RCCH at Work

The Working Group For the Rights of Children in Children's Homes has begun seeing results since its formation.

Nestor Mendez, (Ambassador from Belize) presenting a Christmas card and donation to Laura Briley (Chairman for Pikler/Loczy Fund USA) for the orphanage in Belize, Liberty Children's Home.

Laura Briley and Beverly Kovach met with Ambassador Nestor Mendez, the US Ambassador from Belize. They discussed what could be done to help the orphanages in Belize and some of the history of Belize. They interviewed him for the book that is being written about institutions throughout the world. The meeting took place at the Belize Embassy in Washington, D.C. during the NAEYC conference in November, 2009. Delfena Mitchell is the Director of the orphanage, Liberty, in Ladyville, Belize. In January, Janet Gonzalez-Mena took a trip to Belize to interview the children, the First Lady of Belize and to find out how the working group can better unite institutions. She will be writing an article about her experiences in Exchange.

Pikler Newsletter - Fall 2009

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The Working Group for Rights of Children Without Families was launched at the 2009 World Forum on Early Care and Education in Belfast, Ireland held June 16-19, 2009. The Working Group represents 10 countries who work in institutions. Representatives attending the conference came from El Salvador, Ecuador, Singapore, Nicaragua, France, Hungary, Belize, Mexico, Indonesia and the USA.

The group was formed with the belief that all children should have the benefit of being raised by their birth parents. Yet, that is not always viable due to death of a parent or parents, abandonment, illness, abuse, natural disasters and war. It is paramount that each country be ready to provide children the best care if their fate is to lose their family and they are placed in a group care setting through no fault of their own. We want institutions to be successful in caring for these children by providing them with support and ongoing trainings. The Working Group has developed four goals during the 2009 World Forum...read more

Delfena Mitchell, of Liberty Children's Homes in Belize, seeks meeting with Belizean ambassador

Embassy of Belize
Ambassador Nestor Mendez
2535 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,
Washington DC 20008

Dear Ambassador Mendez,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Delfena Mitchell, I am the director of Liberty Foundation, a registered, non governmental, non profit organization located in Ladyville, Belize. Liberty Foundation consists of Liberty Children’s Home and Liberty Learning Center. Licensed through the Ministry of Human Development and Transformation, Liberty Children’s Home provides emergency shelter and residential care to forty children placed with us by the Department of Human Service. Liberty Learning Center which is located within the five acre campus of Liberty Children’s Home provides day-care, Pre-school, and home schooling to approximately 65 community and residential children, many of whom have special needs.

On behalf of the World Forum Foundation (WFF) and the Working Group For the Rights of Children in Children’s Homes, I would like to request a meeting with you on their behalf. The Working Group’s mission is to make sure that children without families be given every opportunity to live in an environment that is safe, nurturing, and responsive with trained, educated adults in order for them to become a contributing member of our society. The Founder of the Working Group, Mrs. Laura Briley, will be in Washington, D.C. attending the National Association of the Education of Young Children conference, November 18-21st. She would like to request a meeting to discuss our partnerships with orphanages throughout the world and how we can help each other. The current countries who are participating in this group are: Mexico, Ecuador, Singapore, Hungary, El Salvador, Indonesia, Nicaragua, France, and the USA. A network is being formed to connect children’s homes throughout the world and provide training, education, and support.

Every two years the WFF mobilizes 600 - 800 early childhood professionals from more than 80 countries to share ideas on a wide range of issues impacting the delivery of quality services for children and families. Recently WFF was invited to be a member of “Clinton Global Initiative. In June of 2009, WFF invited and paid for me to attend their conference on Early Childhood Care and Development in Belfast, Ireland. I was given the opportunity to present and talk about Belize and the wonderful work we are doing at Liberty Foundation. It was such an honor for me discussing our wonderful facility created by Marcelle Delehaye ; our success in the work we are doing with the children; and the challenges we face to keep it going. In Belfast, there was an outpouring of kindness for me and it has resulted in recognition for the country of Belize. I met Will Maheia, another Belizean, who was attending the conference, and he is now sending fruit on a weekly basis to Liberty. Janet Gonzalez-Mena, a well-known author and infant and toddler specialist, and keynote presenter, will be coming to Belize in January to interview me for a book that will be written by the World Forum Working Group about our orphanage in Belize. She will be in Washington as well and would like to accompany Mrs. Briley during her visit with you and interview you, Mr. Ambassador, for the book.

Please let me know by October 28, 2009, which of the following dates and what time would be convenient for you to meet with them; November 18, 19, 20, or 21, 2009. They look forward to learning more about our country and how we care for our children in Belize.

Thank you in advance for your support. Information about the World Forum Foundation can be found at: www.worldforumfoundation.org. For more information about Liberty Foundation please visit the web site above or contact me at: 011 501-225-2158; or by email at delfena@libertyfoundation.org.uk or delfena2002@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Delfena Mitchell
Director

FI WE PICKNI DA WI FUCHA
OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE