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• Most important of all, CHILD-to-child is founded on the belief that children
are able to take on a responsible role in family health. This means
children are respected and trusted. They are valued not simply as future
adults, but as useful, important persons in their own right In this way,
children gain a greater sense of personal worth and direction. They may
grow up to be more loving human beings.
Through CHILD-to-child, at least part of the children’s education
will help them to help each other—so that everyone can move forward
together. At least the seed will be sown.
THE ROLE OF HE ALTH WORK ERS IN CHILD -to - child
CHILD-to-child activities can be led by
health workers, school teachers, parents,
or anyone who likes working with children.
But health workers can play an especially
important role in promoting and developing
CHILD-to-child and similar activities with
children.
In Mexico, some ‘health promoters’ have
done this in several ways:
• They organize CHILD-to-child activities
with children in the primary school (with
the teacher’s permission).
• They interest school teachers in
conducting CHILD-to-child activities
with their classes.
• They meet at the health post with
children who do not attend school, so
they, too, can take part in CHILD-to-
child activities.
Health workers may also be able to work with children through local clubs and
organizations (for example, Girl Guides or Boy Scouts).
In some countries, CHILD-to-child activities have been included in the official
curriculum (study plan) for primary schools. Where this is the case, health workers
can offer to work with the teachers. They can help both in developing the activities
with the children and in adapting them to the needs of the community.
The health worker’s role can be of great value. For in the process of fitting
CHILD-to-child into the school study plan, some of the social and educational
principles can easily be lost. The big challenge is to help the teacher understand
and use educational methods based on equality, experience, discovery, and
sharing.