e-mail
Increasing violence in southern Thailand is being blamed for creating at least another 2000 orphans in that country. In compensation, those losing relatives have been presented 6000 baht ($184.05).
Often touted as one of the ‘cleanest’ international adoption programs in the world, fifty-six Thai children were placed in American families last year. See the State Departments page on the country for more about adoption from Thailand.
In Nigeria, where a 2004 UNICEF study reported about seven million orphans, the President has launched a “… five-year national plan of action for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).”
The OVC national plan provides a clear framework for policy makers, programme planners and implementers at all levels for designing and carrying out interventions to mitigate the impact of orphan hood and other causes of vulnerability on children.
Really?
Considering the fact that there will be at least another million plus orphans within the next three years, they’d better have a pretty good “plan”.
Nigeria is floating in oil to the point that, like the Saudis every single citizen should be more than comfortably well off. That, however, is far from the case because of …?
Yes! Corruption.
Not to worry, though. UNICEF is stepping up like they always do, saying, “It is our hope that this plan will address this situation, so that the rights of these children, who are among the most vulnerable of all, can be fulfilled. The children are waiting for our concrete actions. The time to act is now.”
Actually, the time to act was years ago, but if better late than never means something other than never, well …
I have my doubts … no surprise there, I know … when the plan includes “strategies to strengthen the capacity of care givers and the vulnerable children themselves as well as support to community-based responses …” and other such hip hot-button words that are so popular these days. Capacity strengthening care givers, indeed, and I’m really annoyed with the OVC designation that’s taken children and turned them into a monogram for someone’s letterhead.
The budget is reported to be $1.6 billion over five years, and the five years are to be 2006 to 2010. Since we’re already half way through 2007 and the plan was “launched” last week, I’m doing that head-scratching thing again.
By the way, adoption from Nigeria is difficult. Here’s more on that.
And to wrap on a much more pleasant note …
For adult adoptees from Korea living in Europe, the Seoul YWCA will be hosting its 18th annual summer school for Korean Adoptees in July. Programs will include history tours, language and cooking classes, lessons in Korean etiquette and more. See the site for more information.
I’m so hoping a program like this will be available for my kids when they hit the 18 to 30 age range the program serves. What a great time that must be, on so many levels!
For a few more adoption-related tidbits that don’t quite fit, see today’s post in Paradise Preoccupied, the somewhat sillier place I hang words.
