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Kids for Kenya - Page Text Content

FC: kids for kenya: an a-z book of children's rights

1: When we first heard about the Kenya Education Fund and the work of Bradley Broder, we knew we had to invite him to our school to share the stories of children in Kenya. In Kenya, both public and private high schools costs hundreds of dollars in tuition each year. This means that roughly two-thirds of Kenyans --many of them girls-- will never complete high school because they are poor. In response to Bradley's visit, we incorporated children's rights into our curriculum by creating our "Kids for Kenya" online project. We hope that in some small way, the fundraising efforts of our students, parents and teachers will help to eradicate poverty, lack of education and inadequate health care for a child in Kenya. Written and Illustrated by: Samantha, Isra, Sara, Kaila, Eric, Sylvia, Deanna, Jenna, Brittany, Michelle, Hannah, Rinki, Chloe, Byeongho, Fawad, Veronica, Anthony, Sajan, Priya, Yash, Karan, Maria Ines, and Amanda Special thanks to Bradley Broder for visiting our school and inspiring our students and teachers to be part of the solution. This book would not have been created without the help and dedication of many wonderful teachers: Jodie Ruggiano, fifth grade teacher; Karen Kliegman, Library-Educational Technology Specialist; Noel Forte, Technology Integration Facilitator; Lynn Giorgi, Technology Teacher; and Beth Williams, Art Educator. For more information about this project, please visit http://eev.liu.edu/KK/kidsforkenya/index.html. c2008 Searingtown School~Herricks UFSD http://www.herricks.org/searingtown.cfm

2: FOREWORD As an advocate of education for all children, one of the biggest privileges of my job is giving American students an idea of what schooling is like for kids in Africa. Because of the abstract nature and distance of Africa’s problems, not every school I visit is able to grasp the true magnitude of the poverty that affects the “bottom billion” and the consequences this poverty has on children. That is not the case with Searingtown School however. The pictures and ideas of children’s rights depicted in these pages illustrate the wonderful global consciousness that radiates from their student body and faculty. With candid talent and sensitivity, Searingtown’s students show their deep understanding of how life for their African counterparts currently is… and how it should be. In Kids for Kenya: An A-Z book of Children’s Rights, we get a rare opportunity to hear from children what they believe their rights as young humans are. A poignant example is the letter “I”, “Children have the right to express their ideas.” Unfortunately, the “ideas” of children are too often ignored by world policy makers, resulting in too few resources being directed at educational programs that hold the promise of self-reliance and a better living standard. In Kenya, for instance, roughly 60% of students never see their graduation day due to the simple inability to pay school fees. In many other countries the situation is even worse. Like a cure for many human diseases that is locked inside the disappearing rain forests of the world, it is not difficult to imagine all the magnificent ideas locked away in the untapped minds of children who will one day make the world a better place. Education is the key to unlocking this creative tsunami, and protecting every child is an investment in the future of humanity. This is an important book to share with your family, as well as a valuable peer-to-peer teaching manual for kids who never realized they had a voice to share. I commend Searingtown School’s commitment to educational excellence and encourage others to follow their lead. Peace. Bradley Broder http://www.kenyaeducationfund.org

3: adults should protect children from harm.

4: kids should not have to beg for food.

5: The rights of children should be known by the leaders of countries all over the world.

6: Kids should be free to develop their mental and physical abilities.

7: Children have the right to live in a clean environment.

8: A child needs a loving family to feel safe and secure.

9: Governments should have laws in place that protect children. | No child should have to experience the pain of hunger.

10: Children have the right to express their ideas.

11: We must work to create a world of justice and opportunity for all children, all over the world. | Kids should not be abused or neglected.

12: You can donate money to purchase mosquito nets to help prevent malaria. | We must do all we can to alleviate the lack of sanitary living conditions in Kenya.

13: no child should become an orphan because of AIDS.

14: Children have the right to be officially recognized and registered at birth. | All children need time to play.

15: All children deserve quality education. | Children are entitled to observe their religion.

16: Children need to be taught how to protect themselves from danger. | All children are entitled to go to school regardless of their gender.

17: Underage girls should not be forced into marriage. | Children should never have to participate in or experience the violence of war.

18: Parents should not have to choose between sending their children to work or to school. Kids have the right to grow up in an environment free of exploitation and abuse.

19: YOU can make a difference in the life of a child in kenya!

20: the world must zero in on solutions to help children everywhere!

BC: Searingtown School, Albertson, New York. Herricks UFSD All proceeds from this book go to the Kenya Education Fund. Please visit their website to see how you can help a child in Kenya. http://www.kenyaeducationfund.org/home.html