not doing this for attention. I’m doing this to be an inspiration and to show that I can be strong. I did things to myself to make pain go away, because I’d rather hurt myself then someone else. Haters are haters but please don’t hate, although im sure I’ll get them. I hope I can show you guys that everyone has a story, and everyones future will be bright one day, you just gotta pull through. I’m still here aren’t I ?” was the message accompanying the video post.
The video echoed another that the teen commented on through YouTube. That video, entitled My Story: Suicide and Bullying was uploaded by Mollydoyle18 on YouTube. It was clear from the comments that Amanda wanted to contact Molly in a private message and apparently she reached her. Commenting on Amanda’s video, Molly wrote:
““Rest in peace and fly high to Amanda Todd. I was just messaging her about almost a week ago, and I just found out that she has taken her life. She was asking me about how to be an inspiration to others and to get her video more views, and now I have found out that she has passed away… This is a terrible tragedy. I wish she could have had her happy ending.”
Bullying is NEVER okay. Rest easy, Amanda. I’m so sorry to her family. “
I cannot fathom the cruelty of these bullies. How does one even comprehend wishing someone’s death? Are kids all that mean? I have written before that bullying should be the concern of everyone: the school, the teachers, the students, the community and the government.
Amanda’s death reminds us that Bullying should STOP now.
Even if my children are all adults now, I still think of the children who may be possibly be affected by bullying. That is why I talk in schools about cyberbullying prevention. Perhaps cyberbullying is not as widespread in the Philippines but empowerment is the key. Children need to be part of the solution and not wait to be victims. I talked about taking the pro-active role in the prevention of cyber-bullying. I presented a video on cyber bullying awareness with catchy lyrics from Taylor Swift’s song entitled “Mean”.
Let us not wait for another death . All of us need to step up so others won’t get stepped on.
Bullying should not be tolerated. Bullying damages the physical, social, and emotional well-being of its victims.
““Bullying is NOT pre-wired, harmless, or inevitable
Bullying IS learned, harmful, and controllable
Bullying SPREADS if supported or left unchecked
Bullying INVOLVES everyoneâ€â€bullies, victims, and bystanders
Bullying CAN BE effectively stopped or entirely prevented”
Everyone from the parents, educators, the students and community should stand up and voice out that bullying should stop. Domestic violence should stop. Preventing and stopping bullying involves a commitment to creating a safe environment where children can thrive, socially and academically, without being afraid.
STOP BULLYING. Make a stand to stop bullying in any form.
“The black tapes on our mouths symbolize the lack of freedom of speech when the Cybercrime law gets implement” – Lauren
The Cybercrime Prevention Act is now effective today , October 3. This law threatens our basic rights and freedoms. It works against ordinary netizens  bloggers, freelance writers, website owners, social network users. etc.  and disregards, among other things, our right to privacy and freedom of expression.
It saddens me to know that my daughter born on Freedom Constitution day (March 25, 1986) is now faced with Cyber Martial law because the Cybercrime prevention Act violates the right to free speech. I lived through martial law and I was overjoyed that my daughter was born free from the shackles of a dictatorship.
A month after the 1986 ““People Power Revolution,” President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 providing for an orderly transition to a government with a new constitution. It was popularly known as the Freedom Constitution. What a historical day to be born.
It saddens me, no wait., disappoints me that my daughter whom I introduced the internet when she was only nine years old in early 1996 faces this new law that unduly gives the Department of Justice extra-ordinary powers without due process of law to shut down websites on the Internet.
It is disturbing to read the Section 19 provision “When computer data [are] prima facie is found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act, the DOJ [Department of Justice] shall issue an order to restrict or block access to such computer data.”
I feel I didn’t fight hard enough for my children’s future when I see her tweet “It’s a sad time to be a Filipino living in the Philippines.”
It breaks my heart to see her tweet “I feel betrayed by the senators who voted yes to the #Cybercrime Law. I actually voted for some of you. ” It is a question most often asked by netizens. “Why did they vote for the CyberCrime Prevention Bill?”
How could you, President Noynoy sign this bill? I made noise together with some of your known supporters eight months ago.
I can’t believe you signed this …You of all people who won with the help of social media. I did not vote for you but my friends did. I would have thought you should have been on their side. Indeed like Marocharim stated :
It is a shame, to say the least, that a government in power – and empowered – by social media is the first to put limits on it. The political climate that brought President Benigno Aquino III and the lot of lawmakers in the Senate and the Congress was by and large shaped by the discontent in social media.
No, I will not be silenced.
Makibaka. Huwag Matakot!
STOP CYBER MARTIAL LAW
Photo credit to my daughter Lauren and Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance
