Learn about how you can join Ayesha and advocates around the country in asking members of Congress to cosponsor the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act of 2009 during Save the Children’s upcoming Advocacy Day (April 20-21) and beyond.

– Margaret McDonnell, NGO Partnerships

Ayesha is a 7th grade student from Louisville, Kentucky and she is on a mission to save newborn lives. Her journey started at the Kentucky Country Day School where she joined her classmates in crafting tiny caps to help keep newborns warm–part of Save the Children’s Survive to 5 campaign.

When she learned that more than 9 million children die each year from easily treatable and preventable causes, Ayesha decided to write a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to increase funding for health programs for newborns around the world. Ayesha wrote: “I made a hat for Save the Children because I think all babies should have the same chance to live that I have had.” Later on she was featured on her local TV news station to talk about her efforts (click here to watch the interview).

Ayesha is headed to the nation’s capitol, where she will represent Kentucky knitters and crocheters in Save the Children’s annual Advocacy Day held on April 21-22. Ayesha and her teacher, Lisa Stringfellow, are excited to share their stories with members of Congress to advocate for newborn and child health.
They will be visiting key members including Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Senator Jim Bunning, and Representative John Yarmuth, who has visited the Kentucky school in the past and shown strong interest in child survival issues.

“I am hoping that the voices of children, like Ayesha, who care about this issue, will make a difference for legislators so they will act on behalf of children around the world,” says Stringfellow who has been to Washington in the past to attend previous Advocacy Day events. She noted: “To imagine a child not surviving due to a lack of simple interventions is heartbreaking, and my students really feel they can make a difference.”

Advocates throughout the U.S., including young students like Ayesha and celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow, are pressing for American leadership to save the millions of children under five who die each year from preventable causes through greater investment in low-cost, highly effective, lifesaving interventions, such as vitamins, antibiotics and vaccines. They are encouraging their members of Congress to co-sponsor the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act of 2009 (HR 1410). To learn about how you can raise your voice to help make a difference in the lives of newborn and children around the world, click here.

-Joyce H. Newman, Senior Editor, Save the Children USA