Australia
Imagine
Almost 12 per cent of of Australian children fall below the poverty line.
They don't need to.
Despite Australia's wealth and high standard of living, many children are still consistently denied access to opportunities that would enable them to reach their potential.
By providing early childhood development, literacy, physical activity, and nutrition programming we can give all our children a chance at a brighter future.
The Lucky Country?
The Kimberley region of north Western Australia is a must-see destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. However the awesome beauty of the Bungle Bungle ranges and Broome's famous Cable Beach belies the harsh reality of life for some of the region's residents.
Western Australia's resources boom has seen property and food prices soar; young people face limited opportunities; and the Indigenous people of the East Kimberley remain severely disadvantaged. Save the Children works with Indigenous communities to address the long-standing social, economic and political disadvantage experienced by the majority of Indigenous peoples within Australia, with a focus on children and young people.
Save the Children is committed to reducing the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in national statistics concerning unemployment, teenage pregnancy, welfare dependency, alcohol and substance abuse, gambling and domestic violence. This over-representation contributes to the loss of Indigenous culture, alienating children and young people from their Indigenous heritage, and creating a climate of despair and hopelessness. In many cases, these social issues impact directly on the lives of children and young people.
Save the Children started working in the East Kimberley in 2004 - one of the few international non-government organisations (NGOs) active in the region. Our Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff have the trust of local people and organisations. Many themselves local, they have first-hand knowledge of the issues people face.
"Our achievements are based on ensuring Indigenous people's social and economic benefits are better today than they were yesterday. To engage people is for people to engage you too," says Save the Children Kununurra Team Leader, Edward Oxenbridge.
Supporting new mums
Corrina has lived in Kununurra for 12 months with her partner and three young children. Originally from Katherine in the Northern Territory, the 21-year-old has found the going tough with no family and friends to turn to for support.
Earlier this year, Corrina started attending Marla Mums at Kununurra Neighbourhood House. At weekly workshops, mums with young children and expectant mothers receive information on healthy pregnancies, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles. Activities help to foster early childhood development and provide mothers with a support network and access to local health workers.
"It's me and my kids at home - I've got nobody," says Corrina. "I like talking here with the other ladies because I don't have any friends or family. The more I come here, the more ladies I get to know. Some of them have even invited me to their house."
As well as offering social support, the program educates women about issues such as pregnancy and birth; mother and baby health; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); nutrition; and post-natal depression.
"I found the talk about depression really valuable. I don't know if I was depressed during that really lonely stage, but it helped me to understand stress and depression," Corrina says.
Marla Mums is part of the Mums and Bubs Program, which is aimed at young pregnant women and women with children aged 0-5 years. Apart from Marla Mums, the program consists of Mums and Bubs Playgroup; Mums and Bubs swimming classes; and training to learn how to run a playgroup.
Mums and Bubs is part of Save the Children's biggest program in the East Kimberley, the Communities for Children Program, which is funded by the Australian Government. In partnership with The Lingiari Foundation, Save the Children works with local organisations to support initiatives aimed at building stronger families and communities.
While Marla Mums has had a positive impact on Corrina's life, it has also benefited her children.
"The little ones all play together here and my girls now know that they can come here to play with the other kids. They really look forward to coming here now," Corrina says.
Bonding through music
"It's somewhere for the kids to go, have a bit of fun, sing some songs. A lot of them are pretty musical and this gives them a chance to play a bit of music. Some of them are pretty budding singers. I mean there's Australian Idol and all those shows on TV so you never know if you don't give somebody a chance. And they play with their dads and uncles and family members and it's a drug-free, grog-free place."
Deon Cox is a young Aboriginal father, family support worker and talented musician. For the past 18 months he has been a mentor with the Deadly* Blokes and Kids Program and says the weekly music workshops allow children to spend quality time with their male caregivers in a relaxed, friendly environment.
Current levels of social dislocation and alienation between fathers and their children in the East Kimberley are high. While there are a number of programs that focus on the needs of women, there is a critical lack of support for young Indigenous men. This innovative program is the only type in the region which focuses on building strong relations between male caregivers and their children through music.
"That's what we want to bring back to the community in all this - it's about the blokes, kids, and reminding them, making them realise that they are family and they are special to each other and restoring that faith and respect towards each other," says multi award-winning singer-songwriter Peter Brandy who is the key facilitator of the workshops.
