Mali teenager: I never thought I would miss school

Sévaré is a very different town from what it had been over the past weeks.

People are gradually coming back and things are becoming normal as it used to be. We are hearing less and less gunshots.

I am glad things are returning to normal. Even my 6-year-old brother, Mamadou, is not crying anymore - but he has gone all quiet about the dead bodies he saw close to the military barracks. I am avoiding the subject with him because I don’t want to make him cry again. At the same time I am still worried about him. I would like to know what is in his mind when he seems so absorbed in his thoughts. I am hoping that once he returns to school he will cheer up.

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Child-friendly spaces: Helping children through emergencies

Take a tour of a Plan child-friendly space in Niger and see the support it is providing to children who have been forced to flee fighting in neighbouring Mali.

Plan installs child-friendly spaces after a disaster or crisis to give affected children a place to play, be safe, have a nutritious meal and receive emotional support to help them cope and recover.

This child-friendly space in one Niger refugee camp alone has already benefited hundreds of children.

The Needs of Children Must Not Be Forgotten in Budgets to Secure Mali

Plan’s Head of Disaster Response Returned from Central Mali to Report Many Humanitarian Needs

Head of Disaster Response of Plan International, Dr. Unni Krishnan, says that it is imperative that donors rethink their stance on Mali and other countries in the Sahel affected by the humanitarian fallout from the Mali Conflict.

On the day that an international donors' conference opens in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to raise $950 million to fund the military campaign in Mali, he said that the world must not turn a deaf ear to appeals from the humanitarian community.

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After a decade of sponsorship, Eileen meets her sponsored child

When Eileen Fernandes-Smith planned her trip to West Africa, she was excited about including a visit with her sponsored child, Sidonie, from Benin. Eileen has been sponsoring Sidonie since she was four years old. After a decade of writing letters back and forth, it was time the two met face-to-face.

When Eileen left Toronto, she embarked on a journey of a lifetime.

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Case study: IMAGINE: Improving girls' education in Niger

Haoua, married at 13, has never been to school. Rabi, 14, was taken out of classes to get married - but she dreams of becoming a doctor...

In Niger, 40% of girls get married before they are 15 years old and all too often they lose out on an education. 85% of Nigerien women cannot read or write.

In 2008 Plan Niger launched IMAGINE (Improve the EducAtion of Girls in NigEr) with the aim of getting more girls into schools and keeping them there.

The programme starts by talking to parents and working with religious and traditional leaders, communities, parents and teachers. This is followed by the building of classrooms, girls' toilets and housing for female teachers.

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Children's lives on hold after flooding in Indonesia

Severe flooding affecting more than 90,000 people in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, left many of them exposed to the cold conditions. Relief supplies are now being distributed. “Our children did not get cold again last night,” said Sukaesih, from Rawabuaya in West Jakarta, who has a six-year-old son.

When the floods struck on Wednesday, Sukaesih and her neighbours sought shelter in a shop building before moving to a nearby camp for people forced from their homes by the flooding.

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BBC Radio 4 explores the impact of aid

A radio documentary on BBC Radio 4 broadcast on Sunday 13th January 2013 examined international aid effectiveness. It included some coverage of Plan’s work and comments by Ndungu Kahihu, Mobilisation and Resource Manager in South Sudan.

In the programme, which was part of the series ‘Inside the Aid Industry’, respected journalist Edward Stourton explores how it is possible for extreme poverty and large slums, for example, to exist in areas where significant numbers of well-established international development charities and organisations work. The series has prompted some debate on the issues. The latest programme is available for you to listen to up to and including 19th January 2013.

A Once Peaceful Life Now in Danger

“Peaceful, clean, and quiet,” are the words that 12-year-old Mariama uses to describe her village in Ansongo.

Ansongo lies on the Niger River, about half way between Gao and the Niger border in Mali. Several weeks ago, the village was raided by heavily armed bandits and Islamic extremists as part of the on-going conflict in northern Mali that has created chaos and fear in villages large and small.

“We don’t know where they came from, or why, but they brought death and destruction with them,” says Mariama.


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Girls and women hardest hit by recession, reveals report

Girls are bearing the brunt of the global economic recession – being more likely to experience poverty, reduced life expectancy and drop out of school, according to a new report from Plan and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

Long standing economic trends, entrenched gender inequality and austerity budgets have all taken their toll - leavng girls and their families with fewer resources and reduced access to services.

