Childs Play

Today one in eight children arent at school.Theyre not skipping class, playing with their friends, or off sick- these kids are already engaged in full time, adult employment. Perhaps making the T-shirt you are wearing, or stitching your next pair of trainers. In June 2002 the International Labour Organisations report A Future without Child Labour revealed 350 million children currently work. Only106 million of these do so in safe conditions for an acceptable amount of time. The rest are employed in jobs, which can cost them their health and happiness.Although the vast majority of children work as domestic, farm or fishing labourers, 5% of working children are employed in the export sector. This is not many until you think each of these children may live like Jitti, thirteen-year old Thai boy who told Free the Children he works 11-14 hours a day. Employed in a leather factory he spends the whole day inhaling glue fumes, and earns just $45 a month with two days off. After paying a middleman he has $29 to help his family and try to survive. HAPPY FAMILIES?Many people believe children work because their parents are cruel, uncaring or lazy. But the fact is many families cannot survive without the money their children earn. On average working children bring in 20% of a families income - which could be the difference between starvation and survival. The need for this money means children pulled out of jobs may just look for work in less visible, more dangerous fields. Free the Children, an international children's Ngo explain that in 1993 a US bill was proposed to prevent garments made by children being imported into America. Instead of protecting children it led to many Bangladeshi child workers being fired, faced with destitution they were forced to turn to brick breaking and prostitution. Incredibly our gut reaction to boycott products can then create even more damage to children STICKING PLASTER SOLUTIONSChild labour is caused by a number of factors, although poverty is perceived as the overriding one, opportunity and cultural perceptions also play their part. Working towards a long term solution needs the myths surrounding child labour to be exploded, and the will created to protect the most vulnerable members of society. According to the ILO, The struggle against child labour is first and foremost a matter of changing attitudes People must be convinced that child labour not only should be abolished, but can be abolished.Education is essential, without it children become trapped in a cycle of low paid work continuing into adulthood and forcing them to send their own children out to work. Sometimes they are so damaged by their work when they were children, as adults they cannot work at all. In the Southern Indian state of Kerala, there is very little child labour, despite India having the highest child labour rates in the world. This is only because there is free, compulsory education. For the poorest families exams, schoolbooks or transport, are also paid for- helping those too poor to take advantage of even free schools.HARD SUMSPrivatised education can actually push children into hazardous employment. Tanzania had an incredible 96% literacy rate in the late 1970s due to its compulsory education. Now the literacy rate is dropping at 2% because the country is paying twice as much in debts to rich countries as it spends on education. The IMF and World Bank have pressured countries into reduce social spending in their structural adjustment programmes and education necessarily suffers. A case report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), showed almost 50% of children interviewed in a Tanzanian mines were there to save money to pay their school fees. Economic institutions and richer countries need to cancel their debts and stop loans being contingent on reduced social spending to show their commitment to end childrens misery. HELP! For individual children stipends or micro-credit schemes can help. Free the Children have a simple project helping children stay at school in India by buying cows for women to milk as an alternative income. Educating and mobilising communities on Childrens Rights also prevents exploitation. Supporting Trade Unions can also prevent child labour. For children in the worst forms of labour, such as bonded labour and prostitution, only immediate removal and rehabilitation is acceptable. For most children a short-term solution would be combining education and work. Perhaps the most obvious answers would be to ensure the fare wages of adults. If this was achieved they could support their children without sending them out to work Governments promise time and time again to end child labour. But it is time for consumers to take action. As well as buying Fair Trade goods the ILO recommends1. Lobby your government to ratify and apply ILO Conventions to the letter. 2. Pressure your local authorities to enforce laws on education.3. Urge your trade union to take up the cause at home, or in solidarity with unions abroad.4. Urge your employers confederation to start relevant programmes.5. Join and support national or international non-governmental organizations active in the field. 6. Help create or run educational alternatives for working children. 7. Talk to children and parents to encourage them into alternatives. 8. Urge local, national and international news media to raise awareness about child labour.9. Distribute IPEC and other anti-child labour documentation. 10. Be an informed consumer and traveller.

