$2.4 Million Grant To Aid Children Of East Timor

Christian Children's Fund
Tuesday, 15 August 2000

A consortium of three charitable organizations including Christian Children's Fund, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee has received a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration to help the children of war-torn East Timor re-adjust to peace. The militia ravaged East Timor one year ago, after its August 30 vote to become independent from Indonesia. Most of the small island nation was razed, families displaced and scores of East Timorese were killed. More than 250,000 people, one quarter of East Timor's population, fled their homes. Tens of thousands either chose or were forced into neighboring Indonesian provinces such as West Timor. Children and youth were traumatized during the militia rampage. Many lost family members or got separated from their families; their homes destroyed or damaged. Almost a year later, East Timor is still in the throes of healing and reconstruction.

The three organizations will work to reach 95,000 children and youth of East Timor over the next 12 months, helping them readjust socially and psychologically. The coordinated effort of the three development charities will provide health care, psychosocial support and educational support for children and adolescents through the age of 24. The program also will work with families to support income-generating enterprises.

"The consortium was formed to help children begin leading a normal life while helping families and communities rebuild their homes and their lives. The three agencies decided to launch a joint effort because each has a rich experience in working with communities and especially with children in crisis situations. We felt that East Timor would benefit from the experience of all three agencies," explained Naval Dave, program manager for CCF. "Together we will take an integrated approach toward the total care and protection of children and their families." The consortium's first goal is to provide structured activities that address the immediate physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs of the children and adolescents of East Timor. This is essential since the school system, community health care services and other children's facilities were totally destroyed by the militia. Next the consortium will identify at-risk youth and help communities launch activities for these children as well as conduct peace-building efforts and training. The consortium also will launch a tolerance campaign and public awareness campaign about the needs of children.

The consortium has already begun its work with the training of program developers and community leaders. The target is to train 5,000 community volunteers to work with the children and youth of East Timor.

"Since individual psychosocial counseling is not affordable nor culturally appropriate, this is the best way to reach the largest number of children and youth," said Dave. "In addition to the devastation last summer, East Timor has been subjected to 24 years of a repressive government. And the children of East Timor have never experienced what would be considered a normal childhood. They've been robbed of that. With this grant, we will work to give these children a sense of stability and security as well as a sense of self worth and hope for the future," he concluded.

For more information, or to contact Christian Children's Fund, see their website at: www.christianchildrensfund.org