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Mali teenager: Every time I hear gunfire I rush to my brother

Hamidou, a teenage boy living in Mopti, Mali, blogs about his experiences in the conflict-hit country and how the fighting is affecting his family.

Today, I caught my brother crying again.

He usually does that when he thinks he is alone in a room. Mamadou is 6 years old and he does not like anyone to see him crying lest he be teased and called a girl. But he can’t help it. He often cries because of the fighting and what he has seen.

It is not easy living like this. I wanted to leave, like my neighbours. All my friends from school have fled with their families. The teachers have left as well. School was so empty last week and the head teacher closed the school for a week.

I envy those who have left. At least, they don’t have to put up with all this.

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Singer and Songwriter Kate Nash Joins Plan’s Because I am a Girl Initiative as Global Ambassador

Ms. Nash Teams Up with Plan to Improve the Lives of Millions of Girls Around the World

Kate Nash, internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician, is Plan’s newest Because I am a Girl Global Ambassador.

Girls in developing countries face overwhelming odds from the moment they are born – they are more likely to be malnourished, forced into early marriage, subjected to violence, trafficked, or sold. Often denied access to education and healthcare, girls languish behind their male counterparts.

But Kate Nash, through this exciting new partnership with Plan, wants to change all that. Kate knows that improving girls’ lives has a ripple effect – when a girl is educated, nourished, and protected, she shares her knowledge and skills with her family and community, and can forever change her own future and the future of her country.

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Because I am a Girl: Learning for life 2012

The sixth report in Plan’s annual State of the World’s Girls series, ‘Learning for life’, takes a critical look at the state of girls’ education. The report argues that behind the success of global parity in primary education enrolment figures lies a crisis in the quality of learning.

Enrolment figures measure attendance on one day of the school year, and they are currently the only measure of success. They tell us nothing about real access to education or the quality of what is being taught, or learnt.

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Girl Rising Releases Theatrical Trailer Following Film Preview at Sundance

Girl Rising, the new feature film from Academy Award nominated director Richard E. Robbins, today releases its theatrical trailer.

The film, which premieres on March 7, 2013, previewed at the Sundance Film Festival, during an event hosted by strategic partner, Intel, with special guests Freida Pinto and Edwidge Danticat.

Girl Rising spotlights the stories of nine unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. Narrated by Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloë Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington, the movie is the centerpiece of 10x10 – a global campaign to educate and empower girls.

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Help needed for thousands of children in Mali

Women and children are in desperate need of the basics – food, water and shelter - as fighting continues across Mali, leaving 376 000 people displaced and many without access to aid.

In the days following the fighting that erupted on January 10th, at least 10,000 more Malians have abandoned their homes and joined the hundreds of thousands that are already displaced. The UN refugee agency predicts this number will rise to more than 750 000 throughout the year.

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Plan distributes relief items to flood-hit Jakartans

Severe flooding that has affected more than 90,000 people in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, has left many out in the cold - but with relief supplies now being distributed, residents are feeling a little less chilly.

“Our children did not get cold again last night,” said Sukaesih, 36, mother of a 6-year-old son, from Rawabuaya in West Jakarta.

When the floods struck on Wednesday, Sukaesih and her neighbours sought shelter in a shophouse before moving to a nearby camp for displaced persons.

For the next few days, they went without basic items to keep themselves warm and clean until Sunday when Plan Indonesia delivered blankets and hygiene kits containing items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and towels.

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A Painful Separation

Nine-year-old Saoudata has had to make a sacrifice that no little girl should.

She’s had to evacuate Sévaré without her mother and her 2-year-old brother. The only reason that they were left behind was because her mother, Habibatou, was short on bus fare by twelve dollars.

“She has to put her children first, that is what mothers do,” said her Aunt Zachery.

Saoudata and her siblings will be living with their Aunt Zachery and Uncle Ahmed.


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Women and Children Hidden Victims in Mali Conflict

80% of People Fleeing Mali Conflict are Women and Children

On 19th of January, the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS) will meet in Ivory Coast’s economic capital Abidjan for a summit on the conflict in Mali. On the eve of this meeting, Plan International, a global child rights organization, is urging for decision makers to improve preparedness and response to protect women and children, the most vulnerable during times of crisis and disaster.

“We urge all governments, donors, and humanitarian agencies to put the protection of children and women at the top of their list in this conflict. We must protect and care for the next generation so that they are able to live productive lives not only for their own sake, but also for the future stability and prosperity of the region,” said Berenger Berehoudougou, Regional Disaster Risk Manager for Plan International in West Africa.

