Plan Supports Dochas Act Now on 2015 campaign

Plan Ireland seeks your support for the Dochas “Act Now on 2015” campaign to highlight the need for Ireland to deliver on its aid promises to the world’s poor.
At the UN Millennium meeting in 2000, Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, made a commitment to meet the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Official Development Assistance by the end of 2007. This deadline was subsequently extended to 2012 and then to 2015.

In 2008 current Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the UN: “We do not need to make further pledges if we just deliver on what we have already promised.” Since then he has presided over cuts in the overseas aid budget to the tune of 21% and the likelihood is that there is more to come in the next budget.

These cuts are having catastrophic effects on some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people - for example, Plan Ireland has had to cancel plans to build two schools in Mali which means that hundreds of children will not now receive an education.

Læs mere her!

Millennium Development Goals: 1,000 days to keep a promise

Today marks the 1,000 day milestone on the world’s journey to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the 2015 target date. The MDGs are the most successful anti-poverty movement in history, improving the lives of millions worldwide.

Læs mere her!

Millennium Development Goals on the agenda in Liberia

David Cameron became the first British Prime Minister to visit Liberia this week to attend talks on international development targets.

The PM will co-chair a United Nations meeting to discuss what happens after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expire in 2012.

He must grasp the “historic opportunity” to take major steps towards ending child poverty, leading charities urged.

Læs mere her!

Real choices, real lives, real girls: del 2

When it comes to rights like gender equality and universal education, the study is revealing some very encouraging developments.

Some quotes from the girls and their families, about the importance of education for girls:

“I want to be a teacher when I grow up and I like to wash plates and bowls and help my mum collect firewood.”Chhea, aged 6, Cambodia

“My parents cannot read and write. They didn’t receive any formal education. My mother forced me to give up school in order to assist my elder sister who delivered a baby in Cotonou. It affected me and I never forgot it.”Marcelle’s mother, Benin

“Whenever she comes back from school she repeats wonderfully all that she has learned. This is a source of pride for the family.”Maridiyatou’s mother, Togo

"A girl should be given priority to study because there’s a better chance girls will graduate.”Edwina’s father, the Philippines

All 142 girls in the study should be starting school this year. We wish them the best, and will continue to follow them until 2015, the year the Millennium Development Goals are set to be achieved.

Want to learn more about the study, and meet 8 of the girls participating? Click here to read the report, and to explore our interactive map, focusing on 8 girls in different countries.

Real choices, real lives, real girls: del 1

In 2007, Plan began a research study called “Real Choices, Real Lives” that is part of the Because I am a Girl initiative. The study will follow the lives of 142 girls from around the world, from birth until their ninth birthdays, to monitor the progress made globally for girls towards the Millennium Development Goal.

Using in-depth interviews with the girls’ families and with the girls themselves, plus focus groups and annual surveys, the study aims to support the research in Plan’s annual State of the World’s Girls reports by bringing to life the reality of girls’ lives around the world. It will help us to understand what works to support girls and their families to move out of poverty. And it will give us valuable insights into what girls need to improve their lives and to take advantage of opportunities that should be theirs by right.