Horonya Denw : Caring for children in street situations and promoting their rights

Mali
Ségou

Context

The situation in Mali is marked by desertification, poverty and mass rural exodus. In this context, the phenomenon of children in street situations is one of the negative indicators of the current social and societal upheavals. The security crisis affecting Mali since 2012 has greatly increased the vulnerability of these children, who are sinking further into poverty and instability. Almost 90% of them are 15 years old or younger. In Ségou, the issue has worsened progressively over the last 20 years. There are few reception centres for them in the locality.

Local partners

  • Caritas Mali
  • Bibliothèques Sans Frontières 

Objectives

  • Prevent children ending up in street situations by promoting their rights among the children themselves, communities, and public and private child-protection actors
  • Ensure the realization of the rights of children in street situations
  • Strengthen the operational and organizational capacities of our partners
Awareness-raising session for young people on the rights of girls, Ségou, Mali © Caritas Mali

Activities

Caritas Mali provides reception and integration facilities for children in street situations and conducts awareness-raising and advocacy among local communities and local and national political authorities. Bibliothèques Sans Frontières facilitates access to education, culture and information for vulnerable populations. 

The Horonya Denw (Children of Freedom) project aims to reduce the phenomenon of children in street situations through prevention, advocacy and care, on the one hand, and capacity-building of the local partners, on the other. The social workers go out to meet the children in the street, inform them of their rights and offer them support by directing them to the appropriate facilities. Three types of training are available (sewing/embroidery; electricity/solar power; carpentry/upholstery), enabling the young people to follow a path to future employment. The social workers also act as mediators to facilitate the children’s return to their families.

 

 

Linked programmes

Integration and entrepreneurship

Provide young people with vocational training and socio-educational support to enable them to build a better future.
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