Think the Earth

Aid Program Report 2003

Since 2001, Think the Earth has provided assistance to Save the Children Japan, for their activities in Vietnam and Nepal.
(When the assistance began (2001) the activities supported a specific region; these activities were called “Child Link.” From 2002, the designation changed to “Nepal Link” and “Vietnam Link” to reflect the country-based long-term assistance.)

　Nepal: South Eastern Region (Dhanusha, Mahotari, Saptari)　

Continuing forth from 2002, in 2003, Save the Children Japan (SCJ) not only implemented the educational program which forms the core of its activities, it also implemented nutritional programs, and birth registration projects in conjunction with the present local partner NGOs, “Aasaman Nepal” and “Shripurraj Community Development Center.” Areas covered by the activities continue to expand, yet, the activities were often interrupted by the political unrest created by Maoist Guerillas.
The south eastern region near the Indian border is heavily influenced by India; hence the caste system remains deeply rooted. The people of the lower castes are especially poor, and the graduation rate among this group is extremely low. In light of this situation, SCJ conducted activities with the following objectives in mind:

1. To provide opportunity for all children to receive elementary education.
2. To improve the nutritional status of all children under the age of three.
3. To provide birth certificates for every child.

2003 Performance

Educational Program
With the slogan, “Bring All Children to School” SCJ conducted literacy schools for 62,000 children 5 to 14 years of age, school enrollment campaigns, educational informative activities, and they also attempted to improve educational environment. SCJ also promoted, as they did in 2002, training by "School Improvement Plan Committee" dispatch of assistant teachers to improve school environments, building and reconstruction of class rooms, and construction of toilets and drinking water facilities. As a result the graduation rate rose to 63%, over 10% from figures in 2001.

Nutritional Program
Half of the children under the age of 3 in Nepal are malnourished. SCJ conducted education of care and prevention of malnutrition among children to approximately 8,000 people. This three-year program that began in 2001 was handed over to the regional government and residents at the end of 2003. The specific results yielded in 2003 are outlined below:

Improvement of children's nutrition:
SCJ organized a campaign to feed porridge to malnourished children and also trained mothers on how to grow vegetables high in nutrients and on health to protect children from diseases. In comparison to 2001, the number of malnourished children decreased by 24%, and the gap of malnutrition among the different castes was mitigated.

Health service:
From 2003, the regular health checks and medical examination of pregnant women conducted in the past by the regional NGO, Aasaman Nepal, was conducted by the health centers in the region. SCJ was able to promote awareness, mainly with the “Health Service Improvement Committee.”

Registration of births:
There were many children who could not receive government provided care, such as enrollment in schools because they did not have a birth certificate. By conducting workshops and campaigns to register children's births, the birth registration rate jumped from 51% in 2001 to 71% in 2003.

=== The program to promote registration of births was at a stand still overall, due to rising political unrest which did not allow the village offices to function normally. From 2004 onward, this will be conducted within the framework of the education program, thus from 2004 onwards, the Nepal Link program will be unified under the educational program.

Future Tasks

There are many children who drop out from school. The reasons vary from discrimination of children of low castes, lack of parents' understanding, to girls marring at a young age. In order to keep such children in schools and away from work, SCJ aims to further enhance the educational program, as well as conduct supplementary classes in residential areas of people from low castes.

Anita of Khariyani Village

In Anita's school district, located in the Khariyani Village that Think the Earth project has supported through Nepal Link from 2001, 65 children initially did not attend the school. Due to the efforts of the program, “providing the opportunity for children from 5 to 14 years of age to attend schools” which was launched in 2001, in 2003, all village children were enrolled in the school. However, the graduation rate of the entire village still remains at 45%; thus it may take a little more time to augment the rate of graduation for the entire village.

2003 Nepal Link Project Expenses

￥ 34,557,433-

　Vietnam: Northern region (Thanh Hoa Province, Yen Bai Province)　

Both provinces are farming areas; 15~20% of the population are poverty stricken. This may be attributed to the fact that many men and children move to the cities to find work because the regional industry of Thanh Hoa Province is underdeveloped. Moreover, although rice and tea farming is the major industry for Yen Bai Province, malnutrition among children is high; the multi-ethnic, multi-language, out of the way location of the province has proved to be hindering and has made assistance activities in the region difficult. In light of such circumstances, SCJ conducted comprehensive children's development program focusing on the needs of the poverty stricken people.

2003 Performance and Future Tasks

Comprehensive Children's Development Program
In the 5 villages of Luc Yen District of Yen Bai Province, SCJ began a two-year program in July 2003. For approximately 2,000 children under 3 and 2,400 mothers, SCJ conducted nutrition improvement programs, care of pregnant women, promotion of at-home farming, and assistance in making a proposal to the government. In the future, activities are to be extended to Van Yen District in the same province; SCJ will aim to provide even more effective assistance to the program.

Young Children Education Program
In the 2 villages of Luc Yen District of Yen Bai Province, SCJ began this two-year program in July 2003 targeting approximately 600 children under 6 years of age and parents. They aim to educate teachers of kindergarten schools about the rights of children, the responsibilities a parent should fulfill, the effects of the household environment on children, and improving nutrition, thereby the residents, too, understood the importance of finishing education; this also provided a forum for voluntary discussions. In the future, adjustments to the program will be made by conducting interim assessment research.

Environmental Education Program
Focusing in Yen Bai Province, the children of junior high and high schools plans and implements 45-minute classes once a month on public hygiene and environment; by doing so, information will be passed on to the families, and this will lead to the augmentation of awareness of the entire region. The children who planned these classes expressed their joy in “having people listen to their views.” 2004 will be the follow up period for these activities.

Small-scale Loan Program
Targeting the women of the 3,700 households in poverty in the two provinces, SCJ conducted savings and loans activities, and monitoring and technical assistance. In order to meet the needs of the poor that public financial institutions cannot meet, SCJ provided 60,000 dollars as underlying asset, and the women are learning the fundamentals of keeping books, planned management and repayment. The money loaned is used to purchase vegetable seeds, chicks, and other goods necessary to live. In order to have as many inhabitants use this service as possible, SCJ's future task is to think of simple and easy methods that anyone can understand.

2003 Vietnam Link Project Expenses

￥ 39,809,229-

Activities at a Glance