Introduction
International relations are important to all organizations especially non-governmental organizations because they help in establishing links with other organizations, which are important for the organization in meeting its goals. One such organization is Hope for Children. It is a non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit making organization.
It is an international organization working in more than thirty nations in the world with full-time representatives in Uganda, UK, India, Ghana, Sri-Lanka, Zimbabwe and the Philippines. Its aim is to improve the health of children as well as giving them a future and aiding their acceptance in their societies. This paper details the operations as well as the working of Hope of Children Charity Organization.
The organization
This organization has been operating in the last seventeen years under the leadership of Dr. Robert Parsons. It is accountable through its set constitution to its executive committee of trustees and members (Parsons 23). Its major objective is to help the orphaned, disabled as well as the exploited children especially those found in the developing countries.
Developing countries are mainly composed of poor populations with millions of people living below the poverty line. As a result, many children in the developing countries do not get access to the basic human requirements exposing them more risks in the society. Some besides being malnourished lack access to education resulting into an uneducated population in the society, which is unable to pull itself out of poverty (Jere and Behrman 24).
Communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS also play a major role in rendering many children in the developing nations vulnerable to many hardships in life. In addition, developing countries experience wars weakening the countries’ economy thus unable to provide for the basic needs of the less privileged in the society. Hope for children addresses the hardships that children in most developing countries experience.
The organization not only focuses on the needs of poor children but also the entire society where the children belong. It works with grass root projects in these nations with the aim of getting those who are not able to get aid support or assistance from elsewhere. These projects incorporate all the members of the society that the children belong. By so doing, the organization helps in bringing sustainable development and the eventual elimination of poverty in these societies.
Hope for Children work through a dedicated network of volunteers and international staff. They act as full time representatives in many nations to ensure that the organization achieves its aim. These representatives help in the establishment of grass root projects in the developing nations.
They do so by identifying the needy children and coming up with a way to help in assisting in their situations (Jacoby and King 350). An example of such a project is the rehabilitation of street children in Kenya. In some cases, the organization not only helps the needy children but also the less privileged individuals in a given society. For instance, in Sri-Lanka the organization has set a project in Batticaloa District.
The people in this region live in extreme poverty especially after the 2004 Tsunami struck the region. Research has shown that there are nearly 48,000 disabled people in this region. These people not only lack the basic needs but also suffer much discrimination from the rest of the society. The organization has embarked on building schools, vocational training as well as outreach for families to help in overcoming the situation. Currently, the organization has numerous projects worldwide thus in need of more resources.
Hope for children draws its resources from well-wishers. It relies on the generosity, passion and the commitment of other companies in supporting their work. The support, which is mainly in form of donations include direct financial contributions to the organization’s projects, products as well as services.
Quite a number of the workers of the organization are volunteers who are committed in helping the organization succeed in its projects. Examples of organizations that collaborate with Hope for Children are Comic Relief in Ghana, British Airways, Sterea Limited, Jet2.com and Vedams among others. Most of them not only offer their services in the projects but also help in financing the organization’s projects. With the help of donors and volunteers, the organization has been able carry out its projects successfully.
The support that the organization receives has helped it to grow significantly. Parsons says that the organization began with £5,000 and now has a turnover of over £1 million (1).With the substantial support it has received from international organizations; Hope for Children has widened its scope in most developing countries.
Conclusion
Through its well-established international relations, Hope for Children has been able to succeed in assisting the less privileged in most developing countries. The organization encourage the participation of needy children as well as their families in processes that enhance the well being, self reliance and long term sustainable development of the children.
The organization achieves this through the provision, promotion and advancement of children rights to basic needs including education and healthcare aimed at sustaining long-term development. Donors and volunteers play a major role in enhancing the success of the organization’s projects in the developing nations.
Works Cited
Jacoby, Henry, and King, Emmy. Early Childhood Nutrition and Academic Achievement: A longitudinal Analysis. Journal of Public Economics 81.3 (2001): 345-367.
Jere, Behrman. The Impact of Health and Nutrition on Education. World Bank Research Observer 11.1 (1996): 23-26.
Parsons, Bob. A History of Hope: Hope for Children, 2011. Web. https://www.hope-for-children.org/our-story