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Thousands of Children Unreachable by Emergency Aid in Mali

Country Faces Double Crisis as Conflict Continues

Mali is on the verge of a major humanitarian crisis, the global organization Plan International has warned. Tens of thousands of displaced people together with those trapped in the conflict areas are unreachable. In addition, the conflict is preventing farmers from sowing the 2013 crop. As a result of these events, there are fears that up to two million people will be affected by a food crisis this year.

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Understanding the conflict in Mali

Hundreds of people – mainly children and women – have been displaced following conflict in central Mali. Clashes between armed insurgents, the Malian National Army and international forces have been occurring over the past week.

More than 31,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are seeking safety in Segou, located in south-central Mali, and other cities in the surrounding areas.

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Case study: Girls return to school after period pain

Girls in Mutasa, eastern Zimbabwe, were dropping out of school during their menstrual period because of lack of information and teasing by boys - but not anymore, thanks to the Girls Fellowship Club.

Supported by Plan, the club members - comprising around 25 girls and 12 boys – reach out to pupils, teachers and the wider community to tackle ignorance and raise awareness on girls' reproductive health and hygiene issues.

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Haiti: Didine realises her music dream

Didine, a Plan sponsored child, was 14 years old when the powerful earthquake hit Haiti 3 years ago.

For 35 long seconds, she thought the world was collapsing around her – along with her dream of becoming a violinist.

It took months for her to begin reconnecting to one of her most precious dreams – music – which has helped her regain faith in life.

The disaster was a turning point for Didine. "I saw my life scroll before me," she says.

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Mali Conflict: Children in the crossfire

In the middle of an overcrowded compound, nine year old Ahmed, is adjusting to yet another new life. In less than a year, he has had to move twice from his home in Timbuktu, in northern Mali, first to Mopti further South and now to Ségou in central Mali.

As the news of an immediate attack against Mopti spread across Mali, Ahmed and his father knew they had to run for their lives yet again. They boarded the first bus from Mopti and made the six hour journey to Ségou.

“On the way I could hear gunshots. I didn’t see the troops or what was happening but I was so scared. I am glad we made it to a safer place,” says Ahmed.

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Emergency Response for Children Fleeing Mali Conflict

The Emotional Welfare of Children is a Major Concern

The global child rights organization Plan International is setting up an emergency response operation in central Mali to aid those who have been displaced.

Hundreds of north Malians have been arriving in the Ségou, Mali’s fifth largest city, since a military offensive started on Friday against armed insurgents.

Plan Mali staff in Ségou say that since last Friday hundreds of displaced persons are taking refuge in the city and this number is expected to swell in the coming days.

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Plan's Education Strategy 2010-2013

Plan is committed to high quality education for children and young people. This strategy focuses on Plan's 3 education priorities - improving equal access, enhancing quality and strengthening education governance.

Each strategic priority has a clear set of key actions designed to bring about change, not only for families, schools and communities, but also at national and international levels.

The strategy places particular emphasis on the need to eliminate gender discrimination, as well as focussing on other key challenges, such as the inclusion of marginalised children.

Read the report here!

Konflikten i Mali

Situationen i Mali mellem islamiske oprørsstyrker og regeringen har udviklet sig dramatisk i løbet af de seneste dage.

Oprørerne, der går ind for den strenge, islamiske Sharialov, har i længere tid haft kontrollen over det nordlige Mali.

Torsdag tog de bevæbnede oprørere så magten over grænsebyen Konna.

Det fik fredag Frankrig til at starte en militær operation mod oprørsstyrkerne, der lukker skoler, hverver børnesoldater og har indført offentlig afstraffelse.

Danmark bakker op om Malis regering og Frankrig, der blandt andet nedkæmper oprørerne med luftbombardementer. Udenrigsminister, Villy Søvndal (SF), meddelte i går, at Danmark nu sender danske militærfly til Mali.

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How Are the Children?

It was a scene reminiscent of last year’s Typhoon Washi: women and children weeping in silence and men who were in shock. On Monday, December 3rd, Typhoon Bopha battered the southern Philippines until early Tuesday morning, leaving behind a trail of devastation that particularly affected children.

“We didn’t know what a typhoon was until we were hit,” says Veruela Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer Elvira Dagaraga, shedding tears as she recalls the experience. “Never in my 30 years of living here had we experienced such a thing.”

