World Vision launches SSHF-funded education and protection project in South Sudan’s Mangalla IDP Settlement
The accumulative effects over the years of conflict, associated displacement, and environmental factors that affected many states resulted in high humanitarian needs across the country, and the convergence of multiple shocks in already vulnerable areas in 2020 and 2021 could lead to severe outcomes.
Through the Integrated Response for Crisis-Affected People in Mangala IDP Settlement located in Juba, South Sudan funded by South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF), World Vision aims to assist over 22,500 people in Mangalla’s internally-displaced persons (IDP) settlement.
“We commend the support of SSHF in World Vision’s efforts to address the urgent needs of children and the most vulnerable in South Sudan’s crisis-affected areas. The hunger crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened the condition of the displaced, even the host communities, but because of strong collaboration and partnership, our humanitarian response is possible”, says Dr. Mesfin Loha, World Vision’s Country Director.
Currently, the camp has an estimated 90,000 IDPs with a host community population of about 68,000. The multi-sectoral response will include activities in the education and protection sectors based on the assessment of the needs and service gaps in the settlement.
Mangalla Camp Chairman Atem Akuoch says, “I am excited about the project launch. Since we moved here due to the floods back home, nothing has been done especially in the area of protection. World Vision distributes food assistance but we have protection concerns, the children and women need psycho-social support due to the trauma caused by the loss of property and lives."
The protection activities will include establishing and equipping child-friendly spaces, provision of psycho-social support to children and their caregivers, case management services of 300 children with cash allocation and training non-child protection staff and other stakeholders like teachers, child right club members and health and community based workers.
“Without child protection services and awareness, children can be vulnerable to child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence, even the prevalence of early marriage that affects their studies. World Vision strives to uplift displaced children through child participation and community participatory approach”, shares Betty Adong, World Vision’s Advocacy and Protection Manager.
Adong adds, “Everyone must be held accountable to create safe and secure environment for children. In addition, children are alsoat risk of unexploded ordnance around their environment. An Explosive Ordinance Risk Education will be conducted in child friendly spaces and community to protect them from dangers of land mine.”
Two women and girls friendly spaces will also be constructed, and will be complemented with provision of gender-based violence case management services and start up materials for income-generating activities and conduct of protection community awareness through outreach activities, and safety audits, among others.
The education activities will include the mobilization for child enrolment, establishment of temporary learning spaces and rehabilitation of existing classrooms, refresher training for volunteer teachers and distribution of school supplies.
“World Vision will assist over 5,500 children in six schools in the settlement and encourage them to go back to school. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many stayed at home and idle. By equipping the schools with learning facilities and supporting the teachers, we can bring back hope to thousands of displaced children”, says Charles Sekwat, Project Manager.
Akuoch further adds, “The support for education will boast the knowledge of our teachers on ground thus the children will get quality education and everyone will be happy."
To keep children safe from the pandemic and other diseases, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools will be constructed and rehabilitated. Awareness raising campaigns for parents, caregivers and youth with back-to-learning messages and child rights will be conducted.
Local Media Contacts:
Scovia Faida Charles Duku, Communications Coordinator I Phone: +211922519242 and Betty Adong, Advocacy and Protection Manager I Phone: +211929989815