Rebuilding communities by empowering the youth

Ongoing civil war in Central African Republic has left nearly 60% of the country under the control of armed groups, with more than a quarter of the population internally displaced and a further 500,000 living as refugees in neighboring countries (like the DRC).

Weak state institutions have failed to support children who remain extremely vulnerable to separation from their families, armed militia recruitment, or sexual abuse, with eight out of ten children experiencing physical or psychological violence. There has been a 30% increase in gender-based violence.

RESPOND.

We reached 42,091 in 2022 of whom 29,396 were children, more than twice the number reached in 2021. We will continue to make sure children and young adults affected by new crises and violence receive prompt assistance and are better protected from violence with an improvement in their psychosocial wellbeing.

RECOVER.

Facilitating the reintegration of children associated with armed conflict is one of our top priorities in Central African Republic. We’ve created a program focused on providing mental health support and access to productive opportunities within children’s local communities. Further, we’re working to create programs that better support the needs of girls and young women who have been formerly associated with armed conflict as their needs and experiences differ from that of boys and young men.

VOICEMORE is our youth advocate network which has been set up for young people to share their experiences and influence decisions that are made about them. Meet Stephanie, one of our youth advocates.

REBUILD.

We’re helping communities to rebuild by focusing on strengthening partnerships with local NGOs, central authorities, and families to ensure that children have access to help when they may require it.

We provide business skills training for mothers and caregivers to seek higher employment opportunities.

Education has been vastly disrupted in the region, but we’re working to bring children back to the classroom, this includes paying the tuition fees for vulnerable students and providing them with school supplies. Additional teacher training and catch up classes have also been set up to ease students back into learning.

Our partner, war child UK, has maintained a presence in central African republic since 2012.

We’re working to provide access to educational opportunities for children and young people who have been impacted by conflict, helping to facilitate the rehabilitation of child soldiers into society, and giving young people the tools they need to build a future of their own choosing.