DCF Activities July 2024

Barbara
20 jul 2024
4 minuten om te lezen

Dear Friends,

Welcome back! We are happy to share with you an update on the events taking place in our community. We would also like to introduce you to our work related to the Alternative Report 2024 of the Ecuadorian Civil Society Organizations to the Child Rights Committee of the United Nations. This is an important report as it provides feedback and monitors the situation of the rights of the children in Ecuador.

On Sunday the 28th of April we joined the walk/cycle advocating for a childhood and adolescence free of violence and it was a success! Not only did this campaign promote peace and respect in our community, but it also brought us closer together and inspired us to continue working together.

In this issue, you get to hear a heartwarming story about Mateo and his first time participating in a community event. We would also like to share the testimony of Maribel, who lives in Pifo, the town where the Community Plan is taking place. She has witnessed significant change in her community; people have been brought together through events such as the community cinema and programs focused on economic development for local families.

We hope you are inspired, as much as we are, by the work and commitment of our community! Thank you for being such an important part of this journey!

Alternative Report 2024 of the Civil Society Organizations to the Child Rights Committee of the United Nations

In DCF, we continue working for the rights of children and adolescents. This year, together with 25 organizations and more than 40 collaborators and support of UNICEF, we wrote the Alternative Report2024. DCF assumed a coordination role. This report monitors how and what the Ecuadorian government is doing (and not doing) in order to guarantee the rights of the children and reach the goals set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Listening to the Voices of Adolescents and Children

We engaged in dialogue with 560 children and adolescents (ages 4 to 17), from different provinces across Ecuador who live in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions due to child labor, poverty in urban and rural areas, human mobility and marginalization due to their Afro-Ecuadorian or Indigenous identity.

Challenges and recommendations

The report highlights that structural violence against children and adolescents is on the rise, while the government protection system is weakening. Hence, we recommend public policies that reinforce both the protection and prevention of violence.

We suggest a new management model based on the rights of children and adolescents and also supporting the National Strategy for De-institutionalization. This implies decreasing the amount of institutional care provided and instead focusing on preventative programs that utilize family/community-based care. These programs are far more efficient and cost-effective.

Change Flourishing

In this newsletter, we would like to introduce you to Maribel. Maribel lives in Pifo, the town where DCF has implemented its community plan. With a mixture of excitement and gratitude in her voice, she told us how her community has witnessed positive change due to the work of DCF:

“There used to be very few opportunities for us to come together and learn in Pifo. Since DCF started organizing events and activities we have seen a massive change. The community cinema has been marvelous for our children and the programs focused on economic development have helped us. We now feel like a much more united community!"

When speaking to Maribel, she emphasized how through workshops and empowerment projects new opportunities that once seemed impossible, have become a reality.

"We now support each other and are thus able to work for a better future for our children."

Walking and Cycling Against Violence

We had a very early start on Sunday the 28th of April. At 7:30, lots of eager yet still very sleepy participants started the walk/cycle for a childhood free of violence. We met in the town center and explored the beautiful neighborhood Chaupimolino, as well as the fun yet slightly spooky tunnels of el Chaquiñán.The freshness of the wind and the happy chirping of the birds filled us with energy. We eventually reached the shores of the river Guambi, where we marvelled at the beauty of the flora and fauna surrounding it.

Some of our friends are local experts and so they told us fascinating stories about the Chaquiñán and its beautiful nature. We reflected on the importance of living in harmony with the environment around us during an exciting puppet show. We finished with a delicious potluck where everyone shared their favorite dishes.

What particularly warmed our hearts was the participation of Mateo. Due to the unsafe situation in the country, Mateo’s Mom is very hesitant to let him leave the house. However, she decided to make an exception because she felt that she could trust the community participating in the walk. We were all extremely excited to have Mateo join us.

¡¡¡¡Gracias!!!!

We are delighted to announce our collaboration with the LACT Programme implemented by The Karlsson Játiva Charitable Foundation (“KJCF”). Recently, the LACT Programme informed us of their decision to support the Community project for the prevention of violence against children and adolescents in Pifo, Ecuador. We are deeply grateful for this collaboration opportunity, which ensures that the community project for 2024 is fully financed. The LACT Programme and Danielle's Children Fund share a profound commitment to enhancing the well-being of families and children in Latin America through comprehensive support and sustainable development initiatives. Both organisations prioritize the relief of poverty and the promotion of education, health, and welfare, with a strong emphasis on empowering communities and fostering self-sufficiency.

“Danielle's Children Fund's dedication to psycho-social services and community involvement in Ecuador aligns closely with the Foundation's approach to long-term, locally-led projects across Andean countries. Our shared vision of transformative change includes advocating for policies that protect children and promote alternative care,leveraging our expertise to build resilient communities.”

Quote from Erland Karlsson of the LACT Programme