http://meero.worldvision.org Latest news brought to you by World Vision's relief workers on the field. News that's so recent, you won't find it in your daily newspaper -- yet. en-us Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:58:25 +0100 info@meero.worldvision.org info@meero.worldvision.org World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:58:25 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1958&countryID=13 In the two minutes spent reading this article more than 30 children under the age of five will die – many of them in Afghanistan in South Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa states a new report ‘Child Health Now’, launched by World Vision in its first organisation-wide global campaign.
'It's not acceptable that more than 24,000 children are dying every day, most from preventable causes such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, childbirth complications and malaria,' said Kevin Jenkins, World Vision International President. 'This is more than just a problem facing the developing world. It's a 'silent' emergency. And it is, I believe, the greatest child rights violation of our time.'
Afghanistan and Pakistan are two of the 30 high priority countries where child deaths are most prevalent with one in four children in Afghanistan dying before he or she reaches age five and 90 in 1,000 children dying in Pakistan – equating to 400,000 under-five deaths per year.

But high rates of infant mortality are also seen closer to Western Europe where Roma infants in Romania are four times more likely to die than other ethnic groups in the country, which means that more than 80 Roma babies out of 1,000 died last year alone.

Prevention is a key focus of the Child Health Now report- in line with the broader campaign which aims to prevent up to six million children each year from dying of preventable causes.

'Many people still don't know what proper health care looks like and have not been encouraged. What they need is information, education, communication,' says Elizabeth Walumbe, who manages World Vision's 'Better Health for Afghan Mothers and Children' project in Afghanistan.

Bed nets, oral re-hydration, exclusive breastfeeding, skilled attendants, immunisation and vitamin and micronutrient supplements to boost immunity and growth are just a few of the proven, cost-effective interventions that could save children's lives, continues the Child Health Now report.

The urgency of these interventions are also reflected in the fact that only 30% of the progress needed to reach the target of the 'Millennium Development Goal 4' of cutting child mortality by two thirds by 2015 has been achieved.

Progress on the closely connected target of cutting maternal deaths is even further off track – particularly in countries like Afghanistan where one in eight women will die in childbirth or due to pregnancy and labour related causes. In Lebanon and Albania, despite a reportedly high presence of skilled attendants at birth, one in 290 women and one in 490 women has a lifetime risk of maternal death.

Poor nutrition in children and mothers is also linked to the prevalence of physical and mental disabilities or underdevelopment in countries like Albania, where stunted growth affects nearly 40% of orphans and vulnerable children aged 6-59 months and where nearly 70% of children under-five suffers from iron deficiency anaemia, which in young children affects neurological development and physical growth.

But progress can be achieved, underlines the Child Health Now report, which points to the experience of several low income countries that, through a mix of high-level political commitment and focused policies, have made substantial cuts in child deaths and improvements in the health of children.

Join the Child Health Now campaign by signing the petition at http://www.childhealthnow.org

Download a fact sheet on child and maternal health in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia here.

Download the full report here.


-Ends-]]> Read more at www.childhealthnow.org World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:24:51 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1957&countryID=11 For more than 100 children who live and work on the streets of Kutaisi, fairytales seldom happen, but their recent involvement in a theatre performance gave them the chance to perform a fairytale and at the same time, realise their talents and creativity.
The streets of Georgia's second largest city, Kutaisi, are home to more than 100 children. Here, World Vision's LIFE project helps children improve their psycho-social wellbeing and begin to slowly become part of the community.

A normal day for the children and youth is filled with heavy burdens that even adults should not have to bear. That is why arts and crafts groups are a key part of the LIFE project, with children participating in football, embroidery, and theatre groups, among other activities.

Nana Idadze a social worker in the LIFE project works with many different children in the region and is in contact with many families. She notes that many family members say their low socio-economic condition is the main factor that forces their children to leave home and find the means to survive by working in the streets.

'Many of these children's parents are unemployed and as a result are hopeless,' Idadze said. 'If some of the parents do work, their small income does not cover the minimum of their family's needs.'

