ETHIOPIA

STEP FOR LIFE

Pernilla Essebro in Jijiga, Ethiopia

www.stepforlife.net

Read more about the Step for Life programme

SUDAN

ETHIOPIA

The new classroom in Jijiga. The project consultant, Peter Njuguna is standing in front of the classroom

These children will be integrated into the ordinary primary school administration and timetable. The hope is that some of the children, who are able, will learn some basic thing like writing and reading. This is the first such classroom of its kind in the Somali Region. This means that the PTA at the school will accommodate parents of these children. These children need someone to speak their case in the school and in the society. We hope it will be expanded to other schools as well.

SWEDEN

IK Livsnerven runners joined their last relay runner into to the finishing line

IK Livsnerven had four team in the event, 10 people in each team, a total of 40 people running and fundraising for water in Africa!

The picture and logo used in the campaign

The theme was 'Idrott, Hälsa, Vatten' (the english brand is Walk for Water). In co-operation with Vasaloppet, a water exhibition was held. A drilling rig was used to illustrate IAS' work in providing clean drinking water in Africa. 3000 people participated in the event and at least 1000 of them where given a water bottle at the finishing line. The bottles had an IAS designed label with information on how to donate to IAS' work.

For further information go to,
Vasaloppet website or IK Livsnerven website

In this get-together, a total of 41 staff from the different countries had opportunity to interact and get to know one another in an informal setting. The retreat was also combined with daily teachings on organisational development and Biblical worldview facilitated by two external consultants - CORAT-AFRICA and Stephen Langa respectively.

Other than bringing IAS staff together, the retreat was very useful in enabling the organisation to develop and strengthen organizational identity and inter-country relationships. At the end of the retreat, the common sentiments among the participants was how much they enjoyed getting to meet new people and the need for such retreats to be organized on a regular basis.

The projects objective is to create greater understanding and improve the education-possibilities for these children through involvement, information, advocacy activities and capacity-building. Furthermore the project seeks to strengthen Somali Association for Special Education's (SASE) popular foundation and capacity, as well as to establish and support 2 regional branches of the organisation.

Through this SASE will improve their possibilities to perform involving and advocate work and herby increase information and awareness on children's rights and prospects at a local as well as a national level. Furthermore to teach, support and create networks for families in Somaliland with handicapped children.

By developing Hargeisa School for Special Needs to a national resource centre, SASE will be able to support the children in the area and give them the possibility to receive an education.

A new project stage has recently been approved and has received DKK 1,448,000 from Danidas Mini-Project Fund.

NUBA MOUNTAINS, March 29, 2008 - In the heart of Sudan surrounded by luscious mountains lies an area characterized by two discrepancies; breathtakingly beauties and overwhelmingly tragic history. The area is one of the most marginalized areas in Sudan and has been severely affected by the civil war. Furthermore, what used to be an area of religious tolerance has deteriorated in the last few decades to an area of uttermost intolerance and deprivation of basic human rights. The true history of the area has gone lost.

The launch of Nuba Christian Development Organization (NCDO)

The launch of Nuba Christian Development Organization (NCDO)

But, there is a new wind sweeping across the land; a wind of refreshment; a wind of new opportunities; a wind of hope. In 2002, IAS gained access to the area following a regional ceasefire agreement. It was the first agency on ground and initiated a large scale water intervention focusing on provision of safe, clean drinking water through drilling of boreholes. By then, the drilling was done by four committed Kenyan staff utilizing one drilling unit. Today, IAS has three operational drilling units and all are managed by local Nubians. Development has reached the mountains.

Tima Nursery school

In March 2008, a defining moment took place in Nuba Mountains; Nuba Christian Development Organization (NCDO) was officially launched. The organization is focusing on water, education and community development work and was formed in 2006 by experienced IAS staff. The launching marks the beginning of a new era; an era in which Sudanese people takes the lead in developing their own nation; an era of new opportunities; an era of hope for the future.

Note - IAS is continually striving towards building local capacity in all interventions and to date 5 fully operational local NGOs have been formed by IAS senior staff. NCDO is one of them. Other partners include governmental line ministries, churches, community based groups and other local NGOs sharing the same vision as IAS.

Photo: David Darg

Still reports keeps coming in about burning of properties, looting and threats to evict people. The tension is very high where the warring parties live just next to each others and this is where IAS has chosen to focus its relief intervention.

IAS has targeted 5 locations in Nakuru District where the presence of other agencies are minimal or non existing and where many displaced people have sought refuge with family, friends or people from the same tribe. The partners that IAS works together with in Nakuru are FPFK (Free Pentecostal Fellowship of Kenya), KIPC (Kenya Institute for Professional Counsellors), humedica and KRC (Kenya Red Cross).