International Baby Adoption

If you are considering an international baby adoption, then you will need to also find a reputable agency to help guide you through the paperwork and process. In addition, when some families are hoping for a baby adoption, they employ the help of an attorney.International adoptions are often fast and can be completed in as little 10 to 14 months from the time of application. The majority of children who are eligible for adoption are newborns, who were usually separated from their birth mother within a few days after birth. At that time, they are placed in foster care until the adoption process is complete. In addition to newborn infants, there are also sometimes older children who are seeking adoption.Most baby adoption agencies, who help to handle international adoptions, will consider an application from either a married couple or a single woman, who is an adult and has completed a successful home study. In addition, most adoptions are given to individuals and/or families who are both emotionally and financially stable. The number of current children that an individual has, if any, is not usually a deciding factor when it comes to international baby adoption.As a general rule, once the adoption process is finalized, the parent(s) is required to travel to their new child's country in order to pick them up. This generally takes 2 to 3 days before the paperwork is finalized and the child is allowed to exit the country. The fee for baby adoption will vary from one country to the next and will largely depend on each's policy.Due to strict immigration laws and all of the paperwork involved, individuals considering an international baby adoption should consult a local attorney. Some families have also consulted with international attornies with great success. This will help to ensure that all paperwork and other required procedures are done properly in order to avoid delays with the baby adoption and the return home. The attorney will often be required to accompany the adopting family to pick up the child and to finalize the details of the adoption. This will help protect the rights of the new parent(s) and the child as well.All children who are adopted abroad, and have been in the custody of the adoptive family for a period of less than two years, are required to possess U.S. immigrant orphan petitions and orphan visas before entering the United States. This process typically requires that the adoptive parent(s) be found suitable for adoption, an investigation into the status of the child be completed and finalization of the visa application.

Selecting A Family Travel Destination: No Need To Forego The Hip Or Give Up The Charm

Small hotels are adapting to family needs, and becoming an attractive alternative to resorts and large hotel chains.Out of guilt or a need to maximize the amount of time we spend with our children, we have convinced ourselves for years that a family vacation requires sacrificing the interests of the parents to satisfy the needs of the kids. Thus whether traveling half way around the world or driving a mere two hours from home many of us are heading to the same location: a child-friendly resort. This need not to be the rule. Many independent hotels and lodges have discovered how to make an adult environment work for kids and may be more child welcoming than those that bill themselves as child-friendly. Not surprisingly, smaller hotels, inns and lodges - many of them luxurious - are leading the pack. The atmosphere is cozy and the service, more personalized. In addition, your family will probably get more exposure to the local culture - not to mention cuisine - in a smaller hotel than is possible in a big international resort. Children profit the most. Many cultures embrace kids. Thus a large part of the experience in countries such as Argentina and Turkey is the interaction with the locals. Exploring other cultures provides children with a unique education; it broadens their horizon and helps them to learn more about life. What you need to knowSome smaller hotels may not offer round-the-clock service or traditional in-room services, such as minibar, tv and video games but are likely to be more spontaneous, warm your baby's bottle with a smile or offer your child a dish that is not on the menu. Children's meals may mean that kids are not allowed in the dinning room. Aside from providing parents with a reprieve, kids-only meals usually offer food they like and give them a chance to make new friends. No kids clubs. Relax. While it may take a day or two and a bit parental encouragement, kids will rediscover how easy it is to make friends and create fun, on their own. If the environment is relaxed, children will be relaxed as well. In a smaller hotel, you are likely to feel comfortable allowing your kids to explore on their own. Rules of thumbReview the hotel's website. Find out if it belongs to a local or an international association. Is it recommended by your travel agent or a leading tour operator? Has it been rated? If the website does not mention children, they may not be welcome. A telephone call or email will avoid unwanted surprises.Specialist websites:Hip HotelsGreat Small Hotels SecretplacesCopyright more2explore S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Selecting A Family Travel Destination: No Need To Forgo Hip Or Charm

