BY KERRY BOWLER When we first arrived at the slum, I was surprised to find the school right there in the middle of it, distinguishable not by gates or logos but the sound of children singing coming from a small, rudimentary looking building. Although there were small rooms opposite and to the right of the […]
Category: Asia
Staying safe when disaster strikes
BY ANDREW DUBOCK More than 3,000 children and 200 families in the Philippines’ province of Eastern Samar are now better prepared for the next natural disaster to hit the country, thanks to recent training provided by Viva and our partner network, PCMN. Around 20 typhoons affect the Philippines each year and, following the devastation of […]
Empowering Patna’s girls
BY ANDREW DUBOCK It leaves a lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach. Poverty at its most raw: unstable shelters deep in stagnant water, malnourished babies, hundreds of people accessing one well of unclean water, children with leprosy. It’s particularly hard to hear about the situation for girls, who are most […]
Girls make a journey of self-discovery
BY ANDREW DUBOCK “I wish I was a boy.” Akansha’s words stuck in my head, as I grappled with the question: ‘how could any girl think like this?’ Yet Akansha’s thoughts are not isolated – according to a survey by the government’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, almost half of girls in India have […]
More than a dowry: India’s girls’ real value
In India, almost two-thirds more girls than boys die before their fourth birthday.* Jane Travis explains why such a low value is placed on girls’ lives there, how Viva is changing attitudes towards gender inequality and building confidence in India’s precious daughters. “It’s a girl!” Three simple words pronounced at birth that should evoke tears […]
Breaking new ground in Indian girls’ lives
‘Abortion’ was today’s topic. As the 30 teenage girls passed around model foetuses, and listened to the teaching, I soon discovered that most had never heard about babies’ development before – and some of the group were on the verge of adulthood.
A time to refuel and refocus
Fe A Foronda, co-ordinator of Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN), reflects on a valuable time spent in Hong Kong with ‘a kindred tribe’ of network leaders.
Revisiting the Christmas Match Appeal 2015: Make home a safer place for children
Thank you so much to all who gave to our Match Appeal last Christmas! Ten months on, we wanted to share one way in which Viva has been tackling the issue of domestic violence and abuse in Central America.
Delhi reflections: Balloon Girl
I spotted the colours first. A red, a green, a yellow: illuminating the darkness of early evening. Balloons! Being held by a girl no older than my own daughters… Sitting in the back of a cab, heading back to my hotel after an exhilarating few hours in Old Delhi, I spotted this Balloon Girl whilst […]
Global Goals Week: Summary
I hope you’ve enjoyed our blog series for #GlobalGoals week and been inspired by the diverse work of Viva and our partner networks.