Social Development is an extremely large concept that encompasses many aspects of a community – education, health and economics all play a vital role in social development. With respect to children, factors such as extra-curricular activities (the arts, sports, and hobbies) as alternatives to habits that may lead to or involve crime are all a part of the social development concept.
Children of the Caribbean, Inc. builds its program for Social Development based on the World Bank’s Development Strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The World Bank’s Social Development Strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean
The World Bank’s Social Development Unit strives to improve the quality of life of underserved populations in Latin America and the Caribbean through economic development and social inclusion. The Social Development Strategy dovetails well with Millennium Development Goals in its efforts to reduce gender disparity, strengthen partnerships for development, and eliminate poverty.
The following framework encapsulates the Bank’s effort to ensure that excluded populations are accounted for in development programs across the Latin America and Caribbean Region:
(1) Increasing social sustainability by encouraging traditionally-excluded individuals to participate and exercise their rights, as well as strengthening social capital, technical capacity and democratic processes.
(2) Championing social equity by promoting equal access to information, opportunities, and assets, particularly for women and youth.
(3) Supporting social inclusion through public policies and programs that take into account the multi-cultural, multi-racial character of Latin American and Caribbean societies.
(4) Promoting social and economic development in order to reduce poverty and trigger sustainable growth.
Children of the Caribbean’s Social Development Strategy
Children of the Caribbean, Inc. focuses on bridging the gap between those children who are from financially sound backgrounds and those who are from financially challenged backgrounds through the following thematic areas:
(1) Youth Mentoring Program
The lack of organized youth activities, the prevalence of single-parent families, and families with two working parents have all reduced the number of adult role models. Children of the Caribbean, Inc. partners with local organizations and churches to provide role models for children in the region so that these children are better positioned to develop socially and emotionally.
(2) Peer Mentoring Program
It has been proven that children learn most willingly and arguably, best from their peers. Children of the Caribbean’s Peer Mentoring Program pairs children from the United States with children in the Caribbean who share similar interests. The children from the U.S. visit the Caribbean over the summer months and spend one to two weeks on the islands with the children in a day-camp environment. They share experiences, talents, skills and learn from each other.
(3) Other Special Initiatives
Children of the Caribbean, Inc. sponsors and supports initiatives across the Caribbean that assist under-privileged children. The following are examples of what we provide:
* Wheelchairs for handicapped children
* Sports uniforms for athletic teams who request them
* Books for libraries at schools
* Children clothing to shelters and orphanages
* Food to shelters and orphanages
* Toiletries to shelters and orphanages
Recent Comments