Small hotels are adapting to family needs, and becoming an attractive alternative to resorts and large hotel chains.Out of guilt or a need to maximize the amount of time we spend with our children, we have convinced ourselves for years that a family vacation requires sacrificing the interests of the parents to satisfy the needs of the kids. Thus whether traveling half way around the world or driving a mere two hours from home many of us are heading to the same location: a child-friendly resort.This need not to be the rule. Many independent hotels and lodges have discovered how to make an adult environment work for kids and may be more child welcoming than those that bill themselves as child-friendly.Not surprisingly, smaller hotels, inns and lodges - many of them luxurious - are leading the pack. The atmosphere is cozy and the service, more personalized. In addition, your family will probably get more exposure to the local culture - not to mention cuisine - in a smaller hotel than is possible in a big international resort.Children profit the most. Many cultures embrace kids. Thus a large part of the experience in countries such as Argentina and Turkey is the interaction with the locals. Exploring other cultures provides children with a unique education; it broadens their horizon and helps them to learn more about life.Things to keep in mind Some smaller hotels may not offer round-the-clock service or traditional in-room services, such as minibar, tv and video games but are likely to be more spontaneous, warm your baby's bottle with a smile or offer your child a dish that is not on the menu. Children's meals may mean that kids are not allowed in the dinning room. Aside from providing parents with a reprieve, kids-only meals usually offer food they like and give them a chance to make new friends. No kids clubs. Relax. While it may take a day or two and a bit parental encouragement, kids will rediscover how easy it is to make friends and create fun, on their own. If the environment is relaxed, children will be relaxed as well. In a smaller hotel, you are likely to feel comfortable allowing your kids to explore on their own.Rules of thumb Review the hotel's website. Find out if it belongs to a local or an international association. Is it recommended by your travel agent or a leading tour operator? Has it been rated? If the website does not mention children, they may not be welcome. A telephone call or email will avoid unwanted surprises.Copyright more2explore S.r.l. All rights reserved.

International Adoption Resources

There is plenty of information available online and offline to guide you through every step in adopting a child from another country. The Internet is a vast storehouse of information on international adoption, with sites on adoption agencies, adoption information, and country-specific adoption information from the United States' point of interest. The American government also has lots of online information on the laws and regulations in the country regarding international adoption.Adoption.com is a large online library covering anything that is even remotely connected with adoption, including parenting, upbringing of foster children and adopting. Specific resources on international adoption cover the A-Z of the entire process, from getting medical advice to the types of adoption, legalities, monetary concerns and country specific information.Adoption.org covers this process from the adopted child's point of view, and has information for kids trying to seek out their original parents. This website is an adoption resource in the real sense of the word, as it carries advertisements of prospective parents and articles on related subjects. International adoption is given many full web pages of solid information on laws, procedures, books, camps and other logistics of the adoption process. The website also provides country-specific guides to international adoption.The United States government travel website provides extensive resources on international adoption and the formalities associated with it. The URL http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/ covers areas related to international adoption, including country-specific information, visa statistics of orphans and other related facts. The website also outlines the involvement and limitations of the government in the process of international adoption. It also provides an online booklet that is a complete guide to anybody wishing to adopt a child from a foreign country.For more resources on international adoption, you can also go to http://international.adoption.com/ and www.mapsadopt.org. Some good books on international adoption can also be found at www.tapestrybooks.comInternational Adoption provides detailed information on International Adoption, International Adoption Agencies, International Adoption Services, International Adoption Resources and more. International Adoption is affiliated with Baby Adoption Showers.

