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In August, our vocational training restaurant got back into the rhythm of the school year: 8 new apprentices (4 AFP and 4 CFC) joined our teams for the year 2024-2025. In total, 15 young people will be supported by 10 trainers and an integration coach for the coming school year. It's a special year, because in 2024, the Birdhouse is already celebrating its 5th anniversary.

The aim of the Graines de bitume association, one of our long-standing partners, is to keep children and teenagers off the streets and away from its dangers (assault, rape, alcohol, drugs, prostitution, etc.), particularly in the Anosibe district of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. With the increasing number of young people in street situations, it is important to talk about the ones who have managed to get off the streets thanks to the support they received. The stories of Nirina and Mampionona.

The school Notre-Dame du Bon Pasteur in Hammana is located in the mountainous region of Mount Lebanon, 25 km from Beirut. It has 346 pupils from various backgrounds and religions, including Druze, Christian and Muslim. These students are supported by professionals throughout their schooling. Particular attention is paid to young girls growing up in a society that may consider them inferior. But what difficulties do these young people face along the way? Meet the professionals who support them every day!

Nyalla, a district of Douala, is home to many young girls from rural and disadvantaged areas who do not live with their families. Because of their isolation and lack of resources, many of them end up in street situations. There is an increased risk of prostitution, whether forced or out of spite, exposing them to numerous dangers such as trauma, unwanted pregnancy and disease. To address this issue, we are working with our partner Chaîne des foyers Saint-Nicodème (CFSN) to support young girls living on the streets through the New-Bell day centre and the Arts and Style vocational training centre. Through these two facilities, they are supported until they become socially and financially independent.

The International Day of the African Child on 16 June commemorates the movement of children in Soweto, South Africa, under the Apartheid regime in 1976, who were murdered while demonstrating for their right to education. Since then, it has been celebrated across the continent as a reminder of the importance of respecting the rights of all children. The month of June is often dedicated to children. Our partners organise various activities to raise awareness of the different issues faced by the children they support. Let's take a look back at the events organised by two of our partners in June 2024.

The years go by and never look the same at Birdhouse, our vocational training restaurant for young people who have dropped out of school, based in Geneva. The 5th school year is already coming to an end this July, with the exam session for the AFP and CFC apprentices. We are proud to count 4 new graduates for the school year 2023-2024, a 100% success rate! Since the project began in 2019, we have 18 young graduates.

To mark International Day for Street Children (12 April), two children who have lived on the streets of Madagascar came to Geneva to talk about their experiences at the United Nations. The two children spoke at the Human Rights Council's annual Day on the Rights of the Child, which focused on inclusive social protection. Ronaldo and Marie Elia, 13, tell the story of this extraordinary adventure.