Giving Back

LOCATION: KENYA

Turkana is one of the poorest and least developed counties in Kenya. With limited health facilities and resources of any kind, Turkana is particularly susceptible to illnesses and widespread virus. Coupled with a shortage of water, lack of food, and bearing in mind the high illiteracy level of the community, there is urgent need for immediate action in bringing healthcare equipment, hygiene products, and conducting educational programs within the community.

Project by: New Ways 

Protect a child living in poverty in Bogotá’s sex work ‘tolerance zone’ from being groomed and sold for sex through providing theatre, dance and music workshops in a children’s centre – a protective oasis in the centre of the zone. These workshops all have a focus on raising children’s awareness of the risks of sexual exploitation and how to protect themselves on the streets and online. While the children are at the centre they also receive a hot meal and snacks and access to one-on-one counselling. Help a child grow up in safety, protected from the devastating physical and mental damage.

Project by: Children Change Columbia

Planting fruit trees can help farmers and entire families enhance their lives through income generation, and aid upcoming generations in general wellbeing. This project focuses on avocado and papaya trees that promote environment improvements and sustainability.

The Project is managed by : The Mango Tree Orphan Support Trust

Realise the potential of an underprivileged student studying at Burmese schools by giving him or her one set of stationery. These schools often lack sufficient school supplies such as pens, pencils, writing pads and books have to be shared amongst a group of students. Your support for this cause will help these students get much more out of their education and give them a brighter future.

The Project is managed by : Child’s Dream

Give young Aboriginal people access to learning hubs and free public Wi-Fi for communications and conducting necessary everyday business. Many households don't have a computer or even a reliable power supply, so learning hubs are crucial for young people to develop their IT and literacy skills. With English being a third or fourth language, access to online resources can reduce linguistic, geographic and cultural isolation. It enables community members to stay in touch with relatives and supports self-directed learning, opening up employment and other future opportunities. Some of the Northern Territory Communities where Dot Com Mob operates Learning Hubs are Ali Curung, Yuelamu, Alpurrururlam, Arlparra, Laramba, Kintore, Mt Liebig, Papunya, Atitjere, Ikuntji, Alice Springs, Amoonguna, Ntaria, Areyonga, Santa Teresa, Docker River, Titjikala, Apatula. The cultural contact history in the region is brief, with the last group of nomads walking into Kiwirrkurra in the mid-1980’s. Before computer rooms, public phones were the only option for staying in touch. Most households don't have a phone, internet service or reliable access to a power supply so they need the computer hubs to engage with the wider world. Online is the only way people living remote can access services such as banking, government sites and ongoing education. Aboriginal communities face geographical, digital and linguistic isolation and access to computers not only supports skills development and employment opportunities, but also reduces the risks of substance misuse, self-harm and suicide.

The Project is managed by : Dot Com Mob

There are around 5000 children working in illegal mines in Colombia. These mines are run by armed groups, that often enforce extortion fees and incite terror on communities where unregulated mining is taking place, forcing both adults and children to work either in the mine itself or carry out tasks such as carrying messages or supplies, panning for gold, or for sex.⁠
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This has had a severely detrimental effect on children’s education, leading many children to drop out of school entirely. ⁠
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In 2019 with support from the B1G1 community, we ran the project ”Protect a Child from Working in Toxic Mines” to deliver workshops in 4 schools in the Colombian rainforest focused on teaching children about their rights and the environmental destruction caused by widespread illegal mining.⁠
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276 children participated in 28 workshops in 4 local schools aimed at complementing the education they receive at school. Our implementing partner have developed a new school curriculum that does away with traditional learning-by-rote teaching and instead makes lessons fun and participative, aiming to keep children in school and out of the hands of the armed groups and illegal mining.⁠

This was a pilot project, the results of which are now being discussed with the rest of the 10 education centres of the Afro-Colombian Community council (Acadesan), with the support of the Colombian government as an example of good practice. We are waiting for the Covid-19 situation to improve to continue with the project.

We hope you can continue to support us during these difficult times as we adapt our processes and plans to ensure that we can support all of our beneficiaries in the new and challenging situations they are facing. Thank you again for your support.

Best wishes,

Carolina Bejarano
Fundraising Officer- Children Change Colombia