Global Child Summer 2015

Global Child THE MAGAZINE OF PLAN IN AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2015

MY Right to Food From little things big things grow

What Girls Want Tomorrow’s leaders speak up

South Sudan: Report from the field

plus

2015 CALENDAR

the

Plan story Founded more than 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world with no political affiliations or religious agenda. We work at the grassroots to empower communities to overcome poverty so that children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

We encourage children to be actively

involved in improving their communities.

We unite, empower and inspire people around the globe to champion every child’s right to survive, develop to their fullest, be protected from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation and participate fully in family, cultural and social life. Together with our supporters we can transform the world for children.

Transform the world for children.

SUMMER 2015

Front cover: Samuon, 13, is accessing her right to food through a Plan project in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she grows and learns about nutritious food at school. Read the full story on page 10.

Inside cover: Denise, 13 lives in a Rwandan village. She recently lost her mother after many years struggling with HIV. The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 2

By Ian Wishart CEO, Plan International Australia

Australia can’t afford to break its promise to vulnerable children Dear supporters, Helping Plan grow into the organisation it is today has been immeasurably rewarding.

I have seen people experience the joy of fresh water for the first time. Young people have told me what they want to do with their education. I’ve met countless girls who have avoided a forced marriage and stayed in school directly because of Plan’s work.

But now this progress is seriously at stake.

Unfortunately, the Federal Government has made it loud and clear that helping children around the world access their basic human rights is no longer a priority.

We’re devastated.

You might have heard that $11 billion has been slashed from the Australian aid

budget. We are shocked and angered because these cuts will have massive consequences for the most vulnerable boys and girls in the poorest parts of the world. Plan’s work is only possible with the combined support of everyday Australians like you, and our Government.

When I took on the role of CEO at Plan 15 years ago, we were a small organisation committed to transforming the world for children. We’ve now grown into an efficient and fiercely passionate team of experts in our field. Together, we’ve improved the lives of an entire generation of children.

In 2015, we’re asking the Australian Government not to break its promises to the world’s poorest children. Plan’s work is setting children up for life – why stop this progress in its tracks?

In this edition of Global Child, you will read about the incredible amount of progress being made. Take Samuon (on the cover) for example. She’s growing her own vegetables – and learning about nutrition at school through a Plan project funded by both members of the public like you and the Australian aid budget. Without this support, this project wouldn’t exist.

Thank you for not turning your back on the world’s most vulnerable children. When that’s what our own government is doing, we need your support more than ever.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Wishart

Plan International Australia is standing with a range of other organisations to oppose the aid cuts, and we ask that you join us.

Find out more about how the cuts will affect the world’s most vulnerable at save.australianaid.org

Contents Community News

pull-out wall calendar

4 Events and updates

12 Stick me on your wall!

PLAN IN ACTION

the voice of youth

8 My one wish: children in Ebola-affected

18 What girls want

countries speak up 10 The right to food: Samuon’s special soup 14 Indian Ocean Tsunami: ten years on 16 South Sudan: we can’t turn our backs

SUPPORTERS IN FOCUS 20 An unforgettable trip to Thailand 22 Mitchell: star fundraiser and self-published author

Global Child Summer 2015, Vol.38. Global Child is the magazine of Plan International Australia and is published biannually. Editorial enquiries: editor@plan.org.au Plan International Australia | Address: 18/60 City Road, Southbank, Melbourne VIC 3006 | Phone: 13 75 26 Fax: 03 9670 1130 | Email: info@plan.org.au | Web: www.plan.org.au To support Plan visit www.plan.org.au. Donations to Plan of $2 or more are tax deductible.

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Plan. © 2015. All material in Global Child is under copyright; however, articles and photographs may be reproduced with permission from Plan. Plan is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct and is a trusted recipient of funding from the Australian Government.

Give a

community

news

Gift of Hope

Congratulations to @miss_kiri, the winner of our #GirlsMatter competition, who won a $2,000 Intrepid Travel voucher!

Any occasion, lasting

Birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s and Mother’s and Father’s Day. 2015 is brimming with reasons to celebrate, and one gift can make a world of difference. When you buy a gift from our online store, you're giving children and their families a real and lasting way out of poverty.

Visit plan.org.au/giftsofhope

10 46

To launch Plan’s Instagram account, we asked you to show us a female leader in your world for our #GirlsMatter competition. The results were inspiring.

From bosses, politicians, mothers, sisters and friends, we met some incredible women. The winning entry, shown above, scored a $2,000 travel voucher with Intrepid! Congratulations @miss_kiri – we can’t wait to hear about your adventure abroad!

