Over the previous month, I have posted blogs raising awareness about the risks and dangers ahead for vulnerable children, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recession that will follow it. However, I do not just want to focus on the gloomy side. It is important to acknowledge the various plans, measures and campaigns that are being prepared and implemented. So, that is what I would like to do in this blog.
Eurochild, a European network of organisations involved in defending child rights – of which I am a member – was been hard at work advocating the EU that child poverty and child protection need to be given special attention as the EU rewrote its budget to take into account the realities of the pandemic and the economic situation it creates. They have joined together in partnership with various big organisations to get this message across. Including joining a call to action to protect vulnerable families and children in alternative care across Europe, designed by Hope and Homes for Children and Lumos.
The proposed EU budget for 2021-2027 now includes a 5% allocation of European Social Fund Plus resources to address child poverty in every EU country. The EU has announced its intention to develop a European Child Guarantee to help tackle child poverty and social exclusion of children. It has also announced that 2023 will be the EU Year on Child Poverty.
I was also greatly encouraged to see that the German stimulus package announced in May included not just financial support and bail-outs for big companies, but among other things also 300,- Euro per child to be given to families.
The organisation Changing the Way We Care has developed tools for Kenyan social workers to support families of children who were suddenly sent home from institutions when the pandemic restrictions started. This will help increase the likelihood of these children being able to remain with their families. And similar initiatives are being set up by various organisations in other countries where children were sent away from institutions without preparation or support.
The Better Care Network Netherlands is currently preparing a campaign to raise awareness to prevent large numbers of volunteers going to ‘orphanages’ after the pandemic travel restrictions are lifted. Something that aligns nicely with the book that I am finalising at the moment, addressing the same issue.
And the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children – both those in alternative care and those living with their families – is taken much more seriously than I had dared hope would happen. Advice and tools are being spread by both governments and various organisations to make sure that the children get the support they need to mitigate this impact.
It gives hope and courage to see that things are being done to improve the lives of vulnerable children and to mitigate the risks they face. It gives us strength to keep on fighting alongside each other.
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Appreciate it for helping out, wonderful information.