In 2022, Equity for Children measured and addressed child poverty on multiple dimensions, including income and factors of wellbeing. The productive year featured exciting and inspiring projects:
Voices of Latinx in Queens. A research grant from The Spencer Foundation funded a qualitative study about post-traumatic experiences of Latinx in Queens. In partnership with community grassroots organization Voces Latinas and creative partner StoryCenter, the participatory research provided original data about hard-to-reach populations in urban areas of the United States. Participants created first-person narratives about their immigration experiences, including being day laborers and sex workers. Overlooked, these individuals are often excluded and rendered invisible. The project, still ongoing, emphasize personal stories and their connection to larger social issues. This unique research study utilizes a qualitative approach and digital storytelling to enhance the understanding of a little-recognized community. It is helping to develop compelling advocacy materials for leaders and policymakers in order to generate needed change. Read more here.
Mobilizing for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights. Equidad para la Infancia, Equity for Children’s Latin American arm, partnered with UNICEF Argentina on “Municipalities Together for Children and Adolescents” (MUNA) a November 20, 2022, Call For Action project day that commemorated World Children’s Day. More than 7000 children from 27 Argentinian municipalities across seven provinces joined to advocate for children’s rights. To view the video, click here.
Public Spaces for All. Equity for Children and the ARCOR Foundation organized a webinar series delving into the essential role that public spaces play in urban areas and how they are linked to child rights. Experts from Latin America and more than 200 participants throughout the region discussed unequal access to public spaces that result in diminished wellbeing for children and adolescents. They proposed steps to developing inclusive spaces that promote healthy, active lifestyles and offering places to inspire community relations that will reduce prejudices and support social integration. Read more here.
Engaging Disengaged Adolescents on Staten Island. Equity for Children and A Chance In Life are partnering in Staten Island at a drop-in youth center called The Village to promote leadership development, college readiness, life skills, and psychological support for at-risk adolescents. Staten Island’s North Shore has a poverty rate greater than that of New York City as a whole and is home to some of its most marginalized and underserved youth. A video series entitled “Building the Village” documents the project process and results. Read more and see the videos here.
“Leaving No Child and No Adolescent Behind”, by Alberto Minujin and Sudeshna Chatterjee. Current data on child inequality shows that 350 million families currently reside in slums and that the number will double by 2030. “The book explores main factors that cause exclusion and marginalization. It provides evidence and experiences about how to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030”, states Minujin. The book details policy measures that can reduce poverty, such as promoting greater social investment in vulnerable families and children. Read more here.
Prioritizing an Urban Health Agenda in Latin America. A journal publication co-authoredby Alberto Minujin and Gabriel Crespo compiles case studies from India, Chile and Peru to highlight an urban health agenda for children and adolescents. Read more here to learn about urban interventions that will help reduce disparities.
How Effective Are Worldwide Child Poverty Reduction Policies? Equity for Children was selected by UNICEF to conduct an analysis of the organization’s efforts to reduce child poverty, and to deliver a series of recommendations to conduct a global evaluation on the effectiveness of their work.Our analysis included informant interviews from senior management across all levels of the organization, including country and regional offices. We conducted stakeholder analysis, a literature review, and mapping of UNICEF’s country level interventions. Our study helped UNICEF determine the feasibility for an actual evaluation, as well as to identify key stakeholders, a methodology, and an evaluation design.The report can be viewed here.
