WAR CHILD

30 wars are raging in the world. There are more than 300,000 child soldiers. Many of these wars go unreported, often due to political expediency or lack of interest. More than 2 million children have died in the last decade. 90% of the casualties of war are civilians - mainly women and children. 12 million children have been left homeless due to war. 10 million children have been psychologically traumatized by war.

War Child was founded in 1993 by British filmmakers Bill Leeson and David Wilson, when they returned from filming in the war in former Yugoslavia. In 1993 the first War Child convoy with equipment, and food to run a mobile bakery travelled to former Yugoslavia. War Child Netherlands was founded in 1994 by Willemijn Verloop, when she met Music Therapist Nigel Osborne and the two War Child UK founders in Bosnia. War Child Canada was founded in 1998 by Samantha Nutt and Eric Hoskins. Since that time War Child has expanded their field of operations to include some of the other thirty wars and conflicts that are currently affecting millions of children around our planet. War Child still continues to use the enormous support it receives from the media, music and entertainment industries to raise, not only much needed funds, but also public awareness of the daily struggle for survival facing children in war zones. With famous artists like Brian Eno, David Bowie, Our Lady Peace, Luciano Pavarotti and Tom Stoppard backing the War Child cause at the start-up of the organization. Events like Little Pieces from Big Stars and Pagan Fun Wear and in 1995 the record-breaking release of The Help Album made it possible for War Child to start projects in the former Yugoslavia.

Since 1993 many other famous artists like Paul McCartney, Oasis, Radiohead, David Bowie, U2, Anton Corbijn, Tega and Sara, Eric Clapton, Marco Borsato, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Avril Lavigne, Sum 41, and many others have joined the War Child cause. In 2005, to mark the 10th anniversary of The Help Album, War Child UK launched Help: a Day in the Life. In addition to Radiohead and Manic Street Preachers, the new album features artists such as Coldplay, Bloc Party, Gorillaz, Elbow, Feeder and Kaiser Chiefs, along with Keane who are current patrons of War Child UK.

There are three implementing offices of War Child: War Child Canada, War Child Netherlands, and War Child UK. The implementing offices share the same aims and goals, but work autonomously, with independent trustees and financial coordination.

War Child Canada provides humanitarian assistance in emergency situations and implements long term programs to provide children and youth with the opportunity to grow to their full potential through education, skills training, trauma healing and by taking an active role in the reconstruction of their communities. War Child Canada currently works in Afghanistan; Democratic Republic of Congo; Ethiopia; Iraq; Liberia/Ghana; Sri Lanka; Sudan; and Uganda.

War Child Netherlands, is the largest War Child Office with a yearly budget of around 7,5 million Euro, which has specialised in helping the psychosocial needs of children who have suffered from war and/or conflict situations, by means of a special methodology by using creative arts. Today, War Child Netherlands employs around 500 field staff. With support from the Head Office in Amsterdam, War Child Netherlands reaches around 650,000 children per year in 14 countries affected by armed conflict.

War Child Netherlands invests in the peaceful future of children affected by war. War Child’s goal is the empowerment of children in war-affected areas, through:

• The establishment and implementation of psychosocial programmes in which creative and sports activities are used to reinforce the psychological and social development and the welfare of the children;
• The establishment and implementation of creative and sports programmes that are aimed at uniting children who have been driven apart because of war, in order to contribute to a peaceful society;
• The creation of public awareness of the problems of children in (former) war zones and the generation of support for these children.

Through music- creative- and sports activities children learn to express their emotions. This helps them to deal with war experiences and stimulates their personal development and respect for one another. By learning to play again children are able to escape the difficulties of their daily lives for a while. In 2005 War Child Holland introduced a new measurement system for the programmes in 14 countries. In the first results it was shown that the projects reach more than 650,000 children worldwide.

War Child Netherlands currently works in Afghanistan; Chechnya/Ingushetia; Colombia; Democratic Republic of Congo; Israel/the Palestinian territories; Georgia; Kosovo; Sierra Leone; Sudan; and Uganda. It also has special projects for refugees in The Netherlands.

War Child UK exists to:

• Support and rehabilitate child victims of war.
• Address the on-going consequences of conflict on children.

War Child UK does this by:

• Working with local communities, their organisations and local authorities in both conflict and post-conflict areas to support children and the people they depend upon.
• Ensuring sustainable security for children.
• Promoting child supportive livelihood opportunities.
• Addressing the developmental needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised children.

War Child UK currently works in Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina

War Child UK also operates a music download site called War Child Music as an awareness raising and fundraising tool.

War Child keeps fighting for children long after the war has finished, trying to ensure that children who have witnessed what should never be seen - murder, violence, rape - have all they need to begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.

So don't turn your back, help in whatever way you can!

www.warchild.org