Smits and de Leede visit UNICEF projects

Smits and de Leede visit UNICEF projects © UNICEF Eastern Caribbean/ 2007/ Dabney

Jeroen Smits and Tim de Leede joined UNICEF Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Tom Olsen, observing work at two day care centres as part of the "Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS" campaign.

The visits began at the Industrial Site Day Care Centre where they were shown first-hand the efforts of more than 20 caretakers trained in techniques that will help reduce stigma and discrimination against children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

"While there is no indication that any of the children we visited today are HIV positive, the training that has been provided will ensure that children who may carry the virus will not be treated any differently than any other child in the system," said UNCEF Representative Tom Olsen.

After being serenaded by the children, the cricketers listened as staff of the centre described their UNICEF-sponsored training and the care provided to the toddlers ranging in age from infancy to five years. More than 40 of the older children in the centre then joined the players and UNICEF Representative Olsen in spirited instruction in the basics of batting and bowling, and also demonstrated their skill in football.

Smits and de Leede visit UNICEF projects © UNICEF Eastern Caribbean/ 2007/ Dabney

"As athletes, we have a responsibility not only to the game of cricket, but to the communities we visit at-large," said Smits, the right-handed batting wicketkeeper and vice captain of the Netherlands side. "My visit today with Tim (de Leede) has been inspiring and emotional for both of us. To watch these very talented professionals work with so many children has been a wonderful experience for both of us."

Following their time at the government-run Industrial Day Care Centre, the two, along with UNICEF's Olsen traveled a short distance through the capital Basseterre to a privately-managed facility, Polite Kids Day Care. There they witnessed the work of three dedicated staff who watch over infants in a converted private home in the middle of a residential community. The work of Polite Kids is representative of the many smaller facilities for children who are unable to be accommodated in government facilities.

UNICEF works with the Government of St. Kitts' Early Childhood Development Unit to ensure that staff in these private facilities receive the same level of training in HIV and AIDS stigma elimination as those persons working in government day care centres.

"Having the players from the Netherlands and Mr. Olsen visit us is extremely important to a centre of our size," said Phoebe Pollack, director of Polite Kids Day Care. "Our resources are very limited and we don't have a chance to get our very important message out that deals with the impact of HIV and AIDS on the lives of very young, precious children. Today, thanks to 'Unite For Children, Unite Against AIDS,' we have a chance to do just that."

The Caribbean region is second only to sub-Saharan Africa in the rate of infection of HIV worldwide. The UNICEF partnership with the ICC, UNAIDS, and the Caribbean Broadcast Partnership on HIV and AIDS is an attempt to raise awareness about the pandemic's impact on the region, especially on the children of the Caribbean.

"We are very grateful to Tim and Jeroen from Team Netherlands for taking the time to visit with these caretakers and the children during their time in St. Kitts," continued UNICEF Representative Olsen following the visits to the two day care centres. "For us to begin reducing the infection rates of HIV in the region, we have to make people aware of how insidious its impact is on the lives of children."