News
- “Bolivia is not doing enough to protect girls against sexual violence"
- New projects against child exploitation in Ehiopia
- Government promises action against Dutch pedophiles in foreign countries
- Bangladeshi projects make headlines in Dutch newspapers
- Foundation stone for new vocational training institute in Bangladesh
- Project Partner Koinonia helps flood victims return to school
- Terre des Hommes hospital ship no longer needed
- Flood relief in Sri lanka
- Terre des Hommes draws the attention of the United Nations to the human rights of trafficked children
- The Hague Global Child Labour Conference
- For a reinforcement of children’s rights
Working children
13 year old Nandini, seen in the picture above, never went to school. She works as a weaver to supplement her family's income. Thanks to local project partner Society for Human Education (SHE) Nandini attends non formal education classes for out-of-school children. Non formal education provides working children the opportunity to study at a convenient place, pace and time. Nandini is studying for her 10th standard diploma.
Welani
Project code
: LK-038T
Project period:
01/10/2005 to 30/09/2011
| Programme | Exploitation | Funds needed | €0.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka | People supported directly | 50 |
| Project location | Hambantota | People supported indirectly | 5800 |
This project provides a safe home to abused, neglected and abandoned children. They go to school, receive health care and there is room for cultural, recreational, personal and social skill building activities. The children in the home are referred to Welani by the court or probation office. Besides caring for abused, neglected and abandoned children Welani also actively works with communities to prevent child abuse. Welani establishes Rural Child Care Committees in rural villages. The committees exist of dedicated volunteers who are responsible for organising village level awareness and campaign against child abuse and transmit information to the child care coordination centre. The volunteers, government officials and social leaders are trained by Welani, they know what action to take in case of child abuse incidents.
In the Hambantota abuse of children (physical and sexual abuse), especially within the families is high. It is a big invisible problem in Sri Lanka, which is not openly discussed in society. Many children are abandoned and neglected due to family poverty situation. In many cases they don't have anywhere to go or anything to do and spend their time on the streets. Unfortunately, there is no proper mechanism in place to protect the rights of children.
Due to short comings of the legal procedures in Hambantota the general public hesitates to take action when witnessing any incident of child abuse. A main reason is the reluctance to waste time on slow legal proceedings. Police intervention on childcare incidents is rather low due to insufficient facilities and the lack resources.