Why take part in World Orphan Week?
| As an educator, and former child, you are most likely familiar with the story of Peter Pan. In Neverland, children live with no parents, no adults, no rules. Neverland is inhabited by playful, adventurous boys who refuse to grow up or take on life’s responsibilities... Here, in Canada, it is difficult for us to imagine a group of real life children left to their own devices for a week, let alone for months or years. Yet this is the reality of many of the world’s children, who, without adult caregivers, are thrust into the world of adult problems and responsibilities. They are without someone to love them, care for them, protect them and speak out for their needs. The lives of children without parental care are much less exciting and enviable than those portrayed by Peter Pan and his Lost Boys. |
What is World Orphan Week :
World Orphan Week is a yearly awareness and fund raising campaign that brings the plight of the world’s orphaned and vulnerable children to the attention of youth and their surrounding communities. It began in the UK in 2005 and has since expanded to the United States in Canada.
Why get involved:
The World Orphan Crisis is as bad as it’s ever been..
-There are 143 Million Orphans Worldwide
-Globally there are over 100 million street children
-1.2 million children are trafficked each year
-There are over 300,000 child soldiers worldwide
We need to act now.
Canadians, as citizens of a relatively wealthy and stable country, are in a priviledged position to act to change this situation. As an educator, you can help lead the response to the World Orphan Crisis by learning more about it, engaging tomorrow’s leaders, your students, in the issues that affect children and youth globally, donating time and money, and encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to do so.
SOS Children’s Villages Canada offers free lesson plans, developed by SOS UK in collaboration with educators. They have been adapted to fit in with the elements already in Canadian curriculums for a large variety of grades and subjects. Download WOW lesson plans now.
Click here to Learn more about the World Orphan Crisis, Register for WOW 2010, Download lesson plans & ressources, Donate, or Share this initiative with others.