Find us at @plan_australia

athreound

world

15

$

World Health Organization declare the Ebola epidemic an international health emergency, describing it as the worst outbreak in the four-decade history of tracking the disease.

11 OC TOBER

$

Training a teacher in Laos

Three maths bags to help children learn in Uganda

1 OC TOBER

Millions of people around the world marched to demand action on climate change.

The world celebrates International Day of the Girl with events, speeches, and social media activity highlighting the importance of girls’ rights.

SUMMER 2015

$

Two chicks for a family in Cambodia

A speedy round-up of events and news that have caught our attention recently.

21 SEPTEMBER

8 AUGUST

change

1 DECEMBER

en to Plan sends 25 young Australian wom t wha and y ualit ineq der speak out on gen nt iame Parl at girls ld’s wor they want for the 19). e pag on e mor d (rea a House in Canberr

10 DECEMBER

Typhoon Hagupit hits The Philippines just over one year after Typhoon Haiyan claimed thousands of lives and caused destruction in its wake.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to child rights activists Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi.

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 4

let's get digital

We’re all over social media and Plan people are writing blogs every week. But what we love most is hearing from you throu gh comments, likes and emails. Ke ep them coming!

The Ebola crisis in West Africa has been declared an international emergency. Schools have closed, kids have lost their parents and families are facing hardship. So we’re calling out to Australian schools to help fight the spread of Ebola together.

Here are a few comments fro m

you that caught our attention :

I am a feminist because I believe men and women should have the same rights and opportunities. @Scott Burchell

Visit kidsgive.com.au for child-friendly learning tools, fundraising ideas and inspiration to make a serious difference in the lives of children and families affected by the virus.

kidsgive.com.au

I just helped children get a better education in the Philippines by donating to @PlanAustralia's Education projects.

Join me! @Gordon34

I sponsored a child today. I hope this helps.

Thank you to Daniella for approaching me.

It feels great!!! @Steve Haag Just registered to sponsor a child in #SouthSudan through @PlanAustralia feeling excellent! @rights_matter

facebook.com/planaustralia • instagram.com/plan_austra lia twitter.com/planaustralia

Feel good about banking Bendigo Bank gives you the opportunity to fund Plan projects, at no cost to you.

The bank’s new initiative 'act.' allows you to earn and donate banking profits to Plan’s School Breakfast Project where vulnerable children are given a daily meal of rice, fish and beans when they get to school each morning. All you need to do is something you already do every day: bank online. Sign up, and act here: letsact.com.au

1 Bank with act.

SUMMER 2015

2 Fund Projects.

3 Feel good.

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 5

Taking the Lead What would you say to your teenage self? To coincide with our Because I am a Girl celebrations, we asked nine leading Aussie women from a range of industries to write to their teenage selves. They included The Hon. Quentin Bryce AD CVO, actor Melanie Vallejo, musician Clare Bowditch and more. Visit becauseiamagirl.com.au to read theirs, and add your own.

To my teenage self, Here's the truth. I spent much of my teenage years alternating between feeling incredibly insecure, and acting incredibly brave. I wanted to be loved and approved of so desperately, but I wanted to be loved for who I was. I wondered where my place was in the world, and when I didn't find it, I decided to go ahead and make it.

All the while, I was kind of thinking of girls exactly like you: girls who will one day read this, and who need a reminder of what is possible in the world.

And so, I dare you. Go ahead and prove to yourself and me and to all those who came before and come after you, what is possible in the world for young women with big hearts who know that caring, and vulnerability, are in fact super-powers.

So. Find people who understand you, people who light you up and tell you the truth but do it with love, and don't waste your time trying to get the approval of people who you don't even really like or respect or even know. Approve of yourself.

And when all else fails, go outside, and spend some time sniffing flowers. Sounds simple, and it indeed is.

Clare Bowditch x TO MY TEENAGE SELF…

Speak up!

Girls in developing countries are at risk.

The Australian Government plans to slash the Australian aid budget by $11 billion dollars. Plan relies on the combined support from people like you, and government funding to reach communities. As a result of the cuts, hundreds of thousands of children, particularly girls, will be denied the opportunity to access education, health, food and clean water programs provided by organisations such as Plan Australia.

We need your help: sign our petition to demand the Australian Government stop the cuts before children, particularly girls, get hurt.

Sign: bit.ly/SaveAusAidPetition

Make a difference one coffee cup at a time República Organic’s founder Jacqueline Arias built her company on a foundation of fair trade and positive impact.

