Welcome to The Children’s Project International

Delhi, India—November 11, 2010—Members of the international community will convene in New Delhi for the World Health Organization’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health forum. Representatives of The Children’s Project International (TCPI) will be there to speak of their experiences, learn from their colleagues and advocate for sustained action on the ground.

The recently released Human Development Report shines a spotlight on the significant progress the world has made improving life for its most desperate inhabitants. Since 1990 the number of children who do not live to see their fifth birthday has decreased by 30%. The proportion of children who are underweight has also dropped significantly. According to the United Nations report, fewer people are contracting HIV, dying of tuberculosis or succumbing to water-borne illnesses. When joined together under the banner of the Millennium Development Goals, the world community has been successful at tackling some of the world’s most intractable challenges and the world’s children are living longer, healthier lives for it.

The UN report, however, also underscores the basic premise that there is no universal cure for the world’s ailments and there is yet much ground to cover in achieving all the health-related MDGs by 2015. Presenters at the WHO forum will address the challenges posed by these multidimensional phenomena and highlight innovative approaches while also challenging the development community to extend the value of limited donor funds and implement sustainable health solutions. “The WHO Forum is a unique marketplace of ideas for development organizations,” said Raj Luhar, CEO of TCPI and a delegate to the WHO forum. Reviewing a list of his organization’s most successful programs, including mobile medical units in India and orphan care in Ethiopia, he continued, “With life-or-death issues on the agenda, it is important for us to remain innovative and not only contribute to the discussion, but also implement the lessons we learn.” The WHO forum runs until November 14, India’s observance of Children’s Day, “a fitting day to set forth and achieve our goals,” Mr. Luhar opined.

About The Children’s Project International
The Children’s Project International undertakes charitable activities dedicated to improving the lives of the world’s children by providing life-sustaining goods and personally enriching tools. By leveraging the social consciousness of today’s youth, TCPI seeks to work with existing organizations which share in TCPI’s goals to provide underprivileged and disenfranchised children with material relief and the belief in a better tomorrow. TCPI is led by an Board of Directors of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of the globe.

West Indies are World T20 Champions

Colombo: Darren Sammy's West Indies were crowned the new World Twenty20 champions on Sunday after a 36-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka in a dramatic final in Colombo on Sunday.

Scorecard

The West Indies, restricted to 137-6 after electing to bat, hit back to bowl Sri Lanka out for 101 and silence a sell-out crowd of 35,000 at the Premadasa stadium that included President Mahinda Rajapakse.

It was the first world title for the West Indies since the 50-over World Cup triumph under Clive Lloyd in 1979, and handed Sri Lanka their fourth defeat in a major final since 2007.

Spinner Sunil Narine grabbed three wickets for nine runs and Sammy took two as the hosts, who had excelled in the field in the first session, undid the good work with irresponsible batting in the second.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene survived two dropped catches to top-score with 33, while tailender Nuwan Kulasekara hit 26 off 13 balls, including three fours and a six in the 16th over of seamer Ravi Rampaul.

Sri Lanka's unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis had taken four wickets for 12 runs as the West Indies collapsed once Chris Gayle was removed in the sixth over for only three runs.

Marlon Samuels was the only batsman to defy the spot-on Sri Lankan bowling, making 78 off 56 balls with the help of six sixes and three boundaries.

His brilliant strokeplay helped the West Indies add 105 runs in the last 10 overs after they were reduced to 32-2 from the first 10.

Sri Lanka lost opener Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over before Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara added 42 for the second wicket.

The hosts were cruising at 48-1 in the 10th over when the West Indies bounced back by claiming four wickets for 13 runs.

Sangakkara holed out in the deep off Samuel Badree for 22, Angelo Mathews was bowled by Darren Sammy, Jayawardene was caught off a reverse sweep and Jeevan Mendis ran himself out.

Sri Lanka had taken an early grip on the match by keeping the West Indies down to 14-2 in the first six powerplay overs after Johnson Charles had been dismissed off the fifth ball of the match.

The West Indies had to wait till the 19th delivery to score their first run with the bat and Gayle needed nine balls to get off the mark.

The left-hander struggled for 16 deliveries to make three before he was trapped leg-before by Mendis in the sixth over.

It was not till the 12th over that the West Indies, who had pummelled Australia in the semi-finals, showed the first signs of aggression as Dwayne Bravo pulled 19-year-old spinner Akila Dananjaya for a six over mid-wicket.

Samuels responded by smashing three sixes in the next over of sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, two of them in succession over mid-wicket and extra-cover.

Bravo helped Samuels add 59 runs for the third wicket when he was given out leg-before by Australian umpire Simon Taufel, even though replays showed the ball go off the bat on to the pad.

The 17th over, bowled by Malinga, produced 19 runs as Samuels smashed a boundary and two consecutive sixes to leave the frontline bowler with unflattering figures of 0-54 from his four overs.

Sri Lanka have now lost two successive 50-over World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011 and two World Twenty20 finals in 2009 and 2012 

ICC T20 World Cup: It`s Gayle versus Watson as Windies take on Aussies

Colombo: A determined Australian outfit will be aiming to eliminate the `Chris Gayle factor` when they meet a rejuvenated West Indies in the semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 here on Friday.

For Australia, it will be a chance to get into the final for the second time in succession after the 2010 edition and once again stamp their class as world`s premier cricketing outfit.

For West Indies, it`s more about the identity and trying to fight the inner demons which have affected their cricket since late 80`s.

A berth in the final of a global event can be a big boost for the Caribbean nation where basketball, athletics and soccer have captured the imagination of the masses.



Therefore, it`s redemption time for both the teams although their circumstances are entirely different. Behind every `Big Battle`, there`s always a mini-battle that spices up a marquee contest.

On Friday when the two teams lock horns, it will also be a battle between Shane Watson and Chris Gayle.

If Watson, who has won four man-of-the-match awards in five matches, will play a key role in Australian set-up, Gayle can change the complexion of the match at any point of time with his ferocious power-hitting.

By sheer statistics, Watson is miles ahead of Gayle having scored 242 runs in five matches along with 11 wickets which makes him the favourite to win the `Player of the Tournament` award.

However, Gayle who has so far hit 10 sixes in five matches, has scored two 50`s and on his day can tear apart any bowling attack in the world.

The law of averages did catch up with Watson in the last match against Pakistan but that means that he will be hungrier than ever to take Aussies to the summit clash.




While Gayle and Watson will hold fort as the main protagonists for their respective sides, there will still be a few competent cricketers who will try to play the supporting roles to the best of their abilities.

Marlon Samuels has beautifully complemented Gayle. He might not look as destructive as Gayle from the onset but once set, can be as devastating as anybody.

For Australia, the main supporting role has been played by Mike Hussey whose responsible innings ensured smooth passage into the semi-finals.

Hussey has been a perfect foil which has enabled Watson to express himself. David Warner has had his moments but his presence has largely been subdued.

There are some obvious weak-links in both sides.

Australia`s main problem is lack of match time for their middle-order batsmen. The only time their middle-order got chance to showcase batting prowess, it failed miserably.

It`s certainly time that their skipper George Bailey leads from the front and earns respect for his team`s superb show in the tournament.

Similarly, the West Indian team`s pace attack is a little inferior in quality compared to Australia.

Fidel Edwards has the pace and Ravi Rampaul can be skiddy but Watson has more variations up his sleeve while Mitchell Starc has always been incisive in his first spells.

Squads:

Australia: George Bailey (c), Dan Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.

Match starts at 1900 Hours (IST).