On 30 October, a handful of the more than 100 children who participate in the project performed the play 'Pinocchio.' Some 60 people, many of them children involved in the project, packed into the small local theatre, The Second Floor, to watch the performance. Kote Revishvili, the theatre's director, helped with rehearsals and production.

'We performed the Pinocchio fairytale because it is about a magical world where everybody, including us, wishes to go,' he said. 'I wanted to show the children that their knowledge is the key for stepping into a new magical life.'

Ilia, 14, and his sister, Zina, 13, are both enrolled in the project. Zina is one of the main characters in the play and dreams of becoming an actress, while Ilia wishes to study computers. Both of them go to school, but they are not able to undertake their studies properly because their family is poor and they don't have the luxury of spending all the necessary time on schooling.

'My godmother involved me in the [LIFE] project', Zina said. 'From the very first day I loved the warm atmosphere here. I learnt embroidery and painting and I would like to participate in an English language course if it will be offered.'

Ilia, Zina's brother, is a playful and energetic boy who felt a little down that he could not participate in the performance because he was busy working all summer.

'The performance rehearsals went through the summer and in this season I do not have too much free time,' he said. 'I work in the bazaar and sell vegetables. Sometimes I also do some physical work to earn some money.'

Even though Ilia was not able to act in the play, the project staff and activities have had a huge impact on him. The World Vision social worker says that initially Ilia stood outside his peer group as a mischievous, sometimes antagonistic boy.

'Ilia has been involved in our project for seven months already,' Nana says, 'His character and attitude towards other children has considerably changed for the better since he has made many acquaintances here.'

After the performance five local journalists working on social issues related to "street kids" were rewarded for the best articles about street working and living children within the LIFE project. The articles were published in regional newspapers.

Eliso Karosanidze, a writer and reporter of the local broadcasting company 'Rioni TV', was one of the recognised journalists.

'This publication was a continuation of my stories about children who spend their time in the streets working or begging. 'Pointing a finger at them and speaking wickedness will not make their lives better. All they ask for is love and empathy', she said.

World Vision Georgia's LIFE project assists more than 200 children who are living and working on the streets of Kutaisi and Batumi, a major city on the Black Sea coast. The project (formerly known as Laboratories of Learning) is a three-year project that began in October 2007 that aims to increase the awareness and understanding of issues that affect children living and working on streets, resulting in creating more effective prevention and care models for these at-risk children. World Vision staff assists these children and their families through three main efforts: economic empowerment, improvement of psycho-social status, and improvement of access to formal and informal education opportunities.

-Ends-]]> Anzor Svianadze (right), 10, plays Pinocchio on stage. He was selected for this role by his peers who participate in the project. Photo by Mariam Shonia World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:33:33 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1955&countryID=15 The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) Mr Maxwell Gaylard together with the NGO Association for International Development Agencies (AIDA), today called for the long-overdue and immediate opening of crossings into the Gaza Strip to enable Palestinian communities and families to prepare for the coming winter and rainy season. International Development Agencies (AIDA), today called for the long-overdue and immediate opening of crossings into the Gaza Strip to enable Palestinian communities and families to prepare for the coming winter and rainy season.

'With winter rains and cold weather now imminent, the people of Gaza are even more desperately in need of construction materials such as cement,
roofing tiles and glass to build and repair homes destroyed and damaged in the Israeli military offensive of 2008/2009 (Operation 'Cast Lead'), as
well as of regular supplies of fuel, electricity and clean water', said Mr Gaylard.

'The winter will be particularly hard on the children of Gaza, whose capacity to withstand the rigours of a cold wet winter has already been severely undermined by a marked deterioration of basic services and descent into poverty' he added.

More than two years of blockade together with widespread destruction resulting from the 'Cast Lead' offensive have badly affected the basic infrastructure of Gaza. This includes tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, deterioration and further damage to already fragile and over-loaded water, sanitation and electricity distribution networks, and a marked fall-off in the quality of essential services.

Intensive discussions which the United Nations has conducted with the Government of Israel for the re-start of suspended building projects, which would provide much-needed housing and social services for the people of Gaza, have not yet yielded any positive outcome.