She also believes in the power girls have to reach their potential if they have access to their rights like education, protection and health. Which is why República is supporting Plan through its new Great Cities coffee capsules.

“I believe we can create a sustainable future when every girl is born with an equal opportunity to change the world. We partner with Plan to help bring that vision into reality.” – Jacqueline Arias Purchase República Organic coffee capsules, compatible with Nespresso® coffee machines, at Coles, Woolworths or online at republicaorganic.com.au *Nespresso® is a trademark of Societe Des Produits Nestle SA. Neither that company nor its affiliates have manufactured or endorsed any República Organic products.

FIND PEOPLE WHO uNDErSTA PEOPLE WHO LI ND YOu, GHT YOu uP AND TEL YOu THE TruTH L cLArE BO WDITcH - MuSIc IAN

becauseiamagirl. com.au

SUMMER 2015

e V ale I an L eslie e Plan Australia regrets to inform that long-term supporter Ian Leslie has passed away. Ian was a foundation member of the Australian Board when the Foster Parents Plan organisation was established in Australia in 1971. Ian served Plan in various capacities over a period of 25 years, eventually being elected Vice Chairman of the International Board. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Ian’s friends and family.

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 6

Adventurers, this is your calling!

Quick facts TRIP DURATION

13 days DATES

Raise funds for the world's girls and explore an incredible part of the world in 2015.

23 October 4 November 2015

With stunning Himalayan views, traditional teahouses, tiny hamlets, prayer flags and hot springs, the Annapurna region is among the best trekking destinations in the world. On Plan’s Trek for Girls Nepal 2015 you’ll experience it all.

CHALLENGE DURATION

5

days

ACCOMMODATION

Twin-share in 2-3 star hotels and teahouses

intensity

if you can walk up a hill, you can do this trek!

By signing up to our Nepal Trek 2015, you’ll raise vital funds for Plan’s Girls Fund, giving girls the foundation they need to overcome poverty and reach their full potential. You’ll also spend a day visiting a Plan project so you can see first-hand the work you’re supporting.

Learn more at plan.org.au/trek-for-girls

Building back better, stronger, together

HAIYAN, ONE YEAR ON Typhoon Haiyan, the worst storm in recorded history, devastated the Philippines.

Schools and homes were flattened, and thousands of lives were lost. Thanks to you, we delivered life-saving supplies to help build the country back better and stronger – and we're continuing the work today.

From everyone at Plan, thank you.

44,000 195,000 1.5M + + children received

back to school kits

SUMMER 2015

people received

people received

temporary shelter or support to rebuilD

food supplies

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 7

PLAN in ACTION

MY ONE WISH FOR 2015

Hawa, 11, Liberia

“

Ebola has taken away all my happiness

— Hawa, 11, Liberia

WHAT IS PLAN DOING TO FIGHT EBOLA? SUMMER 2015

”

Running public health information campaigns – including radio broadcasts

as we begin the new year,

and people all over the world plan new year’s resolutions, children in the West Africa region, where Ebola has killed more than 7,500 people, have one wish for 2015.

To go back to school.

Providing medical kits

Distributing food aid

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 8

“

I wish 2015 will be a prosperous year where school will re-open...

— Patience, 15, Liberia

”

Children in Ebola-affected countries including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone urgently need your support.

Help us fight Ebola: plan.org.au/stop-ebola

She said that, like Yamedey, every child in Liberia has been affected by the Ebola virus because schools have closed.

Seven-year-old Yamedey says that since the outbreak of the virus, she has lost two of her friends and schools have closed across Sierra Leone.

Yamedey is hoping schools will re-open in 2015 to give her and her friends the opportunity to continue learning at this crucial time of her education. “I miss the normal school activities and all the good times we had together before the Ebola outbreak”.

Eleven-year old Hawa remembers enjoying life before Ebola, too. Usually at Christmas time she spends time with friends and family, but this year she simply didn’t expect to experience the usual happiness she shares at the time. “I had absolutely nothing to celebrate,” she says. “Ebola has taken away all my happiness. I am discouraged.”

“My only wish for 2015 is the re-opening of schools. I am hoping the Government of Liberia will re-open them or else we will be left behind with our education.”

This year, Plan is continuing its work in Ebolaaffected regions, with child protection at the heart of everything we do.

Yamedey, 7, Sierra Leone

Hawa said that because of Ebola she and many other children in Bomi County, Liberia have been abandoned by their parents and some are left with only their mother to care for them.