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Malians Flee as Fighting Breaks Out

Plan says a swift response from the international community is needed to avert a humanitarian crisis

Scared Malians, mainly women and children, are on the move again following clashes between armed insurgents and the national army. They are fleeing towns such as Sévaré which is located 35 miles south of Konna – the town seized by armed insurgents on Friday.

“People are just fleeing Sévaré. They are leaving town using any transport available,” said Nouhoum Coulibaly director of GAAS Mali, a local partner of Plan Mali.

"Hundreds of displaced people are already arriving in Segou," said Bocoum Mamadou, Plan Mali's Program Unit Manager. Plan has a humanitarian operation in Segou which is located about 250 miles south of Sévaré. "They are mainly children and women from Sévaré and the Mopti region. They are exhausted and stressed,” he said.

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Case study: Education lift for child street workers

Children from migrant indigenous families in Quito, Ecuador, who would normally spend their days working on the streets, are now receiving an education thanks to Plan.

Thousands of indigenous families migrate to the city each year but when they arrive they often experience discrimination against their language and culture - limiting their access to jobs and education. Many of them are forced to become street vendors, including 2,200 children.

Watch the video to see how the Plan-supported Inter-Cultural Bi-Lingual Emperimental Centre is helping children whose families work in San Roque Market. Many of them would probably never have the chance to attend a regular school.

Plan India on the instances of growing sexual violence against girls and women

Plan India strongly condemns the recent instance of physical and sexual assault on a young girl and the severe beating of her male companion in a public transport bus in Delhi on the 16th of December, 2012. The young girl died on the 29^th of December,2012.  The violent and extremely brutal nature of the attack on the girl has left us all shocked, angry and concerned about the safety of our country’s girls and women. We also wish to express our deep concern at the growing instances of sexual violence that are being reported against children and women across the country.

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Real Madrid supports vulnerable children in Egypt

The social and cultural awareness programme of Spanish football club Real Madrid has teamed up with Plan to launch a school sporting academy in Egypt. The aim of the academy is to bolster children’s performance in school, reduce drop-out rates and promote children’s rights.

Four schools have been selected to participate in the project, which is expected to benefit more than 1,200 children, aged between 7 and 18.

The Real Madrid Foundation will train youth facilitators to work in the selected schools in Beheira, Assiut and Giza. FAME Academies, an Egyptian company that works to develop the football industry in Egypt, is co-funding the project for the next three years, and will provide the young people involved with sports and training equipment.

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Looking to the long-term in Haiti

Three years after the 2010 earthquake, Haiti has turned a corner and Plan is shifting the focus of its work to long-term development. “The road to recovery will be a long one but Plan is here for the long haul. We must ensure the country is not forgotten and we will do all possible to continue to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild,”explains Chief Executive Officer of Plan International, Nigel Chapman.

During the past three years Plan has helped more than 31,000 children return to school; built 257 classrooms which are earthquake and hurricane-resistant; provided psychosocial support to more than 12,000 children, provided cash-for-work for more than 36,000 people; provided houses for 100 women with young children, who lost their husbands in the earthquake; and reached more than 400,000 people in our emergency cholera response work.

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Education: what we do

Education is one of the most powerful tools in breaking the cycle of poverty.

In 2012, Plan trained 72,538 educators on child-friendly learning skills, benefiting 13,855 communities. We also supported the construction and rehabilitation of 2,152 schools.

Every child has the right to education, but many children are excluded because of high costs, language and cultural barriers, geographical remoteness, or special needs. We work to ensure free and equal access to quality education at all times, including in emergencies, as well as access to learning for young people so they can reach their full potential.

Our education strategy focuses on:

• promoting inclusive, safe, healthy, child-friendly learning environments
• improving the skills of teachers
• creating culturally relevant, gender-sensitive lessons and offering essential life-skills training.

Vietnam: Climate change and a mountain community

Children from the remote mountainous regions of Ha Giang, Vietnam, speak out in this film about how climate change is affecting their lives and what they are doing to protect themselves.

Flash floods and landslides are now more common, while warmer summers mean they sometimes have to walk 2 to 3km to collect water.

Children from ethnic minorities played a leading role in making the film, which was produced as part of Plan's climate change adaptation programme and funded by AusAID.

Plan works with children and their communities to help them build up resilience and cope better with the impact of disasters and climate change.

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