Every year, June 16 is celebrated as the International Day of the African Child.

It all started in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 during the Apartheid era when black school children launched a peaceful protest by walking a mile to draw attention to poor education quality as well as the right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of children were shot and killed by South African police.

Since 1991, this day was declared as the International Day for the African Child in memory of those children who were injured and killed during the protest.

Another year has come and gone and today, June 16, we are again celebrating the Day of the African Child. Today, the apartheid regime is gone but the African child is facing many other problems which include:

• poverty – Africa is home to many of the poorest countries in the world and African children are suffering from lack of proper nutrition, clean drinking water, and sanitation facilities. About 50% of the population of many African countries live on less than US$1.25 a day.

• poor health – The life expectancy of an African child at birth is 50 years, much lower than the world average of 68.Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS. In Eastern and Southern Africa alone, 1.3 million children are HIV positive and 8.7 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.

• human trafficking – Many children in Africa, but also in other parts of the world, are victims of human trafficking. Young boys are being forced to become soldiers. Young girls are being pushed into child prostitution. Boys and girls alike are engaged in child labor. It is estimated that about 100 million girls worldwide are involved in child labor. Last week, on June 12, the UNICEF celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the World Day against Child Labor.

• lack of education – Although about 66% of children start primary school, only 20% of males and 18% of males ever make it to secondary school. Adult literacy rate is 66%.

This year’s theme is “Africa Fit for Children: Call for Accelerated Action towards their survival”. This is partly based on last year’s report by the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) entitled “The African Report on Child Wellbeing 2008: How child-friendly are African governments?”. According to the report, African governments are impressive when it comes to their involvement in child-focused movements, campaigns or treaties.

However, it is not clear how far their commitment really goes. The report says that in many African countries, there are big gaps between words and deeds, between promises and actions. Let us hope that this year’s theme will push African leaders beyond lip service and put the welfare of African children on top of their agenda.

Last week, a not-so-funny hoax was played on a New Hampshire child. Someone apparently hijacked a wireless signal in Dover, logged on to Craigslist, and offered the 1 year old baby for sale or lease with an option to buy. Thankfully, police found the little girl safe and sound at home. And there aren’t any children at the location of the wireless signal. They are investigating the source of this practical “joke.” But it isn’t funny. And even joking like that is against the law.

So no one was laughing on Friday when a West Virginia woman offered to sell her son. Rebecca Sue Taylor, 19, had been talking to Leigh Burr about possibly acting as a surrogate mother for her. Then, Taylor came up with a better idea. She proposed that Burr simply buy her own 5-month old son for ten thousand dollars. After all, mom and baby hadn’t bonded very well, and mom did need money for a new apartment.

Taylor called Burr several times trying to convince her. When Burr didn’t bite, Taylor lowered her asking price to just five thousand. Burr went to the police, who investigated, and arrested Taylor three days later. The baby is now in foster care. No details about his father were given.

This makes me sick. Earlier this week we heard about the father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali offering his Oscar Child for “adoption” to the highest bidder. But that was in India. I could say, “Wow, it’s terrible their society promotes that kind of behavior. Or that their circumstances are so bad that they feel they need to do that.” But this is HERE in the United States. What’s worse, if convicted, this mom will get a MAXIMUM penalty of $2000 and five years in prison. That’s it. For trying to sell a human being.

I’m not surprised she hasn’t bonded with him. What kind of mom would so desperately try to get rid of her child? Not that I agree with east Indians selling kids, but at least they have an understandable motivation–crushing poverty. But here? There is poverty here, but it isn’t the same. And there is a legal, loving, moral way to deal with an unplanned pregnancy in the US: adoption. I said in a recent post that I don’t support abortion, but I would have believed that the procedure would prevent this kind of horrible thing, at least.

I hope this woman’s little boy gets help–fast–in a loving home. He could already be suffering from an attachment disorder. I can’t say what I want for his mother. It isn’t appropriate. I’ll try to change my heart and find a little sympathy and mercy. What do we do in these circumstances? Does anyone else agree that the penalty here is WAY to easy?

According to research done by psychologists, children from poorer households are more likely to have reduced brain activity. Analysts have said it is a “wake-up call” and I certainly agree. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening in some countries, with even more families falling below the poverty line.

A researcher involved in the study, psy­cholo­g­ist Rob­ert Knight, attached to the University of California, Berkeley, said, “The stress­ful and rel­a­tively im­pov­er­ished en­vi­ron­ment as­so­ci­at­ed with low so­ci­o­ec­on­omic sta­tus” may be the cause. “Fewer books, less read­ing, few­er games, few­er vis­its to museums,” he added.

He feels that with proper training, this situation can be overcome. At this time, Dr. Knight and his team are working with neu­ro­sci­en­tists who are trying to develop the reasoning skills of children through the use of games. He said further, “…kids from low­er so­ci­o­ec­on­omic lev­els show brain phys­i­ol­o­gy pat­terns si­m­i­lar to some­one who ac­tu­ally had dam­age in the front­al lobe as an adult. We found that kids are more likely to have a low re­sponse if they have low so­ci­o­ec­on­omic sta­tus, though not every­one who is poor has low front­al lobe re­sponse”

The brain function was gauged with an elec­tro­en­ce­pha­lo­graph, where a cap with electrodes is fitted on the head. The study will be published in the Jour­nal of Cog­ni­tive Neu­ro­sci­ence. Earlier studies have also proposed a link between economic circumstances and the ability to learn. Granted, this is something most of us know instinctively, but it is good to have scientific evidence to back us up.

Clearly this does not bode well for the underdeveloped and developing nations of the world. However this is an issue for first world countries as well, especially given the current economic climate and the job losses that are taking place worldwide. It is hoped that this study will lead to action of some sort and not just end up being just another often quoted reference.

Perhaps this will help us all to get involved where we can. There are various worldwide charities such as the Red Cross that could use our help, even in the form of small donations. I am thankful that larger countries are usually inclined to offer aid to poorer nations. The worldwide effort to help parts of Africa facing famine is still pretty fresh in my mind. As we enter the holiday season, this is a stark reminder that we all need to do what we can, no matter how small the gift.