Respected singer and musician Lionel Macale became involved with the program last year. The father of six is on hand to provide guidance and support and also helps participants build their songwriting skills.
"As far as my job I'm just a muso who helps, but the boys like to ask things and advice. I tell them what I used to do when I was young, how I got out of this and that. But I went through a rough life myself. I can relate to a lot of things the young guys are going through," explains Lionel.
Supported by the Australian Government and implemented by Save the Children in partnership with the Lingiari Foundation, the Deadly Blokes and Kids Program includes: Deadly Family Events for the whole Kununurra community; Deadly Littlies music workshops for babies and toddlers; and Deadly Kids Our Stories Our Songs workshops for school children.
The Deadly Blokes and their children have also produced a CD featuring three songs they wrote and performed about positive parenting and growing up in the Kimberley.
Click to listen to their songs Live Life, Stay Solid and Going Bush.
Young change maker
"Since my position (traineeship with Save the Children) I feel I can do a lot for young people, stop them from drinking and smoking. I have changed by learning how to communicate well with my peers, workmates and other organisations."
Danni Taylor is 16. Since starting a traineeship with Save the Children last September, the inspirational teen has been a finalist in the WA Youth Awards and was involved in setting up a group for Indigenous girls in Kununurra as part of Save the Children's Youth Development Program.
Determined to improve the situation for young women in her hometown, Danni has used her position as co-ordinator of Save the Children's Youth Believing Make a Difference (YBMAD) youth reference group to inspire and empower other girls. YBMAD consists of 10 Indigenous girls aged 13-19 who meet after school each week. The group provides the girls with a voice for what happens in their community and allows them to organise activities relevant to local youth. It also gives them the opportunity to develop communication, networking and team-building skills.
"I came up with the idea of making the YBMAD group because around Kununurra there was nothing to do and the kids were running amok! While there were some activities for boys, there was nothing at all for the girls," says Danni, who was also involved in establishing a young women's support group.
Just after she started her traineeship, Danni was instrumental in organising YBMAD's first event, The Kimberley Youth Carnival. The two-day drug and alcohol-free event last December attracted hundreds of young people who enjoyed a basketball competition and disco, and learnt about important health and well-being issues at the accompanying expo.
This year, Danni was a finalist in the WA Youth Awards where she was recognised for her work with YBMAD. The youth reference group also received a $10,000 Youth Change Makers grant from The Foundation for Young Australians to help local youth make informed choices regarding sexual health and well-being through educational activities targeting 13-24 year olds.
Now that her traineeship has finished, Danni has been employed two days a week as a trainee youth worker with Save the Children - a position she will combine with her TAFE and Year 12 studies. She says the experience has changed her life and she plans to use her knowledge and skills to improve things for others.
"I've been through a lot of the things that the local teenagers have been through but the Youth Development Program has helped me to grow as a person, build my confidence and self-esteem. It has helped me become a better person; I care more now and want to help young people. This job has made me want to do better at school and has improved my grades," Danni says.
"In the future I want to get into the field of community work, helping the community, because I see that there are a lot of problems around Kununurra."
Nutritious start to the day
"Before the Breakfast Program our teachers noticed children coming to school without any lunch and without having had breakfast. They were drowsy and hungry and found learning difficult."
Denise Barr, the Well-being Co-ordinator at St Albans Primary School in Melbourne's western suburbs, says the Save the Children Breakfast Program has been a great success.
"It's really had a positive impact on our students," says Ms Barr. "One family had a little boy who was always poorly and would often have a cold, or a runny nose, or wasn't well. But since having a constant breakfast at school he is a lot healthier. As well as assisting the children's learning, the program is also improving their health."
After the plight of students was raised in staff meetings, the school approached Save the Children for help. Some children said they went without breakfast because there was no food at home and the family was waiting for pay day.
The program, which started in October 2004, is open to the school's 306 students who come from a number of African nations, as well as countries including Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bosnia, Serbia, New Zealand and the Philippines. The school also has a large refugee population.
Every morning, a School Support Officer prepares a nutritious breakfast with the assistance of staff volunteers. Some mornings, more than 60 hungry youngsters arrive at school early for a breakfast of cereal, toast, fruit, yoghurt and juice. On special days they are treated to eggs, muffins, pancakes and sausages.
"It's great. The children come to school drowsy, then after having their breakfast they are awake and ready to start learning," Ms Barr says.
Harmony Day in SA
Adelaide's Northfield Primary School celebrated its commitment to peace-building and child rights on Harmony Day in March. The school's staff and students from some 42 nationalities snacked on lamingtons, vegemite sandwiches and multi-cultural fare as they celebrated what it means to be Australian while honouring their cultural heritage.
The day began with a ceremony where the school officially became a Save the Children Global Peace School and was presented with a certificate of achievement for its outstanding commitment to peace-building and children's rights.
As part of Save the Children's Global Peace School Program, students and teachers work together to become active global citizens who advocate for positive change in the lives of children across the globe.
One of state's oldest public schools, Northfield Primary is the third South Australian school to become a Save the Children Global Peace School. Schools involved with the program work together to create peace-building communities that instill child rights into their education programs and incorporate peace-building into every aspect of school life.
"Save the Children's Global Peace Program has made a significant difference to the Northfield School community," says Northfield Principal Sharon Broadbent. "It provides a rich framework for our peaceful and harmonious school culture. Students from a huge range of different cultural backgrounds have an understanding, empathy and commitment to peace for themselves, their families, community and the environment. They accept their responsibility to be connected and take action locally and globally."
To become a Save the Children Global Peace School, schools work in collaboration with Save the Children staff to meet established criteria which include the incorporation of peace-building and child rights into existing curriculum.
Learning through play
Each week more than 130 children from Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory have free access to toys and early learning thanks to Save the Children's Mobile Playscheme.
Excited youngsters come running when they see the colourful Mobile Playscheme bus pull up filled with toys, tunnels, see-saws, bikes, prams and a range of other play equipment and craft activities.
Before she had her daughter Taleah, Lisa McKenzie would watch Save the Children staff setting up in her local Darwin community surrounded by excited children. She is now employed as a relief worker with the Playscheme team while her daughter, now aged three, joins the little ones.
The program provides early childhood activities for children aged 0-5 years in conjunction with the Larrakia Nation and Thamarrurr Council, with funding provided by the Commonwealth Government. It also connects parents with relevant government services and advocates on their behalf.
The Mobile Playscheme focuses on families who need extra assistance to minimise isolation by developing support networks. The children have fun, make new friends and develop skills through informal play, while parents and carers receive support for issues and share parenting experiences in a relaxed and informal atmosphere outdoors.
Actively involved with the program since 2005, both Lisa and Taleah have benefited. "It has provided me with employment opportunities as well as new skills and because of all of the activities Taleah is quite advanced for her age. She can use scissors and does pasting and has really benefited from interacting and sharing," says Lisa.
Preparing for the future
Life can be difficult for young people growing up in the East Kimberley. Many are not able to live in a safe environment or find meaningful employment, which can result in them becoming economically and socially marginalised.
Indigenous communities in the region identify high levels of unemployment, welfare dependency and teenage pregnancy as challenging issues. Many young people leave school early, with only one to nine per cent of adults completing Year 12.
Save the Children's Youth at Risk (YAR) Program works with young people from Indigenous communities to increase their ability to make positive life choices. Informal mentoring and training programs for disengaged young people help to re-engage them with their community and promote positive futures.
Eighteen-year-old Sara lives in Wyndham, one of the oldest towns in Western Australia with a population of less than 1,000. She left school in Year 11 to look for work so that she could assist her mother financially. Since joining the YAR program Sara has learnt invaluable skills through the work placement scheme. As well as on-the-job training, Save the Children helped Sara attain her L plates; an 18+ identification card; and a new birth certificate.
Kadeem, who was born and raised in Wyndham, also left school early. "I pulled out of school half way through Year 10 because things were a bit tough at the high school and it put a bit of stress on to me," says the 17-year-old.
After leaving school, Kadeem enrolled at the local TAFE where he also completed his YAR work placement. He says the program has boosted his confidence and the activities and excursions have helped him bond with other participants.
"I've never felt this confident. Before Save the Children I was mainly hiding in a shell; I was very shy. Now I have more confidence to be able to talk out loud and express myself. Nearly everybody who joins up is very quiet, but we have all opened up together," Kadeem says.