Global Day of Parents
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe June 1st annually as the Global Day of Parents, to honor parents around the world. The UN has also emphasized the importance of policies that are family-centered in the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The role of the family is becoming more evident as parents have been under immense pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. They face the arduous task of ensuring a domestic environment that is safe and inspiring, while also making sure that their children’s emotional, mental and physical needs are taken care of.
Parents are committed to securing better rights and greater opportunities for their children. But issues like poverty, stigma, and inequality still threaten the well-being and development of children around the world. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic the digital divide was intensified, as the education of an estimated 1.6 billion school and college students were affected. The UN reported that 5 million children under five years of age died in 2020, along with 2.2 million children and youth between the ages of 5 and 24. Many of these deaths can be attributed to largely preventable health issues and suboptimal health systems. Threats toward the safety of children, particularly those who live in conflict zones and those marked by political and cultural tension, block their access to child rights. In a world that is interdependent, we know that “No one is safe, until everyone is”. We know that working to protect our own children does not guarantee their safety unless we build a framework for communities, societies and nations where all children are valued and protected. Tackling these chronic problems requires parents to be visionaries as they navigate a world of ever-evolving challenges. They operate with a constant consciousness of the present state of the world as they strive to remain hopeful and optimistic about its future potential.
That is why it is important to listen to the changing needs of parents while attempting to understand their unique responsibilities even as we all co-create actionable plans toward improving the lives of children. At TeachAids, we are proud of the parents who, having witnessed or faced these challenges firsthand, have dedicated their skills, talent and passion towards making the world a better and safer place. Many of them serve in various capacities on our teams and bring an immense sense of purpose to the work they do.
We asked a few of them to share why they are supporting TeachAids and why this work matters for the future of their children. Here’s what they had to say:
“Being a part of the TeachAids team is something I’ve always been very proud of, even before I became a parent. As a new mom during a pandemic, it became strikingly obvious to me how important global health work is. TeachAids is making a difference in this space through education, awareness, and access. I am proud to commit my time to a place that not only makes the world a better place for my kids, but for everyone’s kids. – Michelle Kafka, Communications Lead
“TeachAids and their ever important work is extremely close to my heart. I support what they do because they are tackling some of the most controversial and stigmatized global health crises by providing research based solutions for marginalized populations that otherwise would not have access to them. As a father I want my children to understand the responsibility of supporting humanity, and TeachAids exemplifies this commitment beyond a shadow of a doubt.” – Scott Anderson, Advisor
“I’ve always deeply valued the importance of giving back to the communities around us. This important lesson was passed on to me through my respected elders. I’ve enjoyed every moment of helping to build easy to use products of the highest standard at TeachAids with a goal to benefit humanity. I hope when my three young children are old enough to understand our work, they will be inspired to dedicate their time to give back in meaningful ways.”– Sriram Krishnan, Technology Advisor
“As a parent, we always want the best for our children. My deepest desire has been for my children to understand and realize that we can each make a difference in the world. At TeachAids, interacting closely with young people and our myriad of global experts, it has been inspiring and humbling to see the impact that each individual has had in resolving health issues in our community.” – Jeannette Cox, Finance and Accounting Lead