Hey class,
I found this short but interesting article in Prensa Libre that speaks about an educational fair for young students in the city of Totonicapán. According to Dora Alonzo of la asociación Investigación, Desarrollo y Educación Integral (IDEI)this educational fair forms part of an essential project called “Derechitos con nuestros derechos" which provides that critical education that students need today.The program is geared toward informing students about education, peace, health, commercial sexual exploitation and HIV and AIDS. The program basically seeks to inform the children about the issues to which they can fall prey to in order to avoid being trapped in the hands of those involved illegal activity such as human trafficking and the illegal sex trade. The fair has had 50 participants and has been deemed useful and informative by one of the participants Odilia Baquiax who believes that the government should implement more programs such as these to help inform children and make them all the wiser to all the challenges that they may face in their daily lives.
I agree wholeheartedly that more programs such as these should be established within the Guatemalan community. Some people may say that such topics are too harsh or difficult for children but we live in the real world where some children face horrors everyday that we cannot even begin to imagine. In North America such problems like human trafficking, child labour or even HIV/AIDS are taboo but in many developing countries these issues are what people have to face everyday and by the government choosing to ignore such issues I feel is a disservice to the citizens that they took an oath to serve and protect. By implementing more programs like 'La feria educativo', the government will show that it is important to them the education, safety and well-being of the children - of the future of the country - and this will go a long way toward the development of Guatemala as a whole.
I believe that education is the key to development because it allows people to develop their individual capacities thereby allowing them to operate at their fullest potential. By giving these children that key it allows them to unlock the door to greater possiblilites and at the same time it may just save their lives. In my opinion that makes it all worthwhile.
http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/Ninos-participan-feria-educativa_0_342565771.html
Nicholas Murphy, response to Lyn-Marie
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lyn-Marie that education of children is essential for the future of a given country. The program ‘Derechitos con Nuestros Derechos’ is a good example of how this can be done. By not holding back about the dangers that await them in future, and by offering constructive strategies as to how to deal with these dangers, children have a better chance of succeeding in life. Not only will this give them a greater level of happiness overall, it will also contribute to the growth of a developing country’s economy by producing contributing members of society. In Guatemala, where an enormous percentage of the population is under fifteen, a program such as this will be especially useful.
I think that children are more capable of understanding the issues broached in this program than we give them credit for. Although we might find it awkward to talk to them about HIV, sexual exploitation, or health-related issues, they understand the significance of what they are being told, and can implement the strategies adults suggest to combat these problems. Even if their understanding is not total, the message ‘AIDS is bad’ is easy to get across.
With Guatemala in such a fragile stage of development, the awareness children have of societal problems is all-important since they will be the ones to combat them. Derechitos con Nuestros Derechos is one initiative that will hopefully lead to a better educated, independent youth culture which will take the lead in combatting the common problems that plague developing countries.