National Children’s Month
Supporting young lives facing economic challenges, extending a compassionate hand for brighter futures and opportunities.
Standing up for the rights of children and making sure their needs are met continues to be a critical way that people can make a difference in the world today as well as for the future.
National Children’s Month offers a special opportunity to show appreciation for, celebrate, and meet the needs of children, especially those who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. Whether advocating for the government, helping out with a children’s charity or volunteering locally, there are plenty of opportunities for making a difference on this day and all throughout the year!
History of National Children’s Month
Now an official celebration in the Philippines, National Children’s Month was established in 2015 by then president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III. This event was started as a way to commemorate the country’s adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which took place on November 20, 1989. The theme for the first month-long celebration was “Our Focus is the Health, Mind and Welfare of Every Child”.
That theme continues on every year as the month is set aside to bring focus to the needs of children, whether they are related to physical health, mental health, education or overall well-being. Government agencies, educators, charitable organizations, businesses, community groups and so many others are involved with the celebration of National Children’s Month each year.
As a third world country, the Philippines has a significant number of families each year who report that they have dire financial situations. An important part of this month is learning more about the needs of the children who suffer the most, and then figuring out how to meet their needs throughout the coming year.
Various events take place in cities and rural areas throughout the Philippines during National Children’s Month. These events might include a book drive for needy children living on the street, healthcare opportunities such as clinics or screenings specifically for children, or soup kitchens to make sure that children and their families who are living on the street can get access to healthy food each day.
Other interventions that take place during these thirty days are related to mental health needs and social care. Many non-profit organizations are working to meet the psychosocial needs of children in the Philippines, and this month often brings about a push to provide care for children who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected.
National Children’s Month is an opportunity for those who have their needs met to look around and discover those children and families who are less fortunate and could use a helping hand.
How to Celebrate National Children’s Month
Show some care to children in need by celebrating National Children’s Month. This November, get involved with this important event, starting with some of these ideas:
Learn More About Children in Poverty
For many people who have their own needs met, it can feel easier to look away or ignore the needs of others, especially when they are not necessarily directly within the local community. But the needs of millions of children around the world are great, and there are so many ways it is possible to help. One way to help is to start learning about children in need and then sharing it with others who also might have an opportunity to help.
Consider some of these important statistics about children in need around the world:
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Statistics from 2022 show more than 330 million children around the world are living in extreme poverty and more than 800 million live below the poverty line.
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Children make up more than half of the global poor, even though they are only around 30% of the world’s population.
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Children in poverty can be found all over the world, but Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of children living in extreme poverty and South Asia is second.
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Around 1 billion children world-wide are considered multidimensionally poor, meaning they have at least one severe deprivation, whether housing, healthcare, sanitation, nutrition or clean water.
Volunteer to Help Children
Community programs are often looking for the right people to volunteer their time to help children in need. This could be anything from acting as a tutor, helping kids with their homework, coaching a sports team, teaching a Sunday school class or helping out in some other way. Investing in kids equals investing in the future, and time spent in the life of a child will make a huge impact for them personally and on the world around them!
Make a Donation to Children in Need
An excellent way to celebrate National Children’s Month might be to make a financial donation to a charity that supports children. Of course there are many viable children’s charities all around the world, making it possible for people with a little more to support those with a little less. Check out a local charity that might benefit from a donation, or consider one of these non-profit organizations that works to help kids all over the wold, all throughout the year:
- Save the Children. This organization is over 100 years old, having been founded in the UK in 1919 with the purpose of helping children all over the world to get the resources they need to live and to thrive in their environments.
- Compassion International. Sponsor a child to provide them with the regular care they need and positively impact their life long-term through this non-profit organization that was started in 1952.
- Children International. Another child sponsorship program, this humanitarian organization was founded in 1936 and places the focus on ending generational poverty through access to health care, educational resources, safe spaces and more.
For other opportunities to celebrate the joy that children bring to life, consider events throughout the year, including National Children’s Day in June, World Children’s Day on November 20, or National Children’s Craft Day in March.
