It starts with the children
Children and child sponsorship is part of our DNA. We have always believed that all children and young people have a right to grow, learn and play in a safe and nurturing environment. They also have a right to receive adequate care and protection from all forms of exploitation, neglect or abuse.
Below is our Biblical Rationale – the reason why we place children at the centre of our activities and the four outcomes areas that with your donations we ensure we do all we can to safeguard the children’s rights.
Being a Child Focused organisation is a journey.
Asian Aid is commited to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We have adopted four key outcome areas to help ensure we are doing all we can to safeguard the rights of the children and young people in our program and we are providing for the holistic wellbeing and development of each individual child.
Survival – The right to nutritious food and clean water, appropriate clothing, access to adequate shelter, security, sanitation and health care is essential for a child’s holistic development. We provide for the basic rights of children so that they grow into contributing members of families and communities.
Development – We are committed to supporting the children and young people in our program to reach their God-given potential by acknowledging children’s unique personality, talents and abilities.
Protection – We resource our partners to safeguard children’s rights through training and education activities, and empower children and young people to safeguard their rights, and the rights of others, through various activities.
Participation – We collaborate with partners and communities to consider children’s thoughts, opinions and needs when planning our program(s) and activities so that we engage in shared learning with the children and young people we support.
If you would like to know how these outcome areas will be addressed, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions .
At Asian Aid, “It’s all about the kids” because the Bible says children are important to the kingdom of Heaven and should be valued.
The Bible has many direct references to children. In Matthew, chapter 18, we read about the disciples struggling with ideas of power and status. They show little understanding of Jesus’ kingdom when they ask Him who is to be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. This is what Jesus does: Jesus called a child over and made the child stand near Him. Then He said: I promise you this; if you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)
This child Jesus places at the centre was invisible to the disciples; an outsider that had not contributed to the coming kingdom like the disciples had. And yet, the invisible, outsider child is in the kingdom of Heaven and the disciples, unless they change, will be the outsiders.
“And when you welcome one of these children because of me,” Jesus says, “you welcome me.”
“It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin.” It seems that welcoming or rejecting the kingdom of Heaven is synonymous with welcoming or rejecting a little child. We cannot follow Jesus without welcoming children. We cannot reject children without rejecting Jesus.
In Micah, chapter 6, there is another example of God’s heart for children. Here we read about a hierarchy of sacrifices that builds in value. “What offering should I bring when I bow down to worship the Lord God Most High? Should I try to please Him by sacrificing calves a year old? Will thousands of sheep or rivers of olive oil make God satisfied with me? Should I sacrifice to the Lord my child as payment for my terrible sins?”
And God’s response? “The Lord God has told us what is right and what He demands: See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” (Micah 6:8)
That’s why Asian Aid has a Child Focused approach. We place children at the centre of our work and measure our partnerships and projects through the impact these have on children because God says children are too valuable. He commissions us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him to redeem all treasured children. This Biblical understanding gives Asian Aid our motivation to provide adequate care and support to children and young people as they grow and develop; protected from abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation. Asian Aid is committed to serving children as commanded in Micah 6:8.*All Bible texts from The Poverty and Justice Bible Contemporary English Version (Bible Society www.povertyandjusticebible.org)