-Kavian Milani, Founder of CHHR
SHAC student health advisory committee is a body that provides advice on FCPS system to the Fairfax county board of education. Items for this year will be recess, anxiety, performance pressure and suicidal ideation.
I was saddened reviewing data that suggests high suicidal ideation among Latina teenagers. That will be on our agenda for CHHR for the coming year.
-Elizabeth Chinery, Junior Community Outreach Coordinator
theconversation.com (Minority job applicants with ‘strong racial identities’ may encounter less pay and lower odds of getting hired)
Racial discrimination is a topic that many people believe has been decreased due to laws and places such as colleges and even many business promoting the admission and hiring of a more diverse set of individuals. However, the truth is this is far from the truth.
The problem of perceived and presumed identities play a big part in this form of discrimination. Many people use what they see at first glance thus creating a singular identity for an individual. In fact, it is quite common to do this. It’s safe to say that many of us do this on a daily basis. However, letting this determine how you treat an individual is where there is a big problem. As the article states, “people have more than one identity, such as being a mom, a Muslim, an athlete, a scientist and so on.” Therefore, seeing someone for the first time, taking one look, and creating your own story for that person is something that should be avoided because in a way this strips the individual of their entire identity.
Unfortunately, this way of thinking is quite common in many businesses when choosing who to hire and how much to pay the individual. This blatant disregard for an individual’s, generally a minority individual’s, qualifications and experience simply due to the fact that they are a minority is where the employment process takes a racist turn.
This article goes into detail further. Please take a couple minutes to read it and maybe bring up the discussion of this topic with friends and family. Let it encourage you to actively advocate for change.
-Elizabeth Chinery, Junior Community Outreach Coordinator
CNN.com (Scourge of superbugs killing Malawi’s babies)
In 2016, 20% of Malawi’s newborns died due to an epidemic of infections causing sepsis; “by comparison, in the UK, sepsis is responsible for less than 2% of infant deaths.”
Sometimes improvement in healthcare starts with the improvement of the country’s overall conditions. In underdeveloped countries like Malawi, running water is scarce, soap is expensive, “many lack education on the importance of washing their hands [or] how to hygienically prepare food or how to change their baby’s diaper, and not many can afford to go to a doctor when they become ill.” Therefore, an improvement in a keeping medical supplies (such as sterile gloves, bleach, chlorine, and soap) fully in stock would only be beneficial in a country like this if the sterile gloves and soap were available and made required for visitors’ use. However, even then, there is issue of unwashed clothing. The hospital could made clean clothes mandatory but what if a visitor cannot afford to wash his or her clothing on a regular basis? It could severely limit or eliminate their visitation ability. This is why focusing on making basic human needs such as public education on basic hygiene practices, widely available running water, and affordable soap for the general public is the first step in reducing and potentially eliminating epidemics such as this.
There are many organizations, such as WHO and UNICEF, who have been aiding with the international movement to reduce health complications by sending educators and supplies to countries like Malawi who are in desperate need. More help is always needed. Find an organization that fights for what you believe in and don’t be scared to help out in anyway you can.
It’s crazy how a little soap and water can save so many lives.
-Elizabeth Chinery, Junior Community Outreach Coordinator
SWB Colorado
Soccer Without Borders is an non-profit organization, founded by Ben Gucciardi in 2006, that aims “to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success.” Its values include:
The organization has grown drastically through the last twelve years with global presence in 10 countries on 3 continents including programs developed in programs developed in 5 US states (California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington) as well as Nicaragua and Uganda, reaching over 2,000 youth annually and over 10,000 youth throughout its years.
SWB’s program is modeled to meet the needs of the target population of each individual location and create “a team environment defined by consistent leaders, dynamic and relevant program activities, and a culture of acceptance.” Its impact highlights include language development (including the SWB Baltimore’s integration of language learning into field practice), academic advancement through tactics such as academic intervention and regular tutoring, and reciprocal impact (i.e. volunteers learning from the participants as they also teach them).
To learn more about Soccer Without Borders, contact an ambassador, or become an ambassador to get your community involved click the link below!
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