“Our father has turned his back on us, he doesn’t care for us and our mother, in fact, we don’t know his whereabouts and we are abandoned; we feel ostracised by the society.” She knows this isn’t right for children. “This is a worse thing for any child.’’

We asked Hawa what her one wish for 2015 is, and her response was no surprise.

Training health workers to control infection

SUMMER 2015

Safe disposal of the deceased

Setting up hand washing stations at schools, health posts and other public facilities to help keep families safe.

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 9

PLAN in ACTION

Samuon’s Special Soup

By Charlotte Strong

Samuon, 13, is accessing her right to food through a Plan project in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she grows and learns about nutritious food at school.

T

hrough Plan, Samuon is accessing her right to food – and learning a few culinary skills along the way.

In the thick, sticky heat, Samuon treads carefully through the vegetable garden next to her family home. The densely planted corn stalks tower over her tiny frame as she threads between them, gently pushing leaves away from her face.

She stops occasionally to check on the progress of wild herbs, string beans and giant cucumbers, all growing prosperously around the rows of corn.

She turns the vegetables over and inspects each one carefully before plucking it from the stem. “We have to pay close attention to how ripe they are,” she explains, gently but confidently. It’s obvious she’s spent a lot of time in this garden.

“We have to know when they’re ready to pick. This is the secret to cooking my special soup – it’s in the ingredients!” Samuon is one of thousands of children accessing her right to food through Plan. Her family receives 10kg of rice every month, and she’s learning how to plant and grow vegetables at school.

SUMMER 2015

Samuon’s special soup is just one dish in her repertoire of fresh and healthy recipes using vegetables grown in her home garden. With its sweet and sour flavours, this soup is the one she enjoys cooking most.

To prepare the meal, she washes, peels and chops each vegetable – first the giant cucumber and then the leafy greens, followed by the fragrant herbs. Everything is fried up in a pan over open flames, set up outside the basic wood hut where she lives with her father and younger brother.

This is a daily ritual for Samuon, who at thirteen years old bears the responsibility of feeding her family every single night. She carries this not as a burden, but as the duty of an obedient and serious girl whose mother is deceased, whose father is gravely ill, and whose little brother is still too young to take on much responsibility himself. Samuon has taken on many of the motherly responsibilities in the family. Their much older sister lives and works as a housemaid, 30 kilometres away in Siem Reap city. When she can, she sends money home

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 10

Samuon, 13, eating breakfast of rice and greens with classmates.

“

I love seeing the vegetables grow

to help pay for essential food and her father’s medicines.

Even so, the family struggles through each day.

“

The oil hisses and spits but Samuon doesn’t flinch. When the aromas begin to rise she adds water, and then a fish caught fresh from the river and purchased from the local fish monger who delivers her goods house-to-house on bicycle.

The enormous pre-cooked fish is pulled apart, its moist flesh adding essential protein to the dish. Finally, Samuon pours in the water and then sits, gazes at the flames and quietly waits for the soup to boil.

Samuon’s father Deoum looks on from his position on the rickety steps of the stilt hut. At 36, his emaciated frame and weathered skin are alarmingly at odds with his living age.

Watching Samuon and her brother Ang quietly go about their chores as he sits helplessly to the side is a reality that he can’t bear as much as he knows he must accept, as his illness worsens each day.

“Both my children have to work so hard … I feel responsible for all the tasks at home like looking after the vegetable garden, cooking, washing up, going to the market, cooking and carrying the water in the dry season. But the children have to do it all now.

“Me – I’m not proud with myself, even though I’m getting sick, I try my best to raise my children. But I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in the future, so that’s why I teach Samuon how to do the cooking and take care of the garden here.”

Deoum’s frustration is palpable; his concerns for his children’s futures are very real. There is no extended family, no one to care for the children when he is gone. His worry is also for their situation now – Samuon and Ang spend less time at school than their classmates, their free time taken up with chores. In addition to her other responsibilities, Samuon rises at four each morning to help her father cook fried biscuits, which she and her brother take to school to sell to their fellow students. The school allows it due to the family’s disadvantaged situation, and it earns them about 50 cents a day but leaves little time for Samuon to concentrate on homework or playing with her friends.

SUMMER 2015

More than that, Deuom’s children carry the emotional burden of having lost their mother, and slowly losing their father.

The family’s situation is certainly bad, but the outlook for Samuon is not completely bleak. She is attending school almost every day and learning essential academic and life skills. Through a special school program and her father’s determined teaching, she is accessing her right to food now and learning how to feed herself and her brother for the future so they never go hungry or miss out on proper nutrition. Her body is growing, her brain is developing and while she’s more exposed to life’s hardships than you’d ever wish for a child, she has happiness in her life and is proud of taking care of her family.

