VULNERABLE CHILDREN FUND
IMPACT REPORT 2021 Your support reached
329,874 families
65,295 children
through health services, livelihood training and financial services investing in long-term capability and sustainability.
were impacted through child protection services, Child Clubs, and learning about early marriage, child labour and drug abuse.
You’ve protected
3,600 children with a disability
66,153 families through
COVID preventions including hygiene, health and home learning support, and emergency supplies.
were helped with your support via improvements to accessibility in schools and communities, training for teachers, improved health services and access to disability support resources.
A SPOTLIGHT ON CAMBODIA: Our Christian Partners in Cambodia have been working to counter the devastating effects of COVID-19 on communities. With schools closed, children are at increased risk of violence inside their homes and human trafficking and exploitation outside. Building strong relationships with families, and with your generosity, our Partners have assisted with home learning, phone-based counselling and parenting support, as well as ongoing rights-based training for children equipping them to keep themselves and their peers safe.
Here’s what the participants have to say about our Partner’s program:
‘I am so excited when I got the food and supply relief, since COVID came we troubled lots with foods and expenses, this relief very helpful to our family.’ Ary*, 11
‘Now I know if I want to work far from home I must check the history of company for keeping me safe and secure.’
‘This program helped my family to spend time together and giving time to us for love each other more.’
Dara*, 28
Thom*,17
‘Phone mentoring is very helpful to me and my family, we learnt how to release stress and [boredom], we learnt how to keep safe, we learnt how to keep our hope.’ Tina*, 9
Chawezi’s* future When the COVID-19 pandemic hit regional communities in Malawi, vulnerable children were in immediate danger. Globally, COVID has been catastrophic for children with increased rates of child labour and child marriage, as well as dramatic decreases in school participation across communities already vulnerable to the effects of poverty. For Chawezi, the pandemic halted her education and landed her in a child marriage at 17. After her mother died, Chawezi’s grandmother was unable to intervene in the marriage, especially after discovering she was pregnant. Thankfully, Chawezi found an advocate in our Christian Partner and in supporters like you. Your generosity is vital in these times.
THANK YOU!
The Vulnerable Children Fund supports our Partner to strengthen the local child protection committee, and run other programs in Chawezi’s community. The child protection committee helped withdraw Chawezi from the marriage and return her to her father’s home and to safety. ‘[I] am delighted with the move taken by the child protection committee’, Chawezi said, ‘and my parents are also very happy.’ Now Chawezi is attending school and caring for her child with the help of her aunt. She is focused on her future, and on encouraging her friends to stay focused too. ‘I wish my friends do not fall in such issues of child marriages,’ she said, ‘they should focus on school.’
If you would like to increase your regular gift in support of more vulnerable children, call 1300 789 991 or email hello@baptistworldaid.org.au. As you know, every donation will help give children living in vulnerable and dangerous situations a chance for a better, safer childhood.
Chawezi and her child
Thanks to your support this important work continues at a time when it’s needed more than ever. *Names changed for privacy
Children praying for other children in Cambodia
Please pray ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart . . .’ (Jeremiah 1:4) Please pray for the children you’re supporting in our COVID-affected world. God sees each of them and has plans for them to flourish. • Pray for an end to all forms of exploitation of children • Pray for the inclusion and care of children living with a disability • Pray for ongoing access to an education for vulnerable children.