The Facts On International Baby Adoption

Many couples for one reason or another choose to adopt children. Whether you are unable to have children or would rather help the world population problem by providing a home for an unwanted child, adoption is an excellent process of building a family, although the process itself can be frustrating and time consuming. More and more, couples are looking internationally when adopting children, opting to find children in countries like China or Russia that have an overburdened orphanage system.Once you and your family have decided to adopt a child, there are several options available. Regardless of what country you are seeking to adopt in, consider speaking with adoptive parents to better understand the process. This first hand information is a great way to have a general idea of what to expect regarding the adoption procedure. Also, speaking with other adoptive families or families who are hopeful to adopt children will allow you to establish a support network of individuals who have been or are in your shoes.For international adoptions, there are approximately fifty countries that offer adoption services for their children. Out of these countries, the majority of international adoptions take place in China, Russia, Guatemala, the Ukraine, and South Korea. Since each country has a different adoption process, you are strongly encouraged to pick a particular country to formally send your intent to adopt a baby.International baby adoption can be quite expensive, especially with it comes to traveling to that country to pick up your new baby. In addition to the paperwork and legal fees associated with adoption, you may need to have the necessary funds to stay for an extended period of time in country while the adoption is processed. Many adoptive parents travel to the country to pick up their child only to find out the adoption will take weeks or even months to complete.Once your application is complete, the average wait time you must wait to adopt a baby is approximately 12 to 18 months. Although different countries and different agencies may have different waiting periods, this is a ballpark estimate so you have an idea when your baby can be welcomed home. Once the adoption is approved and you are legally considered the baby's parents, he or she can immediately leave the country and there is no chance of a birth parent disputing the adoption. For this reason, many families opt to adopt children internationally than adopt domestic children whose parents can potentially contest the adoption and regain custody of the child.Usually when you adopt a child internationally, the child is around three to six months of age once the adoption is finalized. This is important for individuals who see themselves parenting the child from his or her first breath. Seriously consider how important age factors into your adoption decision before you decide to look internationally for a child.Since these children are coming from different countries, there is a strong chance your baby will be of a different race or ethic background than your family. Although most individuals will have no problem with this difference, you still must ask yourself the impact to the child of growing up in a family of a different race.The sad fact is that most of these babies come from orphanages or similar environments. Also, many children are abandoned due to physical or mental disabilities that deem them undesirable in many cultures. Quite often, the physical disabilitiesincluding issues like cleft palates or clubfootcan be completely cured or dramatically bettered with the assistance of modern medical care. Adopting these children may require extra love and care, so you should be prepared for what happens after your baby comes home.Regardless of your reasons for adopting a child, international adoption of a baby is an excellent way to provide a child a loving home. These babies grow up to be happy and beloved children and adults under the watchful eye of their loving adoptive parents.

The Facts On International Baby Adoption

Many couples for one reason or another choose to adopt children. Whether you are unable to have children or would rather help the world population problem by providing a home for an unwanted child, adoption is an excellent process of building a family, although the process itself can be frustrating and time consuming. More and more, couples are looking internationally when adopting children, opting to find children in countries like China or Russia that have an overburdened orphanage system.Once you and your family have decided to adopt a child, there are several options available. Regardless of what country you are seeking to adopt in, consider speaking with adoptive parents to better understand the process. This first hand information is a great way to have a general idea of what to expect regarding the adoption procedure. Also, speaking with other adoptive families or families who are hopeful to adopt children will allow you to establish a support network of individuals who have been or are in your shoes.For international adoptions, there are approximately fifty countries that offer adoption services for their children. Out of these countries, the majority of international adoptions take place in China, Russia, Guatemala, the Ukraine, and South Korea. Since each country has a different adoption process, you are strongly encouraged to pick a particular country to formally send your intent to adopt a baby.International baby adoption can be quite expensive, especially with it comes to traveling to that country to pick up your new baby. In addition to the paperwork and legal fees associated with adoption, you may need to have the necessary funds to stay for an extended period of time in country while the adoption is processed. Many adoptive parents travel to the country to pick up their child only to find out the adoption will take weeks or even months to complete.Once your application is complete, the average wait time you must wait to adopt a baby is approximately 12 to 18 months. Although different countries and different agencies may have different waiting periods, this is a ballpark estimate so you have an idea when your baby can be welcomed home. Once the adoption is approved and you are legally considered the baby's parents, he or she can immediately leave the country and there is no chance of a birth parent disputing the adoption. For this reason, many families opt to adopt children internationally than adopt domestic children whose parents can potentially contest the adoption and regain custody of the child.Usually when you adopt a child internationally, the child is around three to six months of age once the adoption is finalized. This is important for individuals who see themselves parenting the child from his or her first breath. Seriously consider how important age factors into your adoption decision before you decide to look internationally for a child.Since these children are coming from different countries, there is a strong chance your baby will be of a different race or ethic background than your family. Although most individuals will have no problem with this difference, you still must ask yourself the impact to the child of growing up in a family of a different race.The sad fact is that most of these babies come from orphanages or similar environments. Also, many children are abandoned due to physical or mental disabilities that deem them undesirable in many cultures. Quite often, the physical disabilitiesincluding issues like cleft palates or clubfootcan be completely cured or dramatically bettered with the assistance of modern medical care. Adopting these children may require extra love and care, so you should be prepared for what happens after your baby comes home.Regardless of your reasons for adopting a child, international adoption of a baby is an excellent way to provide a child a loving home. These babies grow up to be happy and beloved children and adults under the watchful eye of their loving adoptive parents.