As for the gardening, this is where she shines. “I love seeing the vegetables grow,” she grins. “I feel happy to be in the garden.”

Samuon sprinkles some salt into the soup and tastes it. “It needs more,” she says, with the confidence of a seasoned chef.

She scoops another spoon of salt from the jar and stirs it in, then tastes again. “Mmm – this time it’s nice”.

Time to serve up. A few minutes later the family of three sit together at the base of the steps, happily slurping from steaming bowls, enjoying each other’s company as much as the delicious soup.

Plan is working in 250 primary schools in Cambodia to help children stay healthy and in school. This involves: • Helping schools establish vegetable gardens where students learn how to grow nutritious food • Training parents, teachers and senior students in food, nutrition and hand-washing hygiene, so they can pass on this knowledge • Providing daily school breakfasts, often using ingredients from the school gardens.

To support programs like this and help children access their right to food, become a Supporter of Change today.

supporterofchange.org.au Head to the back page for Samuon’s Special Soup recipe!

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 11

In 2015, let's transform the world for children. j A N

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8 March | International Women’s Day In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

One year later, this day was established.

20 March | International Day of Happiness 20 minutes a day outside in good weather boosts mood, broadens thinking and improves memory!

22 March | World Water Day Access to sanitation, hygiene, and safe water could save 1.5 million children a year.

7 April | World Health Day Under-five mortality is improving. Five in nine developing regions have reduced the under-five mortality rate by 50%.

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20 JUNE | World Refugee Day The number of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people worldwide has, for the first time in the post-World War II era, exceeded 50 million people.

put me on your wall!

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11 OCTOBER | International Day of the Girl If a girl has enough to eat, a safe environment, and an education, she’ll work to raise the standard of living for herself, her family, her community and her entire country.

16 OCTOBER | World Food Day Did you know one in nine people don’t get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life?

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12 AUGUST | International Youth Day “Be bold. Have a go. Believe in yourself. Volunteer. Stand tall and proud.” The Hon. Quentin Bryce to her teenage self.

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8 september | International Literacy Day “A person’s a person, no matter how small” Dr. Seuss.

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3 DECEMBER | International Day of Persons with Disabilities 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school.

plan.org.au

PLAN in ACTION

Indian Ocean Tsunami ten years on

On Boxing Day 2004, a powerful earthquake generated a devastating tsunami which slammed into 14 nations across the Indian Ocean. More than 229,000 people were killed – and another 45,000 are still recorded as missing – making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Some of the worst devastation was centred on Indonesia, where at least 130,000 people lost their lives. Even now, the impact of this unprecedented disaster has left marks and memories that many live with each and every day.

To help communities recover, Plan worked in countries to deliver urgently needed aid to people needing food, shelter and emotional support.

Three survivors look toward bright futures

Today, Plan is still working in the countries where the tsunami hit, helping children reach their full potential.

9.0

magnitude earthquake

waves of up to

30 METRES more 229,000 than

lives lost

RAISED $49.1 MILLION

to support

1 MILLION tsunami suvivors SUMMER 2015

Megawati, 18 After the tsunami, Megawati had to live in the hills for five months and she was so grateful to be able to return to school.

“When I came down, I didn’t go directly to my house. I went to a school in another province, but it was difficult to concentrate on my studies. After a few months, I was able to go back to school. I was so happy. To me, school is very important, because without education we do not know anything.”

The memory of the tsunami still haunts Megawati. “I still feel traumatised by the tsunami and if I see the ocean I feel scared. I recently started making short films, as I am interested in photography and videography. I have made one about the issue of bullying, but I am not quite ready to make one about my experience of the tsunami.”

"After a few months, I was able to go back to school.

I was so happy."

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 14

"Now, ten years on, I am studying at university, which I love."

Mirza, 20 “I was in the city when the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami tore through my community. Unfortunately, three of my siblings, as well as my mum, were at home. They all died. I never saw them again. They just disappeared in the wave.”

Mirza was just 10 at the time and it took him three days to find his older sister. “When I finally found her, it was a mixture of happiness and sadness. We had to stay at my cousin’s house for one month before we were sent to an evacuation house.”

When they returned, it was Mirza’s sister that looked after him – she was just 21.

“We struggled to make ends meet for a while and we were reliant on aid from organisations such as Plan International, but eventually my sister got a job teaching children in the community,” says Mirza.

