New Beginnings for Children Affected by Violence and Conflict

Implementing Partners: Save the Children Fund UK

Funding Period: November 2004 – May 2011

Amount: $2,756,086

Purpose: Protect children affected by armed conflict and violence from further harm and assist them in gaining safe access to family and government support and inclusion in the community

Objectives

• Improve family and community care and protection systems for children affected by violence and conflict, to improve their well-being and prevent unnecessary separation from their families
• Improve provincial and national systems for children without adequate family care and children involved in legal proceedings

Connecting Regional Economies (CORE) Program

Implementing Partners: AECOM International Development

Funding Period: February 2008 – March 2011

Amount: $1,800,000

Purpose: Establish conditions conducive to a political solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka, by fostering economic growth

Objective:

• Reach out to vulnerable populations (i .e., children affected by conflict) in less developed regions
• Build linkages between the center and the periphery to open lines of constructive communication and build economic ties between private sector actors ; and (3) improving the competitiveness of economic sectors while ensuring benefits to groups in conflict-affected and - strategic areas which have been traditionally neglected. Addressing inequities has political implications and will require sensitivity to the tangible and intangible sources of conflict

In Sri Lanka, USAID's Displaced Children and Orphans Fund works with Save the Children UK to develop alternatives to institutional care for children in Sri Lanka. The project also works with government and local organizations to improve networking and increase the understanding among these entities of referral systems for those working to assist children in need.

A major success witnessed by the project was the change in the attitudes and behavior of probation officers toward children at risk of separation. Probation officers who were not in favor of the family reunification program at the outset of the project have now realized its worth and are supportive of family reunification and family based care. They have even taken initiatives to prevent children from being institutionalized with support from Save UK staff. The Department of Probation and Child Care in the three project operational provinces have agreed to work closely with Save the Children in supporting prevention, reunification, and alternative care interventions. Thus, support to the program by relevant authorities at the central as well as provincial levels has improved radically.

In an effort to empower children and communities, the project has facilitated the formation of village committees to enhance and empower the community to proactively respond to child protection concerns. Additionally, the project has empowered children Theatre for Development programs. Through these programs, children are provided opportunities to voice issues that are important to them.

Building on its earlier and ongoing economic growth programs in Sri Lanka, USAID also funds the CORE program in Sri Lanka. CORE seeks to address the disparity in economic development between the North and East and the rest of Sri Lanka . This disparity is a major driver of Sri Lanka ' s ongoing ethnic conflict. CORE seeks to help establish conditions conducive to a political solution to the conflict by fostering economic growth that addressing regional and sociocultural inequities.

Learn more about the CORE program in Sri Lanka

See where CORE is working