LEARNING WITHOUT FEAR COG’S NEWEST CAMPAIGN
FOR HIS CHILDREN by Mary Ann McCoy Executive Director I have seen firsthand the struggles and lost hope that orphaned children in Uganda experience daily. because they have no money for school fees, sometimes it is because they lack food and clean water, and often it is hopelessness felt after losing parents to the AIDS pandemic that continues to sweep SubSaharan Africa.
are discovering that intimidating, shaming and humiliating children does not help them learn new skills,” Eunice said. “It limits their possibilities.”
Corporal punishment, sexual violence, and bullying against children are pervasive problems in Uganda, as in many countries in the world. A vast majority of the children in the area where Children of Grace children come from are abused by adults on a regular basis. In response, Children of Grace partnered with Raising Voices, a nonprofit based in Kampala, Uganda, to advocate for children’s rights as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
By partnering with Raising Voices, Children of Grace hopes to help teachers create school environments that help children to heal from abuse and encourage learning.
FA C T S
This program’s implementation is stymied by the widespread belief that corporal punishment is a necessary and acceptable form of discipline. Most schools intimidate and shame children if school rules are broken, students receive poor grades, or if children speak out of turn. Instead of children’s potential being unlocked at school, many experience intense fear in the classroom.
* Ugandan government
Because children have a basic right to a safe school environment, Eunice, one of COG’s child mentors, has initiated has initiated Plan International’s “Learn Without Fear” campaign in 10 schools throughout the Jinja area.”We
* In many primary
has banned corporal punishment in schools, but the ban is not enforced regularly.
For me, the story of Ruth exemplifies what Children of Grace is all about. I saw the wonder in her eyes as she was told she would go to school, and I saw a miracle transpire as she was given the opportunity for a future filled with hope. God continues to change lives here through Children of Grace, and I am forever grateful to each and every one of you for your continued support and prayers. Thank you for making this ministry possible, and thank you for prayerfully considering sponsoring additional children through Children of Grace. Mary Ann McCoy Executive Director
* Girls as young as 10
are being forced to have sex with their teachers to pass exams, and threatened with poor grades and failure if they refuse. schools, a student may receive corporal punishment in front of the entire student assembly for minor infractions.
Nearly 40% of adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa are currently not in school.
g n i t a r b e l Ce 10 years This year is our 10th anniversary – a decade of sharing God’s love and hope to AIDS orphans in Uganda. In celebration of this milestone, we are having a “Decade of Hope” fundraising banquet on October 22, 2011 at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, California. You can be part of this event by volunteering your time, sponsoring a table, or bringing a guest. For more information, call Kathy at 408.930.6953 or email kathy@childrenofgrace.com.
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR 10 YEAR CELEBRATION *Pray for AIDS orphans for 10 days
*Invite 10 people to join Children of Grace on Facebook *Give $10 to one of our projects
*Bring 10 friends to the “Decade of Hope” fundraising banquet
*Volunteer 10 hours to help with our “Decade of Hope” celebration
COG’S NEW GIRLS EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
Ugandan girls are less likely to attend school than their male siblings. This makes them more vulnerable to HIV, poverty, early marriage, and pregnancy. An education is a girl’s greatest opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty and secure their economic ndependence. This year, 46 adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 14 were selected the new Girls Can program. This program will equip girls with academic, leadership and life skills to help them end the cycle of poverty and protect them against HIV.
call to action Children of Grace often shares stories of hope, but for every hopeful story, there are hundreds of untold stories of struggle, fear and lack of opportunity. Children of Grace wants to respond to this hopelessness with the love and hope of Jesus Christ through providing hope in the form of education, healthcare and empowerment programs to Ugandan AIDS orphans.
AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. The AIDS pandemic has left the alleys of villages flooded with orphaned children not enrolled in school. Many of those children struggle daily just to survive.
FOR JUST $38 A MONTH, YOU CAN RESTORE HOPE TO ONE OF THESE CHILDREN.
With a simple donation, you can change a child’s future forever.
In 2011, we will: * Assign each girl a female mentor to be a trustworthy trainer and coach * Provide a birth certificate to acknowledge each girl’s worth and rights * Train the girls in leadership, negotiation, and communication skills to build self-confidence * Teach the girls about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS
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