World Vision and partners join forces to end violence against children
In mid-April, Joining Forces Alliance for Children (JFA) members (ChildFund, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes, World Vision, and Educo) members in five selected countries (Senegal, Kenya, Mali, Ethiopia and Uganda) gathered to document current country contexts in light of COVID-19, key humanitarian concerns, ongoing initiatives evolving around child protection and participation, as well as possible target groups. This was in response to a European Commission call for proposals addressing the needs of children in terms of child protection, with a particular emphasis on child participation/consultation during the COVID-19 crisis. Since not all seven agencies could implement in all five project countries, discussions took place at global and national level about implementation structures and strategies.
On August 7th, World Vision and JFA partners signed a €10.7 million grant for a new project, ‘Joining Forces for Africa (JOFA) - protecting children during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond’. The project, which seeks to reduce the levels of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect experienced by children and adolescents in the five selected countries over the next three years, will see the active participation of more than 718,000 children and adolescents.
In Kenya, the project will target children living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, in Turkana county; children living in communities along the Kenya and Uganda border, in Bungoma and Busia counties; and children living in the informal settlements in Nairobi city. Girls living in Kakuma Refugee Camp are mostly at risk of sexual violence, which often results into teenage pregnancies. Along the Kenya-Uganda border, girls are mostly at risk of commercial sexual exploitation, while in the Nairobi informal settlements, the risk of all children to sexual violence remains a persistent concern.
In Senegal, the project will in particular target adolescent girls and boys in the regions of Kolda, Dakar, Diourbel and Kaolack that are most at risk of sexual violence, physical and emotional abuse and harmful practices against girls. This concerns particularly girls that face enhanced risk of sexual exploitation, child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Another focus will be put on talibé (West African equivalent of madrasa) children (mainly boys that study in Koranic schools) that are often forced to beg in the streets and left without parental protection.
Click here to learn more about this initiative.