Final Project Assignment Childhood Report in Tuvalu

Childhood Report in Tuvalu
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Childhood Report in Tuvalu
Childhood conceptualizations of childhood differ from one country to the other. To determine how different individuals view childhood, it is essential to consider the country of their origin. Tuvalu (formerly known as Ellice Islands) is an independent constitutional monarchy in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu would form the basis of comparing and contrasting the concept of childhood with a Western view and in particular, the U.S.
Demographic details
Tuvalu is situated in Oceania, almost midway between Hawaii and Australia. Between 1892 and 1926, the Ellice Islands were administered as a British protectorate. In 1916, the British established the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony which existed until 1974. On October 1, 1978, Tuvalu gained its independence. Tuvalu is the fourth-smallest country in the world. The total areas of the islands of Tuvalu are 26 square kilometers.
The 2012 census indicated that Tuvalu had a population of 10,640. The Tuvaluans are Polynesian and account for 94% of the population (Tuvaluislands.com, 2019). The Tuvaluans speak Tuvaluan, although English is taught in schools and widely used. A majority of the people belong to the Church of Tuvalu. The infrastructure in Tuvalu is rudimentary. The only island in Tuvalu with a network of paved roads is Funafuti. The rest of the islands have limited paved roads or none at all (Nations Encyclopedia, 2019). Due to the poor road infrastructure, there are few privately-owned vehicles and some government-owned ones. The most common means of transport are bicycle and small motorcycle.
Due to its small size and the lack of exploitable resources, a majority of the population depend on subsistence activities. Farming and fishing are the main economic activities. The businesses in the country are mainly cooperative or communal. Tuvalu gets income from the export of small quantities of copra, licensing foreign ships to fish, remittances from expatriates Tuvaluans, and foreign aid fund. Most of the jobs are in the government sector, although there has been an increase in the number of private businesses creating employment opportunities.
Key issues
* Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Children are supposed to have access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as adequate sanitation and hygiene. However, in Tuvalu, a majority of the children do not enjoy these privileges. The lack of safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and hygiene have been the major cause of water-related diseases (UNICEF, 2017). Drinking water, in particular, is becoming rare and has to be imported. Rainwater stores are the main source of drinking water for the Tuvaluans. The most common water-borne disease in Tuvalu is diarrhea. The disease has been responsible for a significant number of under-5 mortality.
* Climate change
The children in Tuvalu face the problem of climate change. Global warming and rising sea levels threaten their existence. There is a possibility that these children could lose their country when the level of sea rises. In the future, these children could be refugees due to the change in the climate. Daily, the children of Tuvalu watch as their beaches disappear. The string waves continue to uproot the coconut trees and the coral reefs. It is possible that by 2050, the isles of Tuvalu would no longer be existing. The increasing temperatures in the ocean are a threat to the fish. The reduction in the supply of fish has adverse effects considering that Tuvaluans take an average of 500g per day per individual (Humanium, 2019). A reduction in the availability of fish could negatively affect the development of children.
* Education
Tuvalu has taken various measures for improving education. Since 2002, Tuvalu has made efforts towards improving the quality of education in the country. The length of primary school is eight years, after which children can attend an obligatory secondary education for two years without any selective entrance exam. Nonetheless, the education system in Tuvalu has various challenges. Firstly, Tuvalu is divided into nine isles and atolls. The geography is challenging, which makes the availability of teachers and materials difficult. Secondly, schools have different literacy levels. This is because teachers are not trained well, there are inadequate resources, and the motivation of both teachers and students is low. Additionally, some of the schools are overcrowded. For instance, the primary school in the capital is overcrowded with 630 children for just 19 teachers. Lastly, the isles of Funafuti and Vaitupu have only two secondary schools. The implication of this is that the children must leave their homes and become boarders.
* Health
The life expectancy in Tuvalu is 67.2 years. The rate of child mortality for those under five years is 35 in every 1000 live births. Some of the health problems for children include diarrhea, HIV/AIDs, and diabetes.
* Poverty
Generally, Tuvalu does not have abject poverty. However, there are family inequalities in the country. The families that depend on subsistence farming have relatively low income compared to those who have engaged in business or work with the government. The children from low-income families experience discrimination in schools. As a result, most of the children from low-income families have a high probability of dropping out. Health problems are common in children from low-income families.
* Family
The resent attitudes towards the family are heavily influenced by Christianity. Marriage is one of the most critical rites of passage in Tuvalu (Humanium, 2019). The mothers are considered to be primary caregivers. Children, particularly young girls, are expected to participate in the rearing of the younger siblings. This could affect their education as they spend time bringing up their siblings. Girls are also expected to undertake domestic chores, which sometimes limits their studies.
* Punishment
Physical punishment is used by parents when children err. Parents use corporal punishment for their children. The people believe that corporal punishment in both home and school is an effective way of guiding the children. Since the ratification of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), corporal punishment has remained an assault under the criminal laws of Tuvalu.
* Abuse and Neglect
There have been fewer reports on the abuse of children. However, this does not mean that the problem does not exist. Some of the Children with Disabilities have fa...