|
Children Ask President-Elect Obama to Help Save the World’s Babies
Hundreds Write Letters to New President and Craft Little Caps to Create Big Change in Washington, DC
 |
Ten-year-old Alex displays the hats he's made at a Montessori School for Save the Children's Knit One, Save One campaign. |
WESTPORT, Conn. (November 21, 2008) — The election is over, and American voters have spoken. Now, hundreds of American children and teens from 15 red and blue states are hoping to do the same. They are banding together to urge President-elect Barack Obama to save the world's babies as part of Save the Children and Warm Up America's national grassroots campaign Knit One, Save One.
Hoping to inspire America's leaders to do more to save the nearly 4 million newborns that die each year in developing countries, children in schools and youth clubs across the United States are knitting colorful, little caps to keep newborns warm, and picking up pens (and pencils) to write heartfelt messages to the new President.
Some of the children's notes are decorated with drawings of hearts, stars and little caps. Several notes encourage the President-elect to make his own cap, while others ask him to write back.
Dear Mr. President-elect Obama – Excerpts from Children's Notes
- Aisha, age 12, Kentucky
"…can we send some baby caps to India? Most of my family lives there, and since I've recently gone there, I saw lots of baby children in the streets without food or enough clothes."
- Angela, age 13, Minnesota
"We want mothers to get the chance to keep their children instead of losing them just a few days after they are born… If I was somewhere and my baby was dying, I would be most thankful for someone who stepped in and helped... you never know who you can change a life for."
- Trang, age 13, Minnesota
"..babies in some countries (out of the U.S.) are put aside when they are born, so they can take care of the mother. And when those babies get put aside... they still have sticky stuff on them which makes them cold, it's like walking out of the shower with no towel. So that's why we… have knitted hats for those poor babies that are cold."
- McKenna, age 8, Texas
"I am in a knitting club at my school. Right now, we are knitting baby caps for babies around the world that are born too early. We are trying to save the babies lives. I hope you are trying to help just like we are. I am on my 3rd baby hat, and I am going to do a 4th one."
All of the children's notes to President-elect Barack Obama will be taken to Washington, DC early next year. The civics lesson will continue next spring when some of the teachers and children participating in Knit One, Save One will attend Save the Children's annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill to encourage lawmakers to boost aid for needy newborns.
Schools and youth clubs, and other interested knitters and crocheters can still participate in Knit One, Save One through December 31, 2008. To download a Knit One, Save One Action Kit, go to www.savethechildren.org/knitonesaveone or call 1-800-728-3843.
Caps for Newborns in Africa and Asia
The colorful knitted and crocheted caps will be distributed to pregnant women and new moms through Save the Children's programs in Africa and Asia, where they will be used to keep babies warm in the first critical hours and days after birth.
Many of the caps will be included in a "Better Beginnings for Babies Kit," a project of Save the Children, PATH and Johns Hopkins University. The kits, which vary by country, contain items to improve hygiene at delivery and promote proper care of newborns such as soap for washing, a new blade for cutting the umbilical cord and a clean string for tying the cord. The kit will be paired with health worker counseling to new moms on issues like exclusive breastfeeding.
Background on Newborn Survival
Research shows that 60 percent of the nearly 4 million newborn deaths that occur each year could be prevented if mothers and children in poor countries had access to a simple package of health measures.
This low-cost, effective package includes antibiotics to fight infections, immunizations against tetanus, training for birth attendants, education on breastfeeding and basic care for newborns such as keeping a baby — even those born in hot climates - warm with a knit cap in the first critical hours and days after birth.
America's leaders could save millions of newborn lives by increasing international assistance for programs that offer these affordable, life-saving tools.
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 100 countries.