In the years following the tsunami, Mirza has also learnt a lot about tsunamis and he has taken part in many disaster trainings about what to do in the event of another tsunami.

Mirza still lives with his sister to this day, while all of his remaining siblings are married.

Is marriage on the cards for Mirza? The young man, who is studying tourism, replies: “I must finish my education first.”

"We struggled to make ends meet for a while and we were reliant on aid from NGOs such as Plan International, but eventually my sister got a job teaching children in the community."

SUMMER 2015

Nisfu, 24 On the morning the tsunami hit, Nisfu’s mother was busy preparing cakes – she sold them at the beach every Sunday. But that morning, she decided to stay home and cook for the family instead. “If we had gone to the beach, we would have died,” Nisfu said.

When the earthquake came – and a few minutes later, the tsunami – Nisfu and her family experienced the fright of a lifetime. “We heard two loud noises which they thought were gunfire, followed by screams. When we looked out, we saw people running and jumping on their motorbikes, shouting ‘The water is coming’.

“We gathered up any belongings and we ran,” she explains. “All my immediate family members survived, but my uncle died. When I got back to my village, I was grateful to see my house still intact. It had just suffered water damage.

“Now, ten years on, I am studying at university, which I love. Aceh is completely different too. Every weekend, there is a different festival and new buildings keep cropping up. Aceh is now full of cheerful, happy people.”

Help us support children when disaster strikes. Donate to our Children in Crisis fund.

plan.org.au/childrenincrisis

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 15

PLAN in ACTION

We can’t afford TO turn our backs

By Dave Husy, Director of Programs

Plan’s Dave Husy returns from South Sudan, to urge Australians to continue talking about the devastating crisis in the world’s newest country.

It has been a year since war broke out in South Sudan.

Twelve months of bitter and deadly in-fighting. 365 days of terror for millions of innocents, so many of them children. Not that counting the days, the months and the years means much to the children I have met in my time here in the world’s newest nation. Children like the young girl I saw just this week in Awerial in Lakes State, in the heart of the conflict. No older than 10 or 11, she had trudged three tough and dangerous kilometres to get to school. And she did it on an empty stomach. Yet once she arrived at school, I saw her asking not only for food, but for books and for pens.

Heartbreaking sights like this are all too common in a country in which an end to war seems no closer than it did a year ago. The peace process has stalled and the

conflict is now, ominously, taking on an ethnic dimension that political settlements may struggle to solve.

Thousands of frightened and displaced people are every day seeking shelter in UN bases. This is unprecedented, and the UN Mission in South Sudan now faces grim decisions on what to do with these people. It is not equipped to manage camps within its bases.

While the political and ethnic struggle continues, it is the children of South Sudan who suffer. Many have been, distressingly, separated from families and caregivers, making them more vulnerable to violence, abuse, and recruitment into the conflict as child soldiers.

The trauma of conflict leaves lasting marks on children’s psyche and wellbeing. Even away from the conflict,

Dave

Plan Australia Program Director of Programs with Plan staff and village members in South Sudan.

SUMMER 2015

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 16

FEED FAMILIES TODAY There are families in South Sudan surviving on little LY more than pumpkin leaves.

MuLtIP t If No child should be at risk Your G of malnourishment. But through a new agreement, United Nations partner agencies will multiply Plan donations 15 times. Through our South Sudan Food Appeal, you can provide:

X 15

Children in a resettlement camp for displaced South Sudanese families.

challenges remain. Only 27 per cent of South Sudan’s population is literate, and the schooling system is under almost unbearable pressure.

Schools are too few, and are overcrowded. Less than six per cent of girls aged 13 in South Sudan have some primary education. For young people, the opportunities for employment are limited, and there are only three formal technical institutions in South Sudan – all supported by Plan International. And then there is hunger. In the coming year, over a million people are at risk of food insecurity, and 300,000 children and their families are at risk of facing hunger in 2015 as food stocks run out.

For young children, malnutrition poses a terrible risk to their future, and non-government organisations like Plan are playing an important role in ensuring food and nutrition is provided to the vulnerable.

And yet, for the rest of the world, South Sudan is sliding down our list of priorities. Multiple global emergencies in Syria and in Iraq and the Ebola crisis mean that funds for South Sudan are likely to fall even as needs rise.

The year ahead poses significant challenges for humanitarian organisations. For NGOs like Plan, escalating conflict will directly affect where and how we work. Regulation will give much more government control over our activities. New legislation allowing for detention without charge will also place our workers at risk. Differences in the wider society may also spread to the workplace, and NGOs will struggle to contain political and ethnic divisions among their own staff.