A total of 1393 Gazans were killed and more than 5,000 injured during the three-week offensive, leaving communities, families and children fearful
and traumatised, many of them living in the ruins of their homes, virtually destitute, and relying increasingly on the United Nations and its humanitarian partners for daily sustenance.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator together with the Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) call upon the Government of Israel to facilitate the entry into Gaza, of urgently-needed construction and repair materials, of adequate supplies of industrial fuel for electricity generation, and essential items for the proper functioning of water and sanitation systems. Mr Gaylard said that 'the people of Gaza share with everyone else the right to dignified lives, free of indiscriminate and prolonged suffering. They should not be subjected to this continuation of collective punishment brought on by the blockade.'

-Ends-]]> Amal, 9, lost her home during Operation Cast Lead and her family now rents a small breeze block shed. Building supplies like cement, roofing tiles, and glass are urgently needed in Gaza ahead of winter. Photo by Sarah Malian. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:38:56 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1952&countryID=11 Thirteen schools in nine villages in western Georgia’s Imereti region have joined an education project established by World Vision to help communities resolve the problematic issues that plague the field of education.
Among the problems are infrastructure and capacity with many schools suffering severe building deterioration making the premises unsafe for students and teachers. Many students and teachers do not have the means to purchase books, study materials, or in-class equipment; and teachers do not have the capacity in new methodologies and using new teaching materials, much less the means to build that capacity.

Bela Leladze, 16, a leader of the school self-governance group in Rokhi school #1, says their classes lack the necessary materials and inventory to get a full education. She adds there are no infrastructure facilities in their school that would enable students to arrange and conduct desired extracurricular activities, though the enthusiasm is there.

"Our school has a big sport potential, but unfortunately we no longer have a sports hall at our school that we can use,' she said; 'with World Vision's initiative we intend to repair it and arrange sports competitions.'

As the children from other communities say, the material and technical base in their schools has to be improved. Apart from lacking sports facilities, students also complain that they have no cafeterias. Furthermore, there is no active networking between the schools in the region, which hinders their intentions to promote their intellectual, social, and cultural growth by setting up some athletic, academic, or extracurricular activities or contests among the schools.

World Vision's education project seeks to address some of these needs and has made steps to introduce community members to the first phase of the project focusing on a school network by bringing together staff students from self-governance groups, school councils Community Initiative Groups, the Bagdati Municipal Resource Centre, the Education Department, and local government representatives. The meeting also gave the representatives from these 13 different schools and communities the chance to meet each other.

The proposed school network will involve all girls and boys in primary and secondary education and will be split up into groups based on their grades: 1st - 6th grade; 7th - 10th grade; and 11th - 12th. This network and its groupings will enable schools to identify common problems and solve them in cooperation with other partners, establish good practices of information and experience sharing, and plan and implement interschool youth activities.

'I think children will prioritise the major problems of our school in cooperation with their parents and teachers,' Merab Kvirikasvhili, director of Dimi school #1, said. 'For this stage, we have decided to focus on creating better communications between our community schools.'

In addition, the network will support training in project development and proposal writing, conduct debate sessions, hold contests, enhance capacity, and create a competitive environment among schools. Schools were given an opportunity to submit their first proposal this month which will lay the ground for their first steps in this new partnership.

'I am excited to see the children's interest in participating in this project. Our organisation will support and provide all the necessary assistance that is integral for improving the educational system in our communities,' said David Chkhobadze, Imereti ADP Manager.

Providing opportunities for recreation and cultural learning is important in the ADP and recently World Vision, together with local government and businesses, conducted an excursion for 135 sponsored children from ADP communities to the Gelati and Motsameta monasteries and the Sataplia cave sites. School teachers, ADP staff, and guides from Kutaisi State Museum accompanied the children and explained the sites and the history behind them.

'Every time I see a white car with an orange logo I become very happy because I know that something joyful and interesting will happen,' Davit Jangavadze, 9, from Shubani community, Persati School #1, said. 'I hear a lot of interesting things from them [WV staff] when they come to my village. We watch cartoons together and paint. We have already become good friends.'

During the excursion, World Vision staff and parents discussed their concerns and vision for the future, revealing their hope for a better future for their children and expressing their belief that child sponsorship will bring positive changes in their communities.