Advices for Travelling Overseas

Are you going to live overseas? Are you an exchange student? Are you travelling overseas for less than twelve months? Are you teaching overseas? Are you working overseas?Have you thought about your health cover?Of course, we'd all like to think we'll be alright, however it is wise to expect the unexpected. Unfortunately, when you travel abroad you do face increased risks to your health and safety. We do tend to think that we will be able to receive adequate medical care in Public or Government Hospitals, free of charge, and for a quick one-off visit this may well be the case. Public hospitals can be very good and the quality of medical and surgical care may well be excellent but the other services offered may not be up to the standard that you have come to expect. What if something develops that takes longer to cure? The bills can mount up alarmingly. How much will it all end up costing? Have you thought about pregnancy, and the pre and post natal care that you would want to receive for yourself, or wife and newborn baby? Would you want your sick child to spend several days or maybe even weeks in a Government hospital in a crowded public ward where most of the staff may not be able to speak English very well?This is where we come in. Our company Globalsurance offers the best possible advice about international health insurance and international medical insurance.We are an international health insurance advisor who specializes in global medical and health insurance for expatriates and world travellers. We are able to offer excellent service to our clients anywhere in the world. Our extensive network and communications now extend far beyond Hong Kong where we were founded, into USA, the UK and Europe and the Middle East. Therefore GlobalSurance worldwide health insurance will make your stay overseas more secure and free from worry.All our consultants have global experience, and are able to offer expert advice on the full range of international plans available. We understand the difficulty of finding comprehensive information from one independent source. Therefore to assist you we have thorough knowledge of all the international medical plans available. To put your mind at rest about our credentials, we are regulated by the Insurance Authority of Hong Kong and therefore we are required to meet the very highest operating and fiscal standards.We have Individual Plans, Group Plans, Travel Plans and Teacher Plans, all of which are quoted free and supported by the most responsive and professional administration service in the global health and medical insurance market. We are an independent advisor and work with all the major insurance companies. We can give you independent advice or a range of free International Health Insurance Quotes. Please visit our website at www.globalsurance.com to answer all your questions. This is a comprehensive, clear and easily navigated website sure to give you the best possible online access to services and advice.John Klown organizes Globalsurance at www.globalsurance.com.

The Pros And Cons Of International Adoption

If you are considering adopting a child one of the things you will need to look into is whether to go for domestic adoption or international adoption. In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of international adoption to give you more information in order to make a better informed decision.International adoption is generally done by an individual working through an agency (or perhaps a few adoption agencies) and it is often necessary to spend extended periods in the country from which you are adopting a child, usually between one and three weeks. Apart from the possible cons associated with the extended travel it is also often more costly to adopt a child from another country. These may include travel costs, legal costs and a number of other costs which your adoption agency should be able to inform you of.International adoption may also come with language and communication problems. If the child you are adopting has a different language to you then you may find it difficult to communicate at first and they may find it difficult adapting to a new language. Children adopted through international adoption are very seldom infants due to the longer adoption process and so they will usually have obtained some language skills in another language.On the positive side though, there is usually a greater availability of children through international adoption. Many countries are in desperate need of people to adopt children who have been orphaned, abandoned or whose parents are simply too poor to care for them. For example many children in Africa are left orphans due to the extent of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and many girl babies are abandoned due to cultural and political reasons in China.In addition, the regulations and requirements for international adoption are often not as stringent as for domestic adoption. Domestic regulations may include requirements regarding the adoptive parents' ages, household situation, and the requirement to take a certain number of classes. These requirements are generally not as strict for international adoption.In international adoption the birth mother also does not change her mind. The problem with domestic adoption in many cases is the option for the birth mother to change her mind after prospective adoptive parents have been told they will get a child. In international adoptions this is not the case. For more info see http://www.childadoptionguide.org/Child_Adoption.html on child adoption domestically.In conclusion, there are pros and cons to both international adoption and domestic adoption, hopefully this article has given you a better understanding to know which option will be best suited to you and your lifestyles. International adoption may be a more expensive, lengthy process and perhaps have some language difficulties; but there are also a lot more children available, especially of different races or cultures, and the requirements are generally not as stringent and the birth mother won't change her mind about placing her child with you.