$30 Enough food to protect two families from hunger for the next three months

$90 Six food packs to last a family 90 days including beans, rice, oil, cereal and salt

$225 250kg of food for fifteen separate families

Donate today plan.org.au/FOOD-appeal

Dave

The situation is dire, that is certainly true. But there is still room for hope, even for optimism. But that hope evaporates the moment that we, the world, turn away from South Sudan. It is crucial that we do not.

This is a very young and very fragile country, and it needs our guidance and support. Turning away will only make a terrible situation far worse. That is a thought that millions of innocents – especially the children caught up in this conflict – cannot afford right now.

SUMMER 2015

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 17



The

Voice

of Youth

what giRLs WANT! Discrimination against girls is a serious problem, locally and globally.

At home in Australia, women are still experiencing sexism on a daily basis, facing gender-based violence and are under-represented in parliament.

Around the world, women and girls struggle to claim their rights to food, health, education and protection. Through Plan’s ongoing Because I am a Girl campaign, we work to give girls and women a voice – to highlight inequalities, and bring about worldwide change.

2014 Plan Girl Delegate Morgan Cataldo

Walking the walk To show Australia what girls can really do, we took 25 young women to Parliament House in Canberra. Here they presented their ambitions for the girls and women of the world in front of key MPs including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

This is their call to action for our nation & OUR WORLD 1

2014 Plan Girl Delegates (top to bottom): Emily Cole, Lucy Murrie, Isabel Fabian

SUMMER 2015

Ensure girls in Australia and around the world have access to an inclusive and quality education and life-long learning opportunities.

2

End harmful practices such as child marriage, child labour and human trafficking.

3

Provide accessible health care and protect the sexual and reproductive rights of girls and young women.

4

Ensure women have the same access to employment opportunities as their male counterparts and encourage young women to participate fully in the workforce.

5

Eliminate gender-based violence and improve safety to ensure that all girls are protected from harm.

6

Ensure young women and girls live in an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle and have access to clean water, land and air.

7

Achieve gender equality, the full realisation of women’s and girls’ human rights and the empowerment of all women and girls worldwide.

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 18

DID YOU KNOW? 65 million girls are out of school around the world Every year, 14 million girls under 18 are forced to marry Young women globally have HIV infection rates twice as high as men of the same age When we asked Australian girls who they look up to, only 2% listed women in business

Natasha Stott Despoja AM

Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls

"

A real and lasting improvement to the lives of women and girls requires us all to be leaders within our families, with friends, in workplaces and our communities. It is time for each of us to act to ensure that girls across the globe have the tools and opportunity to shape their world.

"

ATTENTION YOUNG PEOPLE

In 2012 only 3% of Australia’s top 200 companies had female CEOs and 25% of their board members were women On average Australian women working full-time are paid 18.2% less than men

Are you under 25 years old and up for making the world a better place?

FUNDRAISE

ADVOCATE

VOLUNTEER

Raise critically needed funds for boys and girls around the world

Become a champion for child rights!

Educate, inform and change attitudes

We need more hands on deck.

Get on board today!

2015 Plan Youth Ambassadors

Find out how you can get involved and make a difference: plan.org.au/youth SUMMER 2015

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 19

supporters in focus

Power Connection The

of

A Carolyne Thornton Child sponsor

SUMMER 2015

teacher and mother of two, Carolyne Thornton knows first-hand the joy of travel. But her eyes really opened up when she visited her first sponsored child 14 years ago. Recently, she decided her family should experience life in developing countries, and understand what it means for children to access their rights. So, on her recent trip to visit her creative nine-year-old sponsor child Orraphin in Thailand, she took her two kids and husband along for the ride.

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 20

Why did you decide to visit your sponsor child?

It’s the third time I’ve done it. I went to Indonesia twice – I went in 1991, and again in 1998. But this time when I planned to visit my sponsored child in Thailand, I really wanted to take my kids and my husband. I wanted my kids to go, because they’re really lucky – and I want them to see how other people live.

Tell us about what it was like for you and your family to meet your sponsor child and her family …

The people in the community explained that because their village is so remote, they miss out on a lot of resources from the Government. And so it was nice to get my kids to hand out things like books, paper and pens, and then help them colour in and draw. And my son taught the kids how to kick a soccer ball. It was also fantastic to see the resources Plan had been able to provide.

Did you enjoy meeting Orraphin?

