Impacts on Early Emotional Development
I chose the Middle East and North Africa area concentrating especially
on Syria. I chose Syria, because, most of the time I think about the displaced
children who will ultimately be orphans. I also chose this region, because, if I
was offered an opportunity to help the children in the Syrian conflict, I feel I
could be effective helping the children in an emotional, developmental, and educational
capacity. I chose this area, because, the children of Syria are displaced,
uprooted, orphaned, and killed. They are paying the heaviest price for this
conflict. According to a Times Magazine news article “a United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report published Monday calls Syria one of the most
dangerous places in the world for children, 5.5 million of whom have been
affected by the country’s three-year war” (Rhodan, 2014, p. 1).
Some of the challenges children are confronted with are living in
dire situations inside Syria. Poverty, displacement and caught in the lines of
fire are among more challenges children of Syria are faced with.
These experiences will have an effect on the children’s emotional
wellbeing and development. Save the Children’s Chief Executive, Justin Forsyth (2014) explained “the situation for children and their families inside Syria is
unimaginable. Doctors have told us of sick children who are unable to be
treated because of the collapse of the health service. We know of children who
have been tortured, starved or targeted in attacks. Hundreds of thousands of
children are growing up having known nothing but the horrors of this war and
the chaos and uncertainty that it has bought to their young lives"(http://childrenofsyria.info/).
Mercy Corps’
Vice President of Global Engagement and Policy, Andrea Koppel said” children have
been experiencing stress and trauma – we run the risk of having an entire
generation of children predisposed to act violently because they feel there is
nothing to lose”(http://childrenofsyria.info/).
Syria is also underlined by the collapse of the education system
for the children upon whom the future responsibility for leading the country
will ultimately fall – nearly 3 million children are now not attending classes
on a regular basis, and one-fifth of schools in Syria has been destroyed,
damaged or used for military purposes. They are the ones who are bearing the
brunt of this conflict. When they’re out of school for too long, they know they
won’t go back. They know far more about violence and insecurity than many
adults do. They feel as though they are being forgotten. (http://childrenofsyria.info/).
The number of school-aged children who received UNICEF support to
access school/learning programs total 75,909. Remember these numbers include other
neighboring countries that have opened their boarders to children and families.
For example, “almost 590,000 Syrians have fled to Jordan.
Along with other UN
agencies they are appealing for $4.2 billion to support refugees and host
communities in 2014” (http://childrenofsyria.info/).
1.2 million Children are now living as refugees in host countries, almost half
a million in Lebanon alone. 37,000 refugee children were born since the
conflict began.
The three years of conflict on 5.5 million Syrian children living
in Syria and as refugees in neighboring countries still highlights the unending cycle of
violence, displacement, worsening health, disruption to education and learning,
and serious psychological impact on millions of children.
Deep down in my heart I have a place for all children that face
hardships from no fault of their own, but from faults of those claiming to be
responsible, caring, loving adults, and leaders. Young children should not miss
their childhood, because, of money, power, and bad government leadership. The
children in the Syrian conflict lost a lot of their childhood, and still face
many psychological, emotional, social, and heartbreaking challenges ahead.
If I were in a position to adopt an orphan as a result of this war,
I would. The three-year old conflict has devastated the lives of millions of
children and young people – and a generation is at risk of being lost forever. As
early childhood professionals we stand in a critical position in any child’s life.
One child represents many, because they are a minority, a culture, a group of people.
We are the children’s advocates. We are the glue that holds the puzzle together.
We are to make sure children are heard, and not just seen. NAEYC Code of Ethical
Conduct (2005) stated “because of our specialized expertise in early childhood
development and education and because the larger society shares the responsibility
for the welfare and protection of young children, we acknowledge a collective obligation
to advocate for the best interests of children within early childhood programs
and in the larger community and to serve as a voice for young children everywhere”
(NAEYC, 2005, p. 6).
References
NAEYC. (2005). Code of ethical
conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
Comments
Post a Comment