COMMUNITY

Children in our lives

Children make up one-third of the world’s population, but almost half of the world’s refugees: nearly 50 million children have migrated or been displaced across borders. (UNICEF)

The increasing dangers to which migrant children are exposed to on the migration road are of great concerns. Many of them have left (with or without parents/guardians) because of conflicts, wars, climate changes or due to lack of economic means. In their way, children have seen their parents and family members being killed, beaten and victims of all kind of act of violence, harassment and discrimination. Many of the children and young people have suffered traumatic experiences, They have witnessed the death, abduction or torture of parents or other relatives. They have been the victims of torture, violence, abuse or trafficking.

At the arrival in the host country, the institutions in which they are placed do not always understand or have been trained to deal will such situation and this can have consequences on the services they are provided with.

The gaps in parents’ integration in the society have also made it difficult for children to receive the proper support a home. Some parents have seen children being taken away for them due to different reasons among which limited understanding of the situations faced by migrants’ children and their parents. 

Every child deserves to be protected, care for and given the needed support to live a healthy life. 

At Kwetu, we advocate for the need for more protection for children and better support for children refugees. 

At Kwetu, we are committed to joining efforts to ensure long-term integration of children in the host countries and ensure that parents or guardians have access to the right tools to participate in their well-being and growth. In ensuring that families can stay united, that they have the right access to justice and health as well as the same opportunities.