Impacts On early emotional development

The Region that I chose to study is Eastern and Southern Africa. The reason why I chose to learn more on this region is because I know that part of the world does suffer from a lot of struggles especially in the children and I wanted to learn more about what exactly they have to deal with.  One of the most known struggles that the region suffers from is low income mostly in the regions of (Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia).  Children in low income can suffer from many things, they may not get the proper food and clothing they need and it can affect them mentally.

 A lot of low income families go without the essential things that they need in life and a lot of times the children go without and this can affect their growth and development.  Another thing that this region suffers from HIV “ Eastern and Southern Africa is home to half the world’s population living with HIV; 48 per cent of the world’s new HIV infections among adults; 55 per cent of the world’s new HIV infections among children” UNICEF (2011).  This sort of infectious disease can affect the child’s longevity in life and because children’s immune systems aren’t as high as adults they can suffer from the disease more heavily than adults can.  Their real chances of survival as a young child are slim with this disease.

 One last thing I wanted to discuss that children suffer with in this region is their education, a lot of children are deprived of the proper education in this country whether it be their families not caring enough to put them in school or it not being available to them.  Education as we know is very important especially when you reach the school age and are supposed to be at a certain level, with this lack of care it can seriously hold a child back from their full potential and growth.  A child must grow progressively and not getting the proper education can seriously stop that and take a mental effect on the child, especially when around children who are at a higher level. 

Reading and learning about the children of Eastern and southern Africa really opened my eyes to what children suffer with from around the world.  It is really sad to hear about and read, but it just makes me want to go harder as an educator for the children I come across and beyond to help ensure they are cared for properly and get the right opportunities to help promote healthy growth for them.  I will continue to learn about the struggles faced everyday by children and do my part to help begin to prevent and alleviate what I can, because change can be made with us. 

Reference:

UNICEF (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/