-Ends-]]> A rare treat - children enjoy a picnic and taking pictures in Motsameta, western Georgia World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Mon, 9 Nov 2009 04:43:44 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1949&countryID=11 Most service providers are loathe to receive complaints from customers, but World Vision staff in Georgia are asking displaced persons in various settlements to communicate their needs and problems in ‘complaints boxes’ so that World Vision can better help meet their needs.
Nearly 20,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living in 37 settlements in Georgia following last year's conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia and many continue to face myriad problems, including unemployment, lack of opportunity, lack of community, and the reality of living a new life in a new place, away from their homes and normal routines.

Many completely subsist on the food aid that World Vision Georgia delivers and the meager monthly subsidy the government gives each family (24 GEL, a little over US$14). Some who have elderly persons in their family also receive the equally meager pension payment.

In February, World Vision piloted an accountability project in four settlements and set up 10 complaints boxes for residents to communicate their needs and problems. It was through this project that the organisation discovered a need for diapers (nappies) and was able to find the resources to address that particular need.

Natia Odishvili lives in the Karaleti settlement and takes care of her family of five, which includes three children, the youngest of which is two months old. No one works in her family. In August, she received one package of disposable diapers, a 1-month supply, for her youngest child. She was able to stretch the diapers to extend past the month, but now it's November.

'Our government allowance isn't high enough to buy diapers,' she said. 'During the day it's OK for children to go without diapers, but at night they need them. When I nearly reached the end of the supply of diapers, I had to start washing them and reusing them by putting strips of cloth inside to absorb. And twice a night I would have to wake up to change the cloth.'

World Vision distributed packages of diapers to all the mothers of infants and toddlers in two neighbouring settlements, Karaleti and Tsminda Tsqali, as a response to several complaints from IDPs that they did not have diapers for their infants, or the financial resources to buy their own. In all, 68 packages were distributed.

Natia vaguely recalls learning about the complaints boxes months ago and is still unclear about the process; she has never used the boxes, but knows some people who have. She was not aware that the diaper distribution a few months ago came as a result of others submitting complaints.

'The concept of accountability is a very foreign idea to Georgians, especially those who live in villages. And the method of writing complaints on paper and putting them in boxes is also strange. This is also the first time World Vision Georgia has done anything like this; but we have a short and quick learning curve,' Teona Kupunia, World Vision's accountability focal point person, said. 'We continually adapt our methods and increase the awareness of these accountability processes so that we can continue to involve more and more people in the work that we do on their behalf.'

World Vision plans to expand this project into other settlements and with that change some of its processes to better serve IDPs.

Boxes are now being placed at the Social Community Centres established by World Vision in nine of the IDP settlements, as well as on electricity poles with clear, visible, and prominent markings. More intensive door-to-door campaigns, as well as community meetings, will take place with all residents to carefully explain the purpose of these boxes and how they work. Additionally, rather than simply relying on written complaints in boxes, World Vision will also hold focus group discussions in the settlements to record the residents' complaints and comments. Informational brochures explaining these new methods will also be distributed to IDPs and staff will continue to be trained in accountability to help explain the procedures and respond to IDPs and their concerns.

'It's a continual learning process, but in the end the purpose remains the same – to help those in need by addressing their concerns,' Kupunia said, 'and it's clear that though we've been doing a good job in our pilot project, we can certainly improve what we do and how we do it as we expand this important process.'

While talking to Natia about her life now and clarifying the idea behind these boxes, she disclosed some other concerns she had about the situation that her family and the 480 others around her face. Her list of needs includes more diapers, a varied diet with complimentary food to the basic ration, and hygiene products. Apart from those immediate needs, she also stresses a need for employment and skills development.

Her concerns are the same as those who have shared their comments with World Vision via the boxes. To date, World Vision has received 40 complaints, one of which served as a community complaint with 79 signatures.

