Rainbow Family News 2015
04 Africa 08 Middle East 12 South Asia 18 South East Asia
Dear Rainbow Family Supporter, As we reflect on 2015, we would like to celebrate the success of sponsoring over 6,000 orphan and disadvantaged children with an additional 27,000 people benefitting from the programme . Of course, none of this could have been possible without the help of our loyal supporters. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continual support. Throughout the year sponsored children have been engaged in various activities to help them progress in their studies and personal development, as well as taking part in fun-filled activities. We would like to share the highlights from 2015 so that you can learn more about the wonderful work that has been going on in the world of the Rainbow Family. We enter the new year with high spirits and fresh hopes for 2016 and look forward to another succesful year ahead. Kind regards, Sahanara Begum Rainbow Family Programme Manager
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Africa: Regional Overview Sierra Leone
Sponsored: 300 Locations: Bo & Tonkolili
Gambia
Sponsored: 49 Locations : Bakau & Gunjur, West Gambia
Sudan
Sponsored: 47 Locations: Khartoum, North Sudan
South Africa
Sponsored: 242 Locations: Johannesburg
Somalia
Sponsored: 54 Locations: Mogadishu & Kismayo 4
The Day of the African Child
Children learn to read
In September, children in Gambia participated in celebrations for the Day of the African Child. The event is marked each year to celebrate children in Africa, as well as addressing challenges that African children face daily. This years theme was related to ending child marriage in Africa. Participants took part in a march and engaged In discussions for solutions to eliminate child marriage.
In South Africa, qualified teachers volunteer their weekends to run English classes for children who are performing poorly. The sessions provide help for those whose first language is not English and have proven popular with children like Tenge who has improved his reading and writing skills – “This Saturday class is a hero for me.�
Celebrations for the Day of the African Child
Children learn to read at the Saturday class
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“I want to be successful and bright so that one day I can also help children like you do.� Peggy Tshite, South Africa
Ebola Outbreak in Sierra Leone At the beginning of the year a local medical team visited schools to raise awareness about the Ebola virus and speak to children and teachers about how to stay safe. Thankfully, the outbreak did not directly affect any of the sponsored children in Sierra Leone. The closure of schools, however, resulted in months of missed lessons. In order to minimise the disruption caused to their learning, extra classes were organised to help children catch up on the lost academic year. 6
A health worker gives a school talk about the Ebola virus
Kadiatu from Sierra Leone attends school with the help of Rainbow Family Programme 7
Middle East & Europe: Regional Overview Bosnia
Sponsored: 311 Locations: Capljina, Visoko, Kakanj, Bugojno, Kalesija
Iraq
Sponsored: 226 Locations : Baghdad, Fallujah, Kirkuk, Irbil
Palestine
Sponsored: 1,474 Locations: Gaza
Jordan
Sponsored: 46 Locations: Amman
Lebanon
Sponsored: 327 Locations: Tripoli, Beruit, Saida, Mount Lebanon, Tyre 8
Fun day in Gaza Muslim Aid’s partner in Gaza arranged a day of fun-filled activities for children. Having been affected psychologically from the traumatic events during the war in 2014, children in Gaza had lost their confidence and developed issues with selfesteem. Activities ranged from sports and games to arts and crafts, the beneficiaries were able to express themselves and enjoy being children.
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Trip to Tesanj, Bosnia
Eid Celebrations in Jordan
Earlier in the year, a number of Rainbow Family children attended a two day trip to Tesanj, located in northern Bosnia. Muslim Aid hosted this fun-packed trip where the children had an opportunity to visit the public library of Tesanj - one of the oldest cultural establishments in the city.
Eid was a special day for children in Jordan this year. Muslim Aid distributed gift bags to children and their families, many of whom are refugees from Syria. The gift bags included items such as biscuits, cakes and winter clothing and gave children the opportunity to feel the true essence of Eid. Children like eight year old Yazan expressed their gratitude for the gifts – “I’m so pleased that generous sponsors have remembered us on Eid, I would like to thank you.”
After taking a walk through the city and relaxing by Lake Ceman, the children enjoyed a historical tour of the Gazi Ferhat-Bey mosque and visited Tesanj fortress where they were given an insight into the history of medieval Bosnia. The opportunity to travel to Tesanj was a fantastic experience for the children as many had never travelled beyond their own villages.
