The PLAN International Organization Activities - Essay Example

 Plan International PLAN is a children-oriented organization that was founded 75 years ago. The PLAN organization has the credit of being one of the largest and oldest networks of children across the world (PLAN, 2012). It is vital to note that PLAN is a developmental organization that has a similar vision. It creates unbiased networks in an extensive area of the world. However, it focuses in the developing countries. The foundation works across the Americas, Asia and Africa while covering 50 countries. The main strategy of the organization concerns rooting out of poverty in societies it works in the same. The organization has an independent working system whereby it does not rely on religious, governmental or political affiliation. The vision of PLAN regards attainment of a world whereby every child acquires his/her full potential and the society recognizes the dignity of its people. The organization has three fundamental missions. The articulation of the three missions pertains to enhancing the quality of life of children that are under depravity. This method unifies people across cultures and adds meaning to respective lives in three ways. To begin with, children and their respective communities should attain basic needs and enhance their abilities for participation and drawing benefits from their societies (PLAN, 2012). Additionally, PLAN organization aims to enhance relationships across people of various cultures and countries. This relates to its network of different communities. Additionally, the organization aims to promote children’s rights. The PLAN organization commits towards promoting children’s rights and pulling children out of poverty through eight core areas. To begin with, the organization commits towards education. In this sense, it helps young people and children attain the knowledge and skills that are suitable for realizing a full potential. The PLAN organization notes that education is a critical force of breaking the cycle of poverty. In this perspective, the organization trains educators on methods of child-friendly learning. It also helps in construction and rehabilitation in educational institutions. Every child possesses the entitlement of education. However, various obstacles bar children from accessing the same. The main obstacle of education pertains to high costs. Children also face the exclusion of language and cultural barriers. In addition, geographical remoteness and cases of special needs bar children from accessing education. The organization works by striving to clear these obstacles. It is recognizable that the PLAN organization works towards ensuring quality education. However, this begins from attainment of basic education (PLAN, 2012). The PLAN’s educational strategy operates around three missions. The first mission regards helping in the attainment of safe and child-friendly environment. Besides, it aims at enhancing the skills of teachers. Lastly, it has a goal of creating gender-sensitive education and culturally relevant educational environments (PLAN, 2012). The organization commits towards reaching children who have never been to school. In addition, it aims at reaching children who have dropped out of school. It is vital to note that the organization strives to enable girls have access to quality education. In terms of health, the organization notes of the recognition that every child has the entitlement towards a healthy start in life. The organization, especially, achieves the same by training professionals and communities in early childcare practices and general health care. The organization has a two-way focus. To begin with, it has the focus of preventing childhood illnesses. These diseases should be capable of prevention. This includes childhood illnesses such as malaria, malnutrition and diarrhea. At the community level, the organization achieves its purpose by immunization, hygiene and child nutrition. The organization faced the compulsion of involving itself in maternal care for the realization of child health. The organization concerns with prenatal and postnatal care. This is a movement towards cutting down on maternal and infant mortality. Besides, the organization strives in implementing reproductive and HIV programs, as regards maternal perspective, in the in communities that it works with the same. In terms of water and sanitation, PLAN International recognizes that there is a global crisis in the same. This situation enables the menace of diarrhea that kills several people. The organization strives to work with communities in the aim of improving access to safe drinking water. It also raises awareness of the vitality of hand washing and waste management. This organization achieves the same by helping communities in improving sanitation facilities. In addition, it helps refurbish water points. Since many people lack the access to proper sanitation, they defecate in open areas thereby contaminating water. The organization educates communities about the same and importance of sanitation. One of the core programs regards protecting children from notable situations and harm. This concerns cases of abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence. There are several cases of children who face abuse from people, who are close to them, and this threatens their survival. It achieves this goal by targeting core areas of harm and insecurity to children. These areas include child trafficking, female genital mutilation, child marriage and labor. This creates a framework that is suitable for long-term solutions. Additionally, the organization works towards economic security. This is because children are vulnerable in facing the effects of poverty. This situation forces such children to work for survival or go hungry. The organization strives to help families, which exist in such states of poverty, acquire skills. These skills include vocational, academic and agricultural skills. In addition, the organization is instrumental in helping youths acquire employment. Additionally, it props agricultural and business ventures by offering loans and savings. It is vital to note that the PLAN organization emphasizes on microfinance groups. In terms of emergencies, the organization helps in times of disaster and recovery projects. The intention exists in the view of protecting children during such disasters. This is vital since children are vulnerable during such situations. In addition, children are vital in the recovery programs of societies since they are the core tools to the rebuilding of such societies. Additionally, it responds to warning of disasters such as the Tsunami. This occurs in vulnerable areas such as Panama and Ecuador. In this view, it works towards disaster and risk reduction strategies. One of the core operations of PLAN International entails child participation. This is possible through mini organizations in PLAN International. The organizations aims at helping children know about their rights and speak about the same. Children learn to be assertive in their approach to age challenges. Through community youth groups and delegate conferences, children and youth sharpen their verbal skills and make decisions as pertains to their lives. The organization additionally works with communities in order to help them realize the vitality of the voice of children. The roots extend towards vulnerable groups and their awareness of government programs that concerns children’s rights. It is essential to note that the organization has media programs for children. The organization also concerns with sexual health and HIV programs. The organization emphasizes on information and education since millions of children become vulnerable due to the same. It helps advocate for rights of children in HIV environments. It also helps affected families and those, who live with HIV, in prevention and care (PLAN, 2012). It also strives to challenge the attitude that arouses unequal powers between the sexes. It is crucial to note of the way in which PLAN International funds its programs. It utilizes entrepreneurial and charity avenues of attaining funds. The organization sends appeals to willing individuals who can help sponsor children in developing countries (PLAN, 2012). In this program, a family or an individual can support one or more children until they reach a certain age. Additionally, the organization achieves its funds through donations. Donations are vital since they come from many sources. Donations also have flexibilities as regards their amounts. It is vital to note of substantial funds that the organization accesses during emergencies. The organization also harnesses campaigns that informs about the credibility of their programs. In this sense, they achieve support in several forms. The organization has unique ways of saving on funds. PLAN International sources for volunteers that help educate and work during relief programs. In this sense, individuals provide free work force to the organization. The organization sells merchandise from physical and online platforms. It conducts a marketing program that enables individuals gain access to their merchandise. This includes branded gifts, t-shirts and cards. In summary, PLAN International organization is an entity that commits towards rooting out inequalities in communities. The main strategy of this organization concerns with rooting of poverty. It achieves the same through eight core areas. The eight ways have links with the strategy of clearing poverty in such societies. It is important to note of the organization’s ways of accessing funds. It employs charity and entrepreneurial ways of attaining funds. Reference PLAN (2012). Promoting Child Rights to end poverty. Plan International. Retrieved from http://plan-international.org/. Read More