Tags: Child Protection

James (name changed) was abducted by an armed group in South Sudan, to serve as a soldier, and eventually was left for dead by the same group. Reunited with his family by UNICEF, he is facing life with confidence and a dream for the future.

In 2019, UNICEF reached almost all corners of the globe – 190 countries to be exact – to help save children’s lives. To celebrate the end of the year – and the end of a decade – we’ve chosen 5 stories from at home and abroad, to showcase how the tireless work of UNICEF staff and the generous support of our donors enables us to defend the right to childhood, for every child.

UNICEF Canada ambassador and teacher Bayan Yammout visited Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan – the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees – in October 2019, to provide training for facilitators (Syrian refugees who run the UNICEF designated programs) at the camp’s Makani Centres. In a two part series, she shares her reflections on life for children in the camps.

UNICEF Canada ambassador and teacher Bayan Yammout visited Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan – the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees – in October 2019, to provide training for facilitators at the camp’s Makani Centres. In a two part series, she shares her reflections on life for children in the camps.

In October 2019, six members of UNICEF Canada’s Women Unlimited travelled to Ghana for their first field visit, as part of a four year philanthropic journey. One of the members, Lisa Letwin, provided us this reflection on her experiences and how philanthropy really means the power of possibility.

UNICEF is working with authorities and partners in providing safe and clean water to children and families.

Syria’s nine year conflict has continued unabated, with all parties to the conflict intensifying military operations in Idleb, Aleppo, Hama, Eastern Ghouta and in the Northeast of the country. Despite the ongoing conflict, UNICEF has been working hard to provide essential supplies and support to children in the region.

Kawthar is a 25 year old mother, who fled airstrikes in Serekaniye (also known as Ras Al-Ayn) with her only daughter Barcham (2 and a half years old). They are some of the approximately 176,000 people (including almost 80,000 children) who have been displaced inside north-eastern Syria just in the last two weeks.

Twenty-four thousand children were killed or maimed in conflicts in 2018. This is the highest number ever reported by the UN since it began monitoring the six grave violations affecting children nearly 15 years ago. David Morley comments on the situation and how Canada must make children’s rights, safety and wellbeing a global priority.

A Venezuelan migrant gets a surprise from his classmates in Ecuador.