-Ends-]]> A World Vision Georgia team member installs a complaint box on the side of a newly built Social Community Centre so that the box is more central and visible in the Karaleti IDP settlement. Photo by Dwayne Mamo. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:33:56 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1948&countryID=11 Almost a year following the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008, nearly 20,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living in 37 new settlements built by the Georgian government. Although many of the settlements are adjacent to already established villages, living conditions and economic prospects for their residents, who cannot return to their own villages, remain tough – for many, dire.
This October, World Vision Georgia, together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) through funding from the U.S. government, opened Social Community Centers (SCCs) in Karaleti and eight other settlements to support community integration and empowerment for both men and women and all age groups in the new settlements.

More than 1,600 IDPs live in the Karaleti settlement, 23km south of the South Ossetia administrative border. They are still in need of psychological, social, and financial aid to help them continue to adapt to their new surroundings away from their native homes. Many still suffer from and are haunted by last year's bitter memories.

Vasil Rtskhiladze, 52, who is originally from Akhalgori, now lives in Karaleti and is continually concerned for his family's wellbeing and future. For him and his family, it is still very difficult to precisely recall what happened 15 months ago and to understand what is happening to their lives 15 months after.

'I used to live in a very peaceful environment in my village,' he said. 'The war has drastically changed my life. Sometimes I feel very hopeless.'

This hopelessness is felt by many like Vasil who have been displaced from their homes and their ways of life. Many of the IDPs used to live in villages and worked in the agricultural sector, but now they no longer have fields, orchards, or animals to tend. This hopelessness is compounded by the fact that most residents are now unemployed and lack opportunities to find work in their field or develop new skills for new employment.

SCCs, like the one in Karaleti, are created to establish community structures and empower the community to find self-help mechanisms to address the problems they face, particularly in taking care of the most vulnerable amongst them. The activities in these centres will be designed in a way that they can be realistically taken over by the local community given their limited resources. World Vision has already begun offering computer training courses in these centres, and will also offer activities for the youth and elderly to participate in together, as well as activities specific for children and youth.

As multi-purpose centres, World Vision and other organisations, including other NGOs and government bodies, can host activities, workshops, and meetings for IDPs living in these settlements, as well as for residents in neighbouring villages. Community members themselves can use these spaces for town hall meetings and any other activity the community deems necessary.

'A year after the conflict, more long-range problems are coming to the surface, especially for those who now live in the newly created villages,' said Vano Grigolashvili, World Vision's Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs (HEA) and Livelihood Development Programme Director 'Their needs are more complicated and we are dealing with issues of livelihood and skill development; they need help in rebuilding their lives.'

Marin Kajdomcaj, head of UNHCR office in Shida Kartli thanked World Vision Georgia for its contribution and the U.S. government for providing funding for UNHCR to create these centres to help IDPs further integrate into local communities. He also underlined that 'these local integration efforts do not undermine the right of IDPs to return to their places of origin in dignity and safety.'

'We are very grateful for this opening [of the Karaleti SCC]. Now we have a place where we can discuss our problems and define measures to solve them,' Marina Inauri, 25, an IDP living in Karaleti, said. 'I am glad that youth, including myself, in our village will have an opportunity to learn computer skills and get new skills in order to find jobs.'

Koba Subeliani, Minister of the Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia, also took part in the opening of the Karaleti centre and expressed his thanks to World Vision Georgia, UNHCR, and the U.S. government for their successful cooperation in assisting IDPs living in the settlement.

The nine SCCs will assist 4,276 IDPs living in these new settlements. The creation of these centres is a continuation of World Vision's ongoing work to help the people and communities affected by the 2008 August conflict.

-Ends-]]> Children stand on the steps of the newly built Social Community Centre in the Karaleti settlement for IDPs. Photo by Mariam Shonia World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Mon, 2 Nov 2009 05:27:14 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1945&countryID=15 A new health clinic opened in Al Ma’asara in southern Bethlehem will give residents of the southern cluster villages access to comprehensive local health care for the first time. The clinic offers services previously unavailable not only to the residents of Al Ma’asara, but also to some 7,700 residents of the Bethlehem southern cluster villages.
Services offered by the clinic include an emergency room, child immunisation, family planning, a women's health clinic, as well as a pharmacy. For unemployed and under-employed families living below the poverty line who are unable to make the trip to the closest city of Bethlehem for health care service, this clinic is a dream come true.

