ChildFund International

ChildFund Sri Lanka was honored to join the official launch of #16DaysOfActivism against Gender-Based Violence in #SriLanka, in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka and the Forum Against GBV. Together with high-level government representatives, UN agencies, development partners, private sector, CSOs, and the public, we marched in solidarity under the theme #ByYourSide: Towards a GBV-Free Sri Lanka—Safe Public Spaces for All The event highlighted the urgent need for bold action to #EndGBV, with the iconic Colombo Municipal Council illuminated in orange as part of the global ‘Orange the World’ campaign. This symbol of unity and commitment inspires hope for a future where gender-based violence becomes a relic of the past. Let’s continue to work together to create a #SafeSriLanka for everyone. There’s #NoExcuse for violence. Together, we can make change happen.🧡 #16DaysOfActivism2024 #ByYourSide #EndGBVNow #childfundsrilanka

Every year, staff at our international headquarters take some time at our annual Thanksgiving celebration to honor each other and appreciate the many reasons we have to be grateful, no matter who we are. It's one of our favorite traditions for the past 85 years. ❤️ What are YOU thankful for? #Thanksgiving #BehindTheScenes #Thankful #Grateful #ChildFund #WeNeedEachOther

We're so excited to collaborate with Saudi Youth for Sustainability, Sudan Climate Collective and Edama to connect youth from these regions on key topics to be discussed at #UNCCD #COP16! ChildFund aims to be active in both zones to help integrate the voices of young peoples' concerns for their future environment and opportunities. After all, to ensure children and young people can grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, they need a future in which to grow up. By bringing young people together, we hope for a stronger overall call for global leaders to create a more supportive environment where children and youth can collaborate to combat degradation, desertification and drought. #ClimateAction #YouthVoices

#COP16 attendees! Don't miss two meaningful intergenerational dialogue and interactive sessions at the Children and Youth Resilience Hub, December 4 at 10:00 and December 7 at 12:00. More info in the flyers below! #ClimateAction #YouthVoices

Our Country Director, Lilly Omondi, along with one of our Youth Climate Action Ambassadors, Yedidya, will be representing ChildFund International and #Ethiopia at #COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They will be engaging in critical conversations about the impacts of climate change, particularly on children and communities, and addressing challenges such as drought, food insecurity, and displacement caused by environmental degradation. Ethiopia is at the forefront of climate vulnerability, and our participation at COP 16 reinforces our commitment to advocating for urgent climate action that prioritizes children’s needs and builds sustainable futures for communities. Stay tuned as we share key updates and insights from this event. #OurLandOurFuture #ClimateAction #ChildRights #Desertification

Happy #WorldChildrensDay! 🌍 Have you asked a child what THEY think today? Our friends in the ChildFund Alliance did. In fact, they interviewed 10,000 kids in 41 countries to learn kids' thoughts on how we can better support and protect them. Check it out 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/euC9gikU #CFAIndex #RightToTheFuture

It is one thing to give a child a microphone to speak their mind at a high-level forum in front of policymakers, and it is another to take the child’s sentiments seriously and use them to inform policies and programs. Lately, child and youth participation has been gaining ground. In some instances, it has become the “fashionable” thing to do. But are we truly taking the voices of children and youth seriously? As we mark #WorldChildrensDay today, our Regional Director Chege Ngugi shares his thoughts on making child participation truly meaningful—beyond the hype. Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/dfDbs7ff #ChildParticipation #YouthVoices #ChildrensVoices #MeaningfulParticipation ChildFund International

It will take 113 years for women and children to fully realize their human rights at the current pace. This is one of the central findings of ChildFund Alliance's recently released World Index Report 2024, which measures living conditions of women and children by assessing the promotion, exercise and violation of their rights. The index ranks 157 countries on root causes of human rights violations and areas where we most urgently need to intervene. The results are based on interviews with 10,000 children from 41 countries on issues including poverty, conflict, climate change, violence and their dreams for the future. Other major findings show today’s societies are generally less democratic and secure for women and children. Educational rights have stagnated, though child health outcomes have improved. Too many children are working instead of learning. Many children (1 in 4) feel unsafe due to crime and conflict. Food insecurity is particularly high among children with disabilities, and overall, far too many children regularly feel unhappy (1 in 10). And crucially, more than 1 in 5 have a weak understanding of their rights (boys more so than girls). While this is a useful tool for identifying gaps in human rights implementation, the real opportunity this index gives us is to hear directly from children at a large scale. To hear what their goals, needs, desires and wishes are. Below are some of the most urgent requests from the children in our global alliance programs. And here are some of the things children say they want: 📚 Better access and quality of education so they can achieve their goals. 🕊️ To be protected from violence and discrimination. 🗣️ For adults to ask and listen to their opinions. 🙏 To be understood and respected. 🤝 For encouragement, guidance and to feel supported. So there is work to do, and we have ideas on how to move forward using this index as a guide. Continuing our work toward mainstreaming child participation, and ensuring safe, inclusive, and equitable participation, is fundamental to improving these results. And that starts with listening to the children themselves. #BecauseWeNeedEachOther https://lnkd.in/eP2FF8GR

This means inclusive participation from policy to implementation and from COP to back home, such as continuous, inclusive post-COP pledges to actions in the design, implementation and monitoring phases of initiatives. 💲 Increase finance to child- and youth-led nature-positive actions and innovation programs while also ensuring governments are held accountable on reporting on child-focused climate funding and long-term strategies. 🙌🏽 Increase access for vulnerable youth to climate-smart, nature- and land-based knowledge and skills to take on the current and future challenges posed by climate change and land degradation. This includes actively including children and youth in national restoration and climate action initiatives providing youth employment opportunities in the transition skills gap, particularly in nature-based solutions, eco-based adaptation, green, blue and circular economy. 🌳 Highlight the traditional knowledge and leadership of indigenous and local communities in driving local-led climate action and sustainable land management. Recognize the vital role of indigenous children and youth in these efforts, ensuring their active participation and leadership. Engage children and youth in intergenerational learning opportunities with elders, blending cultural and traditional knowledge with modern restoration and conservation practices. 💡 Incorporate technology alongside traditional practices to enhance these efforts to preserve a culture of land stewardship for future generations and foster youth-led climate action, creating first-land learning experiences with nature from early learning to school-based curriculums to value nature’s role in protecting children and youth across their childhood. #COP29 #COP16 #UNCCD #UNFCCC #ClimateAction #YouthVoices #OurPlanetOurFuture

#HappeningNow: We're feeling bittersweet as #COP29 comes to a close and our staff, partners and child delegates prepare to head home. They'll take back to their own countries and communities the many conversations, connections and lessons learned here on how to better protect our planet, especially the youth voices calling for #ClimateAction. Pictured (left to right): ChildFund Sierra Leone Country Director Victor Kamara, Barnfonden's Velma O., child delegate Philippa from Sierra Leone, Joohi Haleem from the ChildFund Alliance and ChildFund Sierra Leone's Saffie Kamara #OurPlanetOurFuture #WeNeedEachOther