Impacts on Early Emotional Development

I chose to research the challenges children encounter in Eastern and Southern Africa, because media is often focused on this area of the world and the hardships that children face. However, I have never taken it in to my own hands to explore the challenges that children face in Eastern and Southern Africa. According to UNICF (n.d.), half of all under five deaths occur in Eastern and Southern Africa due to pneumonia, preterm birth complications, diarrhea, complications during birth and malaria. Children who do survive are exposed to economic exploitation, child labor, lack of education and road safety measures, early marriages, sexual violence, prostitution, ill treatment, drug abuse and forced recruitment into armed forces. Across the region there are 8.8 million children who are out-of-school. Many of these children, ranging in age from 5-14, are engaged in child labor.


Children who are forced to work at a very young age will experience physical and emotional stress that children this age are not equipped to handle. Girls are forced into relationships with men at a very young age causing confusion and low self-esteem. Early marriages, sexual violence, and prostitution negatively impact the children's normal developing sense of identity and ultimately their path of life. Boys who are forced into the armed forces at an early age also feel a negative impact due the horrific experiences they will encounter in their youth causing confusion, distrust, and a bleak outlook on life and on people. These experiences will also lead to a negative sense of self. Lack of education will ultimately affect the children's well being in this region of the world. Many of the children living in this region of the world lack loving, caring relationships. Many do not receive quality early childhood care or any form of education. These children are experiencing challenges and hardships that are extremely detrimental to their emotional health and well being.


With the passing of The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) children and adults throughout the region are receiving education in order to understand and advocate for the rights of children. However, many children in this region continue to live in apartheid, unsanitary living conditions, and in constant fear of displacement from their immediate family. It is difficult to read the stories written and expressed by the children in this region. These children are dealing with challenges and hardships on daily basis that would be difficult for anybody to maneuver let alone a child. It is surprising to learn that 8.8 million children do not attend school and lack the education, skills, and tools to make their dreams come true. The emotional trauma many children deal with on a daily basis will definitely affect their healthy development. These traumas will last into adulthood affecting their relationships as an adult.


Reference:


UNICEF - UNICEF Home. (n.d.). UNICEF - UNICEF Home. Retrieved February 23, 2013, from http://www.unicef.org