 |
|
|
|
 |
USAID Information:
External Links:
|
|
|
|
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
Program for Reducing Abandonment of Children
Implementing Partners: Save the Children UK
Funding Period: September 2006 -
September 2009
Amount: $3,592,445
Purpose: Prevent the abandonment and separation of
children in the three zones of Kinshasa, Mbuji May, and
Bukavu and the areas surrounding those population centers.
Objectives:
- Prevent separation and abandonment of children and ensure the protection
of vulnerable children by
- Implementing public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the rights of children
- Taking action to secure the release of children abusively detained
in prison
- Bringing to justice those responsible for abuse and maltreatment of
children
- Assisting communities at risk by rehabilitating schools or supporting
community self-help initiatives that improve child
protection
- Ensure both minimum standards of care for children in temporary centers, and work to increase the number of separated children who are reunified with their families and communities
Reintegrating Abductees, Child Victims of Recruitment, Sexual Exploitation, and Violence
Implementing Partners: UNICEF
Funding Period: January 2009 - December 2009
Amount: $491,644
Purpose: During the twelve-month activity period, UNICEF will continue its work in the
Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri district to provide assistance to children who have been
abducted or recruited by armed groups, as well as children who are survivors of exploitation or
sexual violence.
|
USAID’s Displaced Children and Orphans Fund supports Save the Children UK’s
Program for Reducing Abandonment of Children, which works in the urban centers
of Kinshasa, Mbuji Mayi, and Bukavu to assist children who have been separated
from or abandoned by parents or caregivers, and children who have suffered
abuse or unjust imprisonment. Save works closely with local partners, Community
Child Protection Networks (RECOPE), and child support centers in that effort.
In three sites, the project has identified a local partner organization
with the necessary skills to denounce cases of child abuse and mistreatment.
It is also developing a cadre of local partners, such as child support
and shelter centers, to conduct child/family and community reunifications.
Following up on work initiated under a previous DCOF-sponsored activity, this
project works to restructure existing community networks. Those
networks of community members provide opportunities for participants to discuss
child protection concerns and identify steps that groups and individuals can
take to address incidences of child abandonment or abuse.
The project also conducts activities to educate and sensitize caregivers and
community leaders on child protection issues. In Kinshasa, parental discussion
groups of both adults and children—those who are providing care for
younger siblings—ddress issues such as dialogue within the family, children’s
rights and needs, and the demystification of diseases that cause parents to
accuse their children of witchcraft. Discussion groups are also held for community
religious leaders.
In addition to working with local organizations to directly assist children
and families, project staff work with government officials to implement policies
and strategies for the protection of children. It offered technical
support in the drafting of the Child Protection Code, and is providing financial
and logistical support to DROC’s National Child Council, the national structure
in charge of monitoring children’s rights.
In DROC, USAID supports a second activity implemented by UNICEF. This
2009 project is an expansion of an activity that UNICEF and COOPI have been
implementing since 2003. Here, the project aims to build on its trafficking
in persons activities to ensure that children associated with fighting forces
or those who are survivors of abuse and exploitation are successfully reintegrated
into family and society.
Back to Top ^
|