'World Vision has been our lanterns, our candles that have helped light our way', said Mohammad Breijiya, a member of the World Vision Bethlehem Area Development Programme Al Ma'asara Steering Committee and an Arabic teacher in the Zawahra School, at the opening of the Health Clinic. The Ministry of Health, the German Bank, United Nations Development Programme, World Vision, and other organisations were in fact all responsible for establishing the much-needed clinic.

The Al Ma'asara clinic also plays a part in World Vision's broader work towards better health for children, which will be highlighted this month when the organisation launches 'Child Health Now' - its first global child health campaign, which promotes the Millennium Development Goals four and five to reduce child deaths (under-5) by two-thirds and reduce maternal deaths by three quarters globally. Child Health Now also aims to raise awareness of, and provoke greater public discourse about, child mortality; and inform and persuade decision-makers and governments to do all they can to keep children healthy.

Despite the great diversity in the communities that World Vision serves in the Middle East and Eastern Europe Region and further afar, projects like the Al Ma'asara clinic contribute to a better and healthier future that all families want.

'We're alike because we all care about the health of our families. We're alike because we all want a good education for our children, we all want to live in peace, and we all want to provide a good life for our families. We're alike because we all want to build a brighter future for our children', said Joe Harbison, National Director for World Vision in Jersualem-West Bank-Gaza.

Looking toward the future, Fatima Breijiya, mother of Mohammad, known to the community as 'Um Hassan' eloquently said, 'We will transform this clinic into a place that cures.'

-Ends-]]> A young mother cradles her infant as the new health clinic is opened in Al Ma'asara in southern Bethlehem. Photo by Lisa Abu Shanab. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:16 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1942&countryID=11 World Vision’s Child Friendly Spaces in the Georgian capital Tbilisi have teamed up with a local food production company JSC “Nikora” to provide 60 internally displaced children with regular filling and nutritious meals while they enjoy structured play and informal learning at the centres.
Displaced since the outbreak of the Georgia-South Ossetia conflict in August last year, many of the children who now live in shelters and centres for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have missed eating varied and tasty food – particularly meat. JSC Nikora is providing meat, dairy products and semi-finished food products at reduced prices and delivers the food at no charge to World Vision. This is the first time that World Vision has engaged with a Georgian company in local fundraising or attracting local support.

'Last summer the company made a similar charitable contribution to the people affected by war,' said Mako Jaoshvili, Head of JSC 'Nikora' PR Department 'The company helped the displaced population of Shida Kartli not only materially but also with food stuffs. The partnership with World Vision Georgia is our company's good will and we hope to continue it in future as well.'

Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) aim to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of children affected by disasters and emergencies, such as the displacement of thousands of people following last year's conflict.

CFS's are safe and comfortable places where children and youth can meet and interact with new friends, play sports, obtain formal and informal education in a structured environment and learn competencies to deal with the risks they face. Children and youth also receive a daily hot meal, which in some cases may be their one and only full meal for the day.

'This is a brilliant opportunity to unify the efforts of an international and Georgian organisation in order to assist conflict-affected children. World Vision Georgia appreciates this contribution and hopes for further partnership,' said Natia Gabelia, Child Friendly Spaces Project Manager.

'Everyday I can't wait to come to the centre. I feel so happy and safe here,' said Tako Mirianashvili 13, from Achabeti village. 'I have gained many friends. We play, learn and laugh together. Besides, we are offered the most delicious food. I especially love the sausage and cutlets.'

'I would like to thank for this noble contribution both World Vision Georgia for establishing CFS and 'Nikora' for its sensitiveness to provide our children with high quality food products,' said Mariam Babutsidze, 47, mother to a child who spends time at the CFS.

The Child Friendly Spaces currently accommodate about 130 internally displaced children; 70 in the village of Sakasheti in Shida Kartli region and 60 in four Tbilisi centres. The project was launched in October 2008 and it is scheduled to end by the end of December 2009.

