Vulnerable Children Fund
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IMPACT REPORT / 2019
Sharina wins blackmail child labour case Thanks to your gifts, 15-year-old Sharina* helped her fellow classmate Ahnaf* escape an abusive employer. Like so many children in Bangladesh, Ahnaf worked to help bring in income for his family. But his timber shop employer refused to let him attend school and tried to blackmail him. Sharina says, “Ahnaf had no time to study but has lots of interest to go to school and wish to get good result. He tried to go to school but the boss not let him leave the business... So the boss treat him as a thief and said, “I will tell the police that you stole 15,000 taka if you do not return to my shop.” “When she heard about this, Sharina protested on Ahnaf ’s behalf.” She told Ahnaf ’s boss about child protection laws and that what he was doing was
Sharina (pictured at front) used to be a “quiet, conservative girl” but now she’s standing up against child labour.
wrong. She challenged him saying, “You may call police and I will also make a call to police. Let’s see to whom the police respond.” Another community member told the boss the law was on Ahnaf’s side. “Ahnaf is a child, you cannot force him to work in your shop.” The boss was forced to back down but he complained to Sharina’s uncle about her defiance. Thankfully, her uncle supported Sharina’s stance on child rights. Now Ahnaf is back at school and has passed his junior school exam. Thanks to your
DID YOU KNOW? Child labour incidents in Uganda more than halved from 56% to 26% between 2013 and 2018
generosity, vulnerable children like him get their education... instead of being forced to work. Sharina is president of her child club. “These clubs raise up child leaders like Sharina and teach them about their rights to education.” They also learn about child labour and marriage practices – and how to speak up against them. Your gifts to the Vulnerable Children Fund makes it possible for children to stand up for themselves and each other! *Names have been changed for privacy purposes
Your support meant: 20,442 children took part in child clubs or programs that promote child rights
Thank you for your support in 2019!
Community groups like this child club help transform the lives of girls like Runa
FROM THE CEO
You give children life in all its fulness Thank you to every single one of you that has a heart for children. You may give directly to the Vulnerable Children Fund or be a child sponsor who gives extra to help children at risk of child labour, child marriage or sexual abuse. Either way, your prayers and faithfulness in giving helps to stamp out these practices. You also give children a voice and teach them how to advocate for themselves. In this report, you’ll read about children who have left exploitative labour situations and been saved from forced underage marriages. Also, you’ll see how you’ve helped children with disabilities to shine. Your ongoing support for the Vulnerable Children Fund makes a critical difference to the lives of children around the world by helping change entrenched community attitudes and fighting the poverty that keeps so many children from enjoying the fulness of life God intends. John Hickey CEO, Baptist World Aid
Runa is now a top student in her class
Because of you, Runa’s disability won’t stop her from excelling at school As a girl living in poverty in South Asia, Runa* is already part of a group that faces significant challenges in getting an education. But add her disability, and her chances of attending school are even further restricted. Runa was born with her left leg shorter than her right leg. So, she could not walk properly. Like many others in her situation, Runa faces social and cultural barriers and does not have access to assistive devices that can help her get school. Even when she can get there, the school is not equipped to support her education needs.
allow her to attend school. They provided her with books and stationery and visited her school to speak to Runa’s teachers about her progress. “Having encouragement, I study and go to school regular. I passed the annual examination and stood number 8 in the class out of 60 students. I am very happy with my result and looking forward to next year. The teachers and friends love me very much.”
The implications of this for Runa’s future are enormous. Through this opportunity to continue her education, she is able to harness “I stood all her potential and number 8 bright mind, opening in the class doors for future out of 60 study, employment students!” and independence.
But because of your gifts to the work of our local partners with vulnerable children like her, Runa joined a community self-help group in one of our projects. This group taught her about her rights to education as well as other basic skills and encouraged Runa’s parents to
24 schools
in the regions we work in Bangladesh now cater for children with disabilities
Now Runa hopes other marginalized children such as those with disabilities can also go to school – your ongoing support helps makes this happen!
70% increase
in the inclusion of people with disabilities and from minority groups in community activities in Nepal
Kallal is passionate about raising awareness of the dangers of child marriage
Child brides – you said NO! at school. A man from a 13 year old Kallal* is stopping neighbouring village offered to child marriages. And he’s pay Nazia’s father a significant doing it because your gifts are sum if this bright young girl supporting education programs married his son. Knowing in Bangladesh. Nazia’s distress, one of the “Young girls, some even locals called the police. The younger than 10 years old,” can wedding guests were all be forced to marry much older assembled when the police men due to economic pressures turned up. The groom’s and the low value placed father and the on girls’ education... “I would marriage celebrant but children like like to see ran away and Kallal are actively our community police convinced involved in free from child Nazia’s parents stopping this. marriage, child not to allow the “Before the project labour and marriage. Thanks I was not aware dowry.” to you, children like of child rights... her don’t have to marry the bad effect of child against their will! marriages,” says Kallal.
Dina’s future secured Kallal called a special hotline to stop the marriage of his classmate, Dina*, from marrying a 35-year-old man. Although child marriage is officially illegal, it was to be a big community event with local leaders and politicians attending. Police turned up in time to arrest the groom and stop the marriage. Thank you for giving 15-year-old Dina her future back!
Nazia’s dowry Nazia* is 15 and doing well
Thank you for changing community attitudes Today Dina and Nazia are back at school. Outcomes like these mean local people know child marriage will not go unpunished. “This is very good initiative,” Kallal says. “It makes our mindset to change to raise voice against unjust things in the community.” Again, thank you... it’s your generosity to the Vulnerable Children Fund that helps stop child marriages!
YOUR IMPACT 71% down to 29% DROP IN CHILD MARRIAGES
from 2013 to 2018 in Uganda
88% up from 40%
AVERAGE SCHOOL PASS RATE from 2010 to 2019 in Malawi Thank you for helping vulnerable children in countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Philippines, Nepal, Uganda and Malawi with: hild clubs covering C child rights, reporting abuses and other issues eaching communities T about the importance of education for children hild trafficking C prevention and awareness activities ivelihood programs so L parents in poverty aren’t forced to marry off their children and can send them to school. eacher training to T better include children with disabilities
Pray for the children! Children can achieve great things. Please pray for the vulnerable children you’re supporting!
• That exploitation through
abusive child labour will end
“ Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.” 1 Tim 4:12
• That the practice of forced
child marriage will end & sexual abuse of young girls will cease
• That all children with
disabilities can get the same opportunities as other children
YOUR GLOBAL IMPACT Bangladesh Nepal 3,281 3,664
2,174 2,645
172
350
Philippines Uganda 1,752 1,890
2,032 2,175
109
Malawi Boys Girls
624
576
Children with disabilities
God has plans to give vulnerable children a future!
21
Cambodia 1,299 1,355
26
Would you like to help a child escape poverty... and the evils of child labour and forced marriage that result from it? If so, become a regular giver to the Vulnerable Children Fund (or consider increasing your commitment)! Sign up at baptistworldaid.org.au/vulnerable-children or fill out the enclosed reply slip.
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