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International Literacy Day – 8 September

Background

“In 1966, UNESCO proclaimed 8th September International Literacy Day to remind the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies.” – United Nations

A new definition of Literacy?

“Beyond its conventional concept as a set of reading, writing and counting skills, literacy is now understood as a means of identification, understanding, interpretation, creation, and communication in an increasingly digital, text-mediated, information-rich and fast-changing world.” – UNESCO

Child reading (Photo by Guy Basabose on Unsplash)

Further benefits of Literacy?

 “… [A]cquiring and improving literacy skills throughout life [i]s an intrinsic part of the right to education. The “multiplier effect” of literacy empowers people, enables them to participate fully in society and contributes to improve livelihoods.

Literacy is also a driver for sustainable development in that it enables greater participation in the labour market; improved child and family health and nutrition; reduces poverty and expands life opportunities.” – UNESCO

Photo by Christina Hawkins on Unsplash

Did you know?

Below are a selection of statistics that gives a view of the state of international literacy:

  • 773 million adults and young people lack basic literacy skills;
  • 617 million children and adolescents are not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics;
  • During the initial phase of the pandemic, schools were closed disrupting the education of 62.3 per cent of the world’s student population of 1.09 billion and;
  • Adult literacy and education were absent in initial education response plans, therefore many youth and adults with no or low literacy skills have had limited access to life-saving information.

Things to consider?

What is the level of literacy in your community? (consider people with and without disabilities)

Are you concerned?

Should you be concerned?

Maybe its time to organise a self help literacy project if you are concerned about this issue and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education): Target 4.6.

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International Day for People of African Descent – 31 August

“Wherever you are today, share this day with other people of African Descent … peace and blessings.” – Kean

“The International Day for People of African Descent will be celebrated for the first time on 31 August 2021. Through this Observance the United Nations aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.

People of African Descent (Photo by Luemen Rutkowski on Unsplash)

International days reflect the values that society shares. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. Any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.

The United Nations strongly condemns the continuing violent practices and excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent and condemns structural racism in criminal justice systems around the world. The Organization further acknowledges the Transatlantic Slave Trade as one of the darkest chapters in our human history and upholds human dignity and equality for the victims of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism, in particular people of African descent in the African diaspora.” – (https://www.un.org/en/observances/african-descent-day)

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International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition – 23 August

The UNESCO Executive Board adopted Resolution 29 C/40 at its 29th session which “[proclaimed] 23 August of every year ‘International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition’…”

“The night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.


This International Day is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples. In accordance with the goals of the intercultural project “The Slave Route”, it should offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

The Director-General of UNESCO invites the Ministers of Culture of all Member States to organize events every year on that date, involving the entire population of their country and in particular young people, educators, artists and intellectuals.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Goree in Senegal (23 August 1999). Cultural events and debates too were organized. The year 2001 saw the participation of the Mulhouse Textile Museum in France in the form of a workshop for fabrics called “Indiennes de Traite” (a type of calico) which served as currency for the exchange of slaves in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.”” (UNESCO)

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3 Steps – Contracts for small businesses and small non-profits

Did you know that “[p]rior to the [COVID-19] crisis, 22 per cent of young people were not in employment, education or training (NEET), one in seven young men and one in three young women. The decline in employment caused by the COVID-19 crisis has not been compensated by returns to education and training. Hence, the NEET rate has risen in many countries and remains higher than before the crisis.” (United Nations website)

As a result of this protracted issue of youth unemployment, more youth are exploring small business ventures as a means of gainful employment.

In this blog I wish to share three steps that you can take to assist you with demonstrating that a contract exist.

The three steps are as follows:

  1. Make sure you are clear who are you contracting with. For example, are you contracting with a person or a company?
  2. What are the terms of this contract?  What is/are the service(s) that you will deliver and what are the obligations of the person/company that you are providing the services to?  (Note that these terms should be put in writing using a basic email, invoice or text message and sent to your client for confirmation. Use the client’s name in this correspondence).
  3. Require a deposit from your client and give them a receipt once the deposit is received.

The benefit of using these three steps is that you will be using and documenting basic elements of a contract.  Many small businesses experience breaches of contract and do not have any recourse because it is difficult for them to demonstrate that a contract exist.

Following these three basic steps will assist you with demonstrating that a contract exist if the contract is breached.