-Ends-]]> Three boys watch as their peers put on a dance performance for the anniversary celebration of the CFS. Photo by Dwayne Mamo. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:03:16 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1941&countryID=12 As World Vision marks 15 years of working in Azerbaijan, its National Director says helping to draft an inclusive education law for some 49,000 children with special needs has been one of its most important milestones. The law will be submitted to parliament by the Ministry of Education where it is hoped ‘inclusion’ will become official governmental policy.
'Inclusion of children is not only their right, but also a benefit for society' was the 15th anniversary theme during an event held in the capital Baku with representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Education (MoE), UN agencies, USAID, diplomatic corps, World Vision's microfinance institution AzerCredit and other guests.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Elmar Gasimov, spoke about the effective partnership between World Vision and the Ministry of Education in piloting projects and carrying out other initiatives to promote inclusive education in the country.

'World Vision has a great mission to provide children with life in all its fullness. As the primary and the biggest structure working with children, our partnership has been successful and we will continue to combine our efforts to help children in Azerbaijan, especially those who need a special approach and care', said Mr. Gasimov at the event. The MoE is exploring the development of a state programme to support inclusive education as it directly impacts the implementation of the State Programme on Deinstitutionalisation and Alternative Care.

Gurban Sadigov from the Cabinet of Ministers recalled World Vision's assistance to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons over a decade ago. 'We shall never forget what World Vision has done for the refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in our country. I wish World Vision success in its current and future activities and would like to ensure you that the organisation will be provided with all possible support from the Government of Azerbaijan', said Mr. Sadigov.

Regional Vice President for World Vision in the Middle East & Eastern Europe region, Charles Dokmo, thanked staff for their commitment, hard work and contribution over the last 15 years and also thanked the Government of Azerbaijan, partners and communities for their incredible support for all World Vision Azerbaijan activities.

He added, 'Together with our partners, we want to continue our focus on children and families and will look at new ways of operation".

'Our joint effort shall lead to children enjoying good health, will ensure they are well educated for life, are cared for, protected and participating, and most importantly, that they will love God and their neighbours,' said Seifu Tirfie, National Director for World Vision Azerbaijan.

-Ends-]]> A young girl smiles after having undergone eye surgery supported by World Vision. Photo by Barat Azizov. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:13:29 +0100 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1940&countryID=5 Dental check-ups for some 600 children aged 14-15 in Armenia’s Stepanavan region revealed that every child has on average five decayed teeth – due in part to the lack of state-covered dental care and drinking water which contains microelements that make teeth vulnerable to disease.
In Armenia dental treatment is free of charge for children aged six and 12 but parents of older children have to pay out of pocket for their children's teeth to be checked and treated. With high unemployment and limited income for many households, coupled with other pressing expenses, the cost of dental health care – especially when it is preventative, can be out of reach.

Through the course of a month dentists from the 'Van Med' dental clinic in Vanadzor City, Lori Region, visited schools to carry out the dental checks with the support of World Vision.

'I can't remember myself ever visiting a dentist', said Vahagn Araqelyan, 14, who was diagnosed with 17 decayed teeth.

According to Garegin Kalantaryan, Deputy Director of 'Van Med', dental clinics are located too far from many communities of the region and taking their children for check-ups is just not possible for many parents. 'In case there are any orthodontic and gum problems, one can receive treatment only in Vanadzor City, since there aren't any other specialised clinics in the region'.

During the check-ups parents are informed about the state of their children's teeth and gums and toothpaste and brushes are distributed among children to encourage them to take better care of their teeth. At the same time they are shown how to brush correctly. In addition, training is being provided to the community medical centre dentists.

Lilit Kharatyan, the dentist carrying out the dental checks, said the most common problems among the children are caries; a disease resulting in tooth decay and eventual loss, and hypoplasia or the underdevelopment of the teeth. 'It's very important that children know how to take care of their teeth. This will help prevent many dental diseases', she explained.

Varsenik Baghdasaryan, 14, who has four decayed teeth, said she has learnt many new things about dental care and how it can affect the whole body. 'I've found out that dental diseases also generate disorders in the digestive tract. That's why it's important to regularly visit a dentist', she said.

Those children diagnosed with any dental diseases will have the opportunity to receive dental treatment at the same clinic at reduced and more affordable prices.]]> Check-ups revealed every child has on average five decayed teeth World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org