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Children take a tour of the Tesanj fortress
A child in Jordan receives his Eid gift
Children in Gaza take part in Eid day celebrations
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South Asia: Regional Overview Bangladesh
Sponsored: 515 Locations: Ranjpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong
Afghanistan
Sponsored: 169 Locations : Kabul, Nangarhar
India
Sponsored: 391 Locations: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Sri Nagar
Sri Lanka
Sponsored: 320 Locations: Manner, Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Monaragala, Gampaha, Kandy, Vavuniya, Kalutara
Pakistan
Sponsored: 664 Locations: Karachi, Murree, Islamabad, Bagh, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Kala Bagh, Gligit, Neelum, Mansehra, Rawalpindi 12
Extra Curricular classes in Sri Nagar, Kashmir India Children in Sri Nagar have been attending extra-curricular classes in coaching, basic computer and English language. The results are positive, with many children now speaking English with a higher degree of confidence.
Children graduate from university This year, three children have graduated from university. Due to support from The Rainbow Family Programme, beneficiaries such as Abdul Rashid are well equipped with the necessary skills to find employment. Abdul Rashid has now left the programme and is working as an engineer for a local construction company.
Tackling child marriage Muslim Aid Sri Lanka has been working with children and families to address the issue of child marriage. Child marriage is widespread within the poorer communities of Sri Lanka, which can cause a number of problems for young girls. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth, for instance, is consistently among the leading causes of death for girls married as children. Muslim Aid Sri Lanka has provided counselling and mentoring sessions for sponsored girls and their parents. Further sessions are planned, as well as the provision of communal sermons.
Abdul Rashid now works for a construction company
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“Without your help it was difficult for me & I was going to drop out of school. Your assistance has given me the opportunity to continue my studies. I pray for you & your family. � Yasmin, Bangladesh
Child Rights & Child Protection Workshop In Islamabad, Pakistan, the child development and education department conducted a training on child protection for Muslim Aid staff. The programme included development of child protection mechanisms, risk management and psychosocial support. 14
Muslim Aid Staff attend the child protection workshop in Pakistan
Children in Pakistan have fun on Eid day
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South East Asia: Regional Overview Cambodia
Sponsored: 212 Locations: Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, Thboung Khmom, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Battambang
Indonesia
Sponsored: 399 Locations: Aceh, Yogyakarta, West Sumatra
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Trip to Kyai Langeng Park & Borobudur Temple 45 children in Indonesia visited Kyai Langeng Park and Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta. The aim of the event was to strengthen the friendship among the Rainbow Family children and provide them with an enjoyable experience of discovering nature and its beauty. They took part in interactive games, teaching them the importance of leadership, team work and confidence.
Children enjoy themselves at Kyai Langeng Park
Shallow Well Programme Muslim Aid Indonesia in conjunction with Muslim Aid Australia provided children in Yogyakarta with shallow wells. Families in this area were struggling due to a lack of water supply for cooking, washing and bathing, and would rely on neighbours or friends facilities. Thanks to this great initiative they now have their own water supply to cover their daily needs.
A sponsored child uses the new water well
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Rainbow Family children attend Inter-Faith Workshop Sponsored children in Cambodia attended a workshop on ‘The harmonisation of inter faith religious leaders for child protection in Cambodia’. The workshop was conducted by The Ministry of Cult and Religion in cooperation with UNICEF. Tiny Math has been a part of the Rainbow Family Programme since 2011 and was chosen as a representative for the children of Cambodia. She gave a short speech and expressed her gratitude to Muslim Aid for giving her and her friends the opportunity to attend the event. She also thanked the Government of Cambodia for organising the workshop and their efforts to help children live in a safe and peaceful environment.
Handicraft Activity Children in Yogyakarta, Indonesia had fun learning how to make crafts from flannel. The activity was arranged following a request from the children themselves and the session was held at the home of one of the sponsored children. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and arrays of colourful items were made such as key rings and brooches. Many of the children have now taken this craft up as a hobby. Growing up with a productive hobby will help the children perform well in their life, both personal and professional. 18
Children show the items they created
Sponsored children in Indonesia are happy to receive new clothes
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020 7377 4200 / muslimaid.org