Feel free to direct any questions to Kean Smith at kean@smithkas.com or comment below.

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“Education Post COVID-19” (selected African States)

Yesterday 13 August was my final day as a volunteer at the Centre for African Justice, Peace and Human Rights, Netherlands.

I volunteered since last year August, first as a Project Assistant and then the Project Manager of the Right to Quality Education Team.

We focus mainly on work related to UN SDGs 3, 4 and 6 (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being; Goal 4 – Quality Education; and Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation) in the context of African States.

One of our major projects was to produce content for the team’s quarterly digital magazine.

Below is a link to our recent publication which was published yesterday on the theme of “Education post COVID-19” (see Right to Quality Education Magazine, Issue 2, August, 2021).

If you are interested, you will find additional magazines from the other teams namely Capacity Building, Sexual Violence, and Women Empowerment.

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Policies and Politics: What do you want for us?

It is likely that we will have a General Election before the end of 2021.  Without fail friends and family ask the popular question … “Who are you voting for?”

I wish to change ask a slightly different question.

What three (3) things would you like to see achieved for all of us?  Yes 3 things to improve all our lives.

Please feel free to share yours as a comment below or send me an email at kean@smithkas.com

Below is my list of three (3) which are not listed in order of priority:

  1. Provide an adequate living wage adequate to maintain a reasonable standard of life in The Bahamas;
  2. Decrease inequality in The Bahamas; and
  3. Pro Domestic Land Ownership Policy regardless of age.
person dropping paper on box
Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com

Living Wage[1]

            I take inspiration from all of the labourers who work in The Bahamas and have dreams for themselves and their families.  Unfortunately, without earning a living wage, it is unlikely that those dreams will ever be achieved.

Decrease inequality

The Bahamas Living Conditions Survey 2001[2] reported that The Gini coefficient for The Bahamas was estimated at 0.57, which was probably the highest in the Caribbean.  If we continue along this path of inequality, I believe that our quality of life will continue to spiral down and out of control.

Pro Domestic Land Ownership Policy

            On 24 March this year the Prime Minister tabled a resolution in Parliament which would give “young Bahamian professionals ” between the ages of 18 and 45 years old access to affordable land in an upscale community in western New Providence.[3]  If professionals with their education and salaries need assistance to access affordable land then skilled, semi-skilled and labourers need a policy change from “yesterday”.

[1] Reynaud, E. (2017). The International Labour Organization and the Living Wage: A Historical Perspective (No. 90). International Labour Organization. https://ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_protect/—protrav/—travail/documents/publication/wcms_557250.pdf

[2] Department of Statistics. (2004). Bahamas Living Conditions 2001. https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/d01ce76a-75b4-4229-baae-af3b87b6816c/Bahamas+Living+Conditions+Survey+2001+report-Copy.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

[3] Smith, S. (2021, March 25). HOME SWEET HOME: PM outlines affordable housing plan for young Bahamian professionals. Eyewitness News. https://ewnews.com/home-sweet-home-pm-outlines-affordable-housing-plan-for-young-bahamian-professionals

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Micro-, Small and Medium-size Enterprise Day, 27 June

In 2021, the theme is “MSME 2021: key to an inclusive and sustainable recovery.” 

The General Assembly declared 27 June Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, to raise public awareness of their contribution to sustainable development and the global economy.

Did you know?

Formal and informal MSMEs make up over 90% of all firms and account, on average, for 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP. 

In emerging markets, most formal jobs are generated by SMEs, which create 7 out of 10 jobs.

Workshop – Small Enterprise -Photo by Daniel Yulianto on Unsplash

Micro-, small and medium sized enterprises are vital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They are an important element in the implementation of SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure.)

Look in your community and your city and support a SME today.

Source: Information above was taken from https://www.un.org/en/observances/micro-small-medium-businesses-day

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World Day Against Child Labour 12 June

Are you exploiting or supporting the exploitation of children’s labour?

Are you not sure?

Please continue below.

“Background

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.”

“The issue of child labour

Today, throughout the world, around 218 million children work, many full-time. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care. They are denied the chance to be children. More than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.”

Children in classroom

“What is child labour?

Child labour is work carried out to the detriment and endangerment of a child, in violation of international law and national legislation. It either deprives children of schooling or requires them to assume the dual burden of schooling and work.”