She was really shy, and likes drawing. I was glad I bought her some art supplies, because I’m into art myself. So we did some drawing together and she was really happy to have some of her own supplies.

Sadly, when she was little her parents split up, and her mum left. And now she mainly gets taken care of by her grandfather and her father. But we were told she does quite well at school, and she’s keen at reading but the main thing is that she likes drawing and making artwork. It was so sad to say goodbye.

Did you see evidence of Plan’s work in the village?

At her house, Plan had built a new toilet block, so they were able to have a decent toilet and shower area. This stood out from the house, which is really just a hut with a dirt floor. But they had this wonderful clean water supply – it was great to see.

" I really wanted to take

my kids and my husband.

I wanted my kids to go, because they’re really lucky – and I want them to see how other people live. "

SUMMER 2015

" It’s really worthwhile to have that connection with your sponsored child, because I’ve seen how the kids really benefit from Plan."

Also, at the kindergarten in the village, Plan has built a new roof so the kids have an undercover outdoor area where they can sit at little tables and play.

Overall was the trip worth doing?

It’s really worthwhile to have that connection with your sponsored child, because I’ve seen how the kids really benefit from Plan. So in one of the villages I went to in Indonesia, Plan put in all these pipes in the mountain spring so they had running water for the first time. There are criticisms of charities that not all the money goes to the communities.

But I’ve looked into quite a few charities and I can see at Plan, that a lot of it really does.

Do you have any advice for other sponsors who are considering doing a trip?

I think once you make the effort to go and meet them, it’s not something you’ll ever regret. At the last minute I bought a stuffed koala from Brisbane airport to give to Orraphin – and she just clung to that the whole time. The lady at Plan told me she really loved it. I would just say to people it’s really worth it, because it means your family can have a connection with their family.

You can sponsor a child, and visit them in their community too!

Every child has the right to a life free from poverty. When you sponsor a child through Plan, your donations are funding life-changing projects in your child’s community and projects that make it possible for all the children in that community to access their basic rights.

Visit plan.org.au/sponsor

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 21

supporters in focus

Mitchell, 8, proudly showing his homemade book which raised $250

Five minutes with

Mitchell: fundraiser, publisher, star humanitarian We’re amazed by what kids can do. One eight-year-old in particular has stepped up and raised an incredible $250 for the South Sudan Food Appeal by selling his self-published book! The stapled black-and-white booklet tells the uplifting tale of some kids in Africa, who need food to keep playing soccer. We spent five minutes with Mitchell when he came into Plan to hand over his donation.

What’s your name?

And what’s it about?

My name’s Mitchell and I’m from Victoria.

Africans not having food, and then I get money and then I send the money to some people and they go to get food for Africans.

How did you raise the money?

I wrote a book, and sold it to some people who gave me money.

How much did you raise? $250.

What would you say to other kids who want to do something similar to what you did?

I’d say to the kids “go for it!”

How did you make the book?

Inspired by Mitchell’s humanitarian spirit?

You can fundraise too!

I wrote a story and drew some pictures.

It took about three days.

There are endless fun and creative ways to have impact.

Visit: plan.org.au/fundraise

SUMMER 2015

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Girl laughing in Timor Leste

for helping children realise their potential

This publication has been printed by an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) and ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) certified printer using vegetable based inks and a 100% alcohol free printing process. It is manufactured using an independently audited carbon neutral process. The paper is ecoStar, a FSC速 Recycled certified paper made carbon neutral (CN), manufactured from 100% post consumer recycled paper in a process chlorine free environment and under an ISO 14001 EMS. This publication is fully recyclable, please dispose of wisely.

SUMMER 2015

The Magazine of Plan in Australia Global Child 23

SAMUON'S SPECIAL SOUP Ingredients: 1 x whole fish (Basa, or any other white-fleshed fish) 3 x cups of chopped vegetables – Samuon uses cucumber, eggplant and leafy greens like water spinach and rice paddy herb from her garden.

Basil Salt and pepper

Method: Place whole fish in a hot steamer. Once cooked, flake the fish meat off the bones.

Heat two-three litres of water in a saucepan, and once boiling add chopped vegetables to hot water until tender. Add cooked fish, and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes before adding the basil. Add salt and pepper to taste. You might need more salt – but Samuon says the trick to this soup is tasting it as you go to make sure the flavours are just right!

Is there a child in your family with a special recipe?

Follow SNAP TAG

@plan_australia on Instagram

them making their special recipe and

#RightToFood

Samuon, 13, cooking up a storm at her home in Siem Reap Cambodia.