Annual Report - Helpcode Italia - 2018

12 WHAT WE DID ANNUAL REPORT 2018
13
CHILD
PROTECTION
Over 41.000 girls and boys
were supported in 2018.
Over 1.041.000 children and
families supported since 1988.
One of our projects
In South Kivu (RD Congo), on the border with Rwanda, half of
the population is under 15 years of age, and too many girls
and boys receive no education. This leads to their mental,
physical and cognitive development, as well as their life and
employment opportunities, being exposed to severe risk.
In this area, we collaborate with the Foyer Ek’abana, a centre
founded in 2001, whose objective is the recovery, education
and social and professional integration of girls and young
people who find themselves on the margins of society. Access
to education helps limit child labour.
RESULTS
FAMILY REINTEGRATION FOR GIRLS
ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT, INCREASE
IN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND REDUCTION
IN CHILD LABOUR.
All girls and boys must have the opportunity to express their potential, grow up,
study and fulfil their dreams. All our activities are aimed at protecting girls and boys
from abuse and violence, with particular attention to children who live in the areas
affected by natural disasters, political instability and emergencies.
To this end, we have set up training courses on incomegenerating
activities or self-employment (cutting and sewing,
small farming, breeding, etc.) for teenagers and young women.
In addition, we encourage and support economic recovery
through micro-credit for small businesses.
Their stories
It is a quiet August day in Bukavu (Democratic Republic of
the Congo), when we hear a desperate cry at the door of the
Foyer Ek’abana. It is coming from a small girl, about two years
old, by the name of Dorkas.
A few days later, a young lady named Mapenzi arrives at the
centre asking for little Dorkas. She tells us that towards the
end of the fourth grade her father also left and, later, after
her grandmother died, she and her brothers were abandoned
and homeless. The constant fear of not being able to survive,
led young Mapenzi to look for a safe place to help support her
and her daughter.
Foyer Ek’abana has provided just the hospitality that Mapenzi
was searching for as they welcomed her, and little Dorkas,
into their new family. She visits the centre every day to join a
group of girls with whom she has learned to make bikapos, or
colourful plastic bags. Her dream would be to sell the bags
and live on the income produced.
Little Dorkas has gone back to live with her mother and
recently started nursery school at the Foyer Ek’Abana; with
her innate curiosity and liveliness, she is finally learning to
smile together with mother, Mapenzi.