$120,000 funding for new projects in Afghanistan, DRC
13 August 2007
War Child Australia is today proud to announce its contribution of more than $120,000 to aid projects which will assist children who are living in the war-ravaged countries of Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The funds provided by War Child to Afghanistan will be used to further train child social workers, while the DRC funding will assist in the fostering of community support for children’s self-protection.
Both projects will provide much-needed funds to assist children suffering through the turmoils of war, poverty and destitution.
Afghanistan project
War Child Australia’s donation of more than $60,000 to expand the UNICEF project currently underway in Western Afghanistan will assist in the training of social workers so they can provide support to children living in Herat prisons with their mothers.
War Child Australia’s Chair Clare Mirabello said that the organisation is extremely pleased to provide funding assistance to the UNICEF project to help imprisoned children.
“It is so important to ensure these young Afghan children living in jail have the support they require to survive in an intimidating environment that requires them to grow and mature much sooner they should have to,” Ms Mirabello said.
Although the UNICEF project is already operating in three cities in Afghanistan offering homeless children food, educational activities and livelihood support, a gap in the training of social workers was identified.
These social workers will provide essential support to children growing up in an unnatural environment and will help prepare them for the reality of life outside of the prison in which they are growing up.
“The funding will enable the effective and prompt training of social workers, and will provide them with the tools they need to effectively assist these children and equip them to be able to mentally cope with their situation,” Ms Mirabello said.
Democratic Republic of Congo
It is estimated that more than 3.3 million people have died in the DRC, mostly women and children, as a result of the ongoing conflict in the war-torn country.
The $60,000 plus funding provided by War Child will assist demobilised child soldiers, who have no fixed home, to reintegrate with their community.
“It is a common occurrence for children in countries ravaged by war to be conscripted to the militia. It is terrible to think that kids as young as eight are confronted with death, violence and conflict at such a young and impressionable age,” Ms Mirabello said.
“The DRC project is based in four communities where the number of children living in difficult circumstances is particularly high. This funding will assist in the provision of basic numeracy and health education to 80 children who have become the principle provider for dependants, such as younger siblings and older grandparents.
“The project will also establish community networks where the children will be supported, and these kids will be provided with one on one time with artisans, educators and health care workers,” Ms Mirabello said.
“What is unique about this project is that the 80 children participating in the program will pass on their learning’s to another 320 children in their communities. This means that War Child Australia is not only directly contributing to the reintegration of these child soldiers into their communities, but also providing them with the basic skills they need to get through their daily lives, and live an easy and fun life as every child should,” Ms Mirabello added.
War Child Australia can only continue to assist children affected by war if the Australian public continues to be generous with their donations. Read more about how you can help.
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