This year our theme is “Help Kids Get Off to a Good Start!”

Alongside the Make Poverty History health campaign for 2008, Simply Sharing Week is encouraging Australians to ensure that children at risk worldwide have access to a nutritious diet and health care. Suggested dates for Simply Sharing Week are 18-24 May 2008. However, please feel free to participate at the time of year that suits your schedule best.

These education resources focus on UN Millennium Development Goal 4 – reduce child mortality (under the age of five) and have been designed to help students understand our relationship with the global community.

Today in our world:

• About 27,000 children under the age of five die every day, 21 each minute, mainly from preventable causes.
• More than 70% of almost 11 million child deaths every year are attributable to six causes: diarrhoea, malaria, neonatal infection, pneumonia, pre-term delivery, or lack of oxygen at birth.

Resources

2008 Advocacy Activity

Our goal this year is to get more schools and students in direct contact with their Federal Members of Parliament and Senators to spread the message about providing healthcare to children at risk. We encourage all age groups to participate in the ‘Create Yourself!’ activity. You can either ‘Create Yourself’ using the activity provided in the kit below or create a 'Virtual You' online.

Please click here to create a ‘Virtual You’.

By presenting the ‘Create Yourself’ activities directly to your Federal MP or Senator, you can encourage the Australian Government to increase aid beyond the planned $320 m per year by 2010 to our fair share of around $560 m per year. This contribution will go directly towards child and maternal health (delivery, neonatal care and education and prevention of all major diseases excluding HIV/AIDS).

Please click here to find the contact details of your Federal MP.

Please click here to find the contact details of your Senator.

Simply Sharing Week Kit

Please click here for PDF resources that have been designed to help students understand our relationship with the global community, with the spirit of sharing in mind. Inside this education resource, you’ll find stories and activities for students to engage with the school community, families, friends, local media and members of the Federal Government. The resources are targeted towards upper and lower primary and secondary school age groups, but are great for Sunday School usage as well.

We have also created a PowerPoint presentation around this year’s theme for your use. Please click here to download the Simply Sharing Week 2008 presentation.

For more information, please email us at ssw@ncca.org.au