Sharing Web Resources – Week 6

As I continue to explore the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) I am in continued awe at all of the wonderful things this organization is doing in other countries. One of the links I chose to look at more closely this week was a article on SOS Children’s Villages International. I had never heard of this organization, but apparently the SOS Children Villages International is an umbrella organization for over 130 SOS Children’s Villages associations worldwide. They work in alternative child care and prevention of separation of children from their families (The International Step by Step Association. (n.d.) As WONDERFUL of a concept this is, it still break my heart that you even NEED organizations that prevent the separation of families 😦 The link to their organization had a quote that literally had me in tears. The first thing I saw was, “Everywhere children are invisible. YOU can make them visible” (SOS Children’s Villages, n.d.) The work of Childrens Villages is to ensure that every child grows up supported and cared for in a loving home is a profoundly optimistic endeavor. One of these ways to ensure that children are growing up is by helping families pay bills, equip them with services, and keep them together in homes that they can keep up easily in areas they can afford.

Another link on ISSA’s website this week did actually deal perfectly with this week’s theme of equity and excellence. One country that this organization has been working in is Belarus. The organization provides high-quality educational services for children, their parents, teachers and actively involve families in the educational process.“We would like to contribute to the creation of an optimal development environment for all children, in which there is no space for violence and violation of children’s rights,” says the Chairman of the organization’s Board Tamara Novosad (ISSA Member Works to Support families. n.d.) Belorussian Parents’ and Teachers’ League Step by Step has one more successful project – School of Active Fathers. With this project, the organization draws public attention to the problem of fathers not understanding the importance of their role in creating a safe family environment and supporting the child during all periods of his life. Having fathers in a child’s life can be crucial in their learning and upbringing because they provide stability and the “strength” of the child growing up. ISSA provides activities and training’s that parents can be a part of to help understand the importance of their roles in their children’s lives and education. One of their goals IS to provide quality care that is excellent and available to all families and they attempt to achieve this by make sure families are given the same opportunists. They reach out to offer classes and training’s, and project activities that include all family members and the children themselves.

I love coming back and checking in on this organization, especially because ISSA isn’t just about themselves. The work with other organizations as well as a team and learn from each other, take ideas, and help each other out. The love, support, and genuine care for what they do is evident throughout their website and articles they link to.

Resources

ISSA members work to support families. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.issa.nl/content/issa-member-works-support-families-belarus

SOS Children’s Villages. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.sos-usa.org/

The International Step by Step Association. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.issa.nl/