Together with Soweto Baptist Church IAS is also targeting 10 women lead families in the slum of Kibera that has lost everything house, clothes, furniture, toys, utensils. The total no. of families IAS is targeting in Kibera and Nakuru District are 494 which are approximately 3,000 people. These people will be supported with food for 2 months, blankets, mattresses, clothes, utensils, reconstruction of houses and medical treatment.

Besides this IAS together with KIPC will train 100 LCTC (Lay Christian Trauma Counsellors) to assist in the healing and reconciliation of Kenya. Keeping people alive is one very important task but unless we address the hurt and bitterness in people Kenya will never return to peace and unity but slide into homogeneous tribal areas. Without any intervention the endless number of trucks moving people out of Rift Valley will continue but the problem will not have been solved.

Latest, IAS has been offered a water purification system for free to stem the increase in waterborne diseases in the dense packed camps with IDP’s (Internal Displaced People).

Appeal

Though Kenya has left the front papers and the TV news updates the situation still calls for much to be done and IAS therefore appeals for support in:

- Training 1,000 counsellors in first aid trauma counselling (LCTC)
- Free medical camps for at least 2 more months in the target areas
- Food and non-food items to help people survive and start resettling
- Reconstruction of lost property and seeds for the farmers to plant

The supporters of the Nakuru Relief Intervention 2008 are:

- Danish Missions Council Development Department
- Operation Blessing
- Churches in Denmark
- UCB Africa
- Private well wishers

Link to videos done together with Operation Blessing in Nakuru

Link to article from David Darg “Everywhere you look people are migrating” on Reuters Alertnet

Read more about the project on www.stepforethiopia.se

No matter whether it is 10:00 am or 5:00 pm, this bore hole in Pader town has a que around it. (Photo: Julius Bitamazire)

IAS is running a water project in Pader District in 2008.

There is a need for emergency aid to Kenya (Photo: AlertNet)

From the Danish couple Soren and Birgitte Pedersen, Eldoret we received the following news:

- The embassy informed us that our house is located in a safe area and they do not find it necessary for us to evacuate at present. It is the region around Eldoret that is being ravaged and not where we live. We have done all we know to do to stay safe, and we should not be in danger. However, the number of deaths is far above the number that the medias come up with. No doubt about that.

The last time we went shopping was yesterday, and we do not know when will be the next time. But we are happy to still have electric current, water, internet and telephone.

IAS has worked in Somalia since 1992

Most of the displaced people headed to Lower and Middle Shabelle regions and in particular nearest safe heaven areas. The majority of the displaced are destitute women, elderly people and children who are in dire situation for humanitarian assistance.

Large number of IDPs from Mogadishu camped in squalid settlements in Afgoye corridor (along the road between Mogadishu and Afgoye) where they sought to get protection and assistance from aid agencies. The number of IDPs in Afgoye has dramatically increased due to the recent fierce violence in Mogadishu and this contributed to the worsening of the situation of the IDPs who were already suffering from humanitarian problems.

Access to basic social services in the IDPs is very limited hence increasing magnitude of the vulnerability. Most school age going children lack access to basic education facilities hence the appeal by IAS to UNICEF to join hands and save the lives of these children. UNICEF will fund the project for the next six months with a budget of USD 96,562. This includes both material and cash support.

Project title

Basic Education Programme: Education Emergency Response for Afgoye IDPs children.

Overall Objective

To revive and restore access to basic quality education for IDP children in Afgoye corridor IDPs through establishment of child-friendly temporary learning spaces, recruitment and training of qualified primary school teachers and establishment and sensitization of community education committee from the IDP community.

Specific Objectives

- Establish 10 tented temporary learning spaces and provide education materials for 2000 displaced school age children.

- Identify, recruit and provide rapid training to 40 displaced qualified primary school teachers and community education committees to strengthen effective school management and administration and sustainability of the learning spaces.

- Carry out enrolment campaigns, community awareness raising on importance of education and children’s rights in education in 10 target IDP camps along the Afgoye corridor.

Providing Special Needs Education

Providing Special Needs Education

The vision of the project is that high quality SNE for Somali children with special needs is delivered and monitored by the national Ministry of Education, which are in the appropriate institutions to ensure implementation of national education policy (or to ensure quality education in Somalia).

The four inter-related results anticipated from the project are:

- Improved management and coordination of the SNE Subsector.
- Increased availability of special needs educational facilities.
- An improved learning environment.
- Improved quality of relevance of education.

Providing water to people in need

Pader town and the main road