SAID brings hope and a future to struggling communities: Part 2
SAID brings hope and a future to struggling communities: Part 2
Ensuring that children in vulnerable communities have a growing understanding of their rights and value is critical in Salvation Army work.
The Salvation Army International Development (SAID) focuses on three main categories – Livelihoods, Health and Child Rights. The team has compiled some stories of hope and updates in each of these areas to encourage supporters and show the impact of their generosity and prayers. Last week in Global Focus we looked at Livelihoods and Health. Below we explore some of what the Salvos are doing in the area of Child Rights.
Child Rights
Protecting and nurturing children is critical in ensuring they can reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is building stronger and safer child protection systems in vulnerable communities.
A solid support system, including education, access to psychosocial support and family counselling services, the resettlement of children from residential care into a loving family environment, and empowering them to avoid trafficking and exploitation, are all programs offered in our partner territories overseas.
Children are thriving and growing and have an increased understanding of their rights and value.
Tanzania
The Kwetu project in Tanzania is aimed at ending human trafficking. Together we are empowering survivors of trafficking to live independent, secure and meaningful lives and also educating their communities to prevent trafficking.
The project has developed strong partnerships with the Tanzanian government, social welfare, local leaders, law enforcers and non-government organisations.
Elizabeth’s story
Elizabeth, a young girl, was taken by a trafficking network. She was sent to Dar es Salaam to work as a maid but was rejected and abandoned by her employers and forced to live on the streets. Elizabeth was arrested by the police, and, while in custody, she was referred to The Salvation Army and identified as a child trafficking case.
Elizabeth was cared for and given emotional, social, and spiritual support and counselling, and helped to reunite with her family. She has since gone back to primary school. The Kwetu team has taught Elizabeth, her family, community and local authorities about the consequences of child trafficking and methods to prevent it.
Elizabeth’s family has also been given material support and taught entrepreneurial skills, helping to give them economic stability and independence.
Dignity Pads project
In Uganda, whole communities are involved in making reusable sanitary pads for girls. This enables them to go to school comfortably and with dignity and promotes gender equity.
Many girls and caregivers in Uganda came to us and expressed their concern that, without access to sanitary pads, many girls were absent from school – up to four days at a time – due to monthly menstruation. Low school attendance led to poor performance in class, and often adolescent girls would stop going to school altogether.
Now women, girls, men and boys are being trained to make reusable sanitary pads. Participants are taught about menstruation and the importance of pads, as well as designing, cutting, joining and storing them.
The training normalises menstruation and the needs of girls. It also promotes gender equality through the engagement of husbands, fathers and brothers in supporting wives, daughters and sisters in the community.
In total, there were 400 community members participating – 116 males and 284 females. The project has been so successful that other communities have requested the same training.
To read SAID’s full summer newsletter, click here
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