“Labour standards

Child labour that is proscribed under international law falls into three categories:

  • The unconditional worst forms of child labour, which are internationally defined as slavery, trafficking, debt bondage and other forms of forced labour, forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, prostitution and pornography, and illicit activities.
  • Labour performed by a child who is under the minimum age specified for that kind of work (as defined by national legislation, in accordance with accepted international standards), and that is thus likely to impede the child’s education and full development.
  • Labour that jeopardizes the physical, mental or moral well-being of a child, either because of its nature or because of the conditions in which it is carried out, known as “hazardous work”.”

Source: Information above was taken from https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-day-against-child-labour/background

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Harmonious life without a known voting system

On the morning of 1 June the temperature started out at about 57F and was expected to reach a high of 73F!  How do you say “Spring”?

It is now more than one year ago since the Director General of World Health Organisation declared on 11 March, 2020 COVID-19 a pandemic.

Visualisation of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash

So, as I reflect on how my life has changed, I also reflect on “the miracle of our human lives”.

Human intervention not needed

This miracle starts with two sex cells, male and female. 

Without a GPS or asking for directions, one of these cells locates the other. There is no doubt that these cells are fully equipped with everything they require to complete their task.  No instructions needed.

Elections or Academic qualifications not needed

Without consulting healthcare regulators, seeking directions, or human intervention. Without alarm clocks or without vacation leave, one cell fertilises the other and that now single cell begins to divide and continues to divide into exact replicas of itself. This division happens whether you live in the Amazon or Karura Forest, or the Tabernas or Gobi Desert.

These identical cells then decide somehow, without a general election, a general assembly or annual general meeting, which cells will form into tissue, organs, and bones.

Once again without asking any questions, these cells begin to “build” a human body.  And this is done without hands or feet, without machines or surgical equipment and without pausing to celebrate or observe any international, national, or regional holidays.  These cells develop themselves into an organism – “The Organism within”.  And without a timepiece they complete their specialised work in about 9 months. 

shallow focus photography of hourglass
Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

In the fullness of this time period, a human is born.  When you compare this human to its beginning of two sex cells, you must be speechless because all of this work produced such varied outcomes like hair follicles, finger nails and organs like the skin, lungs, and brain.   Even eyes and ears in specific locations.  Incredible isn’t it?

Absolutely incredible.  Working around the clock, without breaks or vacation, without supervision, or measuring tools and for me most impressive in THE DARK.

Wow.

So, when I consider our human lives and this pandemic, I am truly humbled and happy to be here in this body that was “built” without hands in THE DARK!

Despite what we may think about each other, all our human bodies started from two sex cells and are products of an absolute miracle.

I continue to feel happy and grateful to be part of our human family.

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International Day of Families 15 May

2021 Theme: Families and New Technologies

“In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families.

This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.”[1]

Extended Family – Photo by Rajiv Perera on Unsplash

“V. … [United Nations] Member States are encouraged to consider the following recommendations:

(a) Continue their efforts towards the implementation of the objectives of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes as conducive to the realization of the 2030 Agenda;

(b) Invest in family-oriented policies targeting poverty to prevent the intergenerational transfer of poverty;

(c) Invest in social protection policies and programmes, promote gendersensitive social protection measures and recognize the role of families as social protection providers;

(d) Invest in a variety of work-family balance policies focused, inter alia, on expanding childcare services and parental leaves, including paternity leaves;

(e) Ensure that family-oriented strategies promote gender equality and the equal sharing of household responsibilities between men and women and recognize the burden of unpaid work;

(f) Enhance efforts to ensure equal pay for equal work;

(g) Safeguard legal identity and birth registration for all newborns to ensure their full participation in society and access to benefits, including social protection;

(h) Promote investments in accessible and affordable infrastructure, including housing and transportation, to benefit families and prevent family homelessness;

(i) Address the causes of family homelessness, including poverty, domestic violence and the lack of affordable housing, and expand efforts to provide adequate and affordable housing with support services for families.”[2]

[1] United Nations. (n.d.). International Day of Families 15 May. Retrieved May 16, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families

[2] United Nations. (2019, November). Implementation of the objectives of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes (A/75/61-E/2020/4). United Nations Economic and Social Council. https://undocs.org/A/75/61%E2%80%93E/2020/4