How we’re improving health through behaviour changes
October 31, 2019
New hygiene and sanitation practices are improving conditions in a rural Ethiopian
Our projects
We work in Africa, Asia and The Americas helping children access the education and resources to dream big
Projects in Africa
Projects in Africa
We’re based in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia & Ghana
Many parents in rural Burkina Faso don’t understand the importance of engaging with their children and nurturing their development. That’s why Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (now Children Believe) trained parents to take a more active role in their child’s development (age zero to six). As a result, a new full-equipped early-childhood development centre has been built and 15 groups — including three men’s groups — have been formed to promote a Learning-Through-Play methodology to nurture child development. Some 2,000 children have been positively impacted by the project. Building on the success of Promoting Holistic Development of Children Through Parental Education, we worked with ChildFund Korea to introduce the Child Booster project. It will use mobile clinics to carry medical equipment to remote areas to improve access to healthcare in collaboration with local health centres.
Funding partners: World Food Programme & ChildFund Korea
Many children in Burkina Faso, who don’t have their basic needs met, leave school to work in dangerous gold mines, jeopardizing their future. Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (now Children Believe), along with like-minded partners, Spain-based EDUCO and locally based Tabiltal Lobal, addressed the issue in four municipalities. Local-watch committees have been formed in each municipality, where more than 2,100 children have been reached in awareness-raising campaigns, more than 60 children have been enrolled at a vocational training centre and nearly 180 children have returned to school.
Funding partner: European Union
The environmental conditions in Burkina Faso are difficult to endure. Imagine a seven- to nine-month drought season and a rainy season complete with violent storms and heavy rains, which often cause damage. That’s why Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (now Children Believe) worked with its local partner EE/SIM to train youth, women and community-based organizations on climate change and how to prepare for environmental disasters and build resiliency.
Nearly 70 percent of girls in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso enter into early, forced marriages, according to the Burkina Faso government. That’s why Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (now Children Believe) worked with EE/SIM, a local partner in this region, to prevent early marriages as well as the kidnapping of girls for matrimony. Through the project, 3,000 children, including 2,000 girls, were reached and became involved in awareness-raising campaigns in their communities and on local radio. Now, community leaders are strengthening awareness about the issue and empowering children and youth to realize their basic rights.
The Canada-Africa Initiative to Address Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality is a partnership among four Canadian organizations — Amref Health Africa, Children Believe, Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and WaterAid Canada. With support of $24.9 million from the Government of Canada (85 percent of the total project budget), this four-year project (2016 to 2020) aims to directly reach 1.7-million women, children and men across 20 districts in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. The partners are working together with African communities to improve the delivery of essential health services to moms, pregnant women, newborns and children under the age of five; increase the use of these improved health services; and improve the consumption of nutritious foods and supplements.
Children Believe is implementing the project in Oromia Administrative Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia, where it’s impacting more than 400,000 people. We’re working closely with regional government health departments as well as women and child affairs offices to plan, implement and monitor the success of the project.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Initiative Canada-Afrique visant à remédier la mortalité maternelle, néonatale et infantile L’Initiative Canada-Afrique pour lutter contre la mortalité maternelle, néonatale et infantile vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle, néonatale et infantile dans certaines communautés en Éthiopie, au Kenya, au Malawi et en Tanzanie. Cela implique une approche intégrée axée sur l’amélioration des services de santé, de nutrition, d’eau, d’assainissement et d’hygiène. Le Gouvernement du Canada participe au financement de ce projet à la hauteur de 24,9 millions de dollars canadiens, et ce sur une période de quatre ans. Cette initiative est mise en œuvre par le biais d’un consortium dirigé par Amref Health Africa en partenariat avec Children Believe, Hospital for Sick Children à Toronto et WaterAid Canada.
Children Believe est en train de réalisé le projet dans Oromia, la zone administrative d’Amhara, l’État régional national en Éthiopie. Celle-ci impact plus de 400 000 personnes. Nous travaillons en collaboration étroite avec les départements de la santé des gouvernements régionaux ainsi que les bureaux des affaires des femmes et des enfants pour planifier, mettre en œuvre et contrôler le succès du projet.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
The Lead for Education Achievement and Progress (LEAP) project improved early childhood education, addressed gaps in quality primary-school education and promoted access to education for orphaned and vulnerable children. As a result, 19 early childhood care and education centres were built and 40 were renovated. More specifically, 76 centres were equipped with adequate water supplies, latrines as well as indoor and outdoor playing and learning materials. LEAP reached 244,450 people, including 140,036 children, in three districts in Ethiopia.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
In Ethiopia, most of the approximately 11-million children under the age of three don’t receive proper care, resulting in about 44 percent of children being stunted and 29 percent being underweight, reports the Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency. The Saving Brains project encouraged parents to protect and nurture early brain development during prenatal and early childhood periods through the distribution of calendars plotting a child’s development and educational videos, which support the Learning-Through-Play methodology. Through Learning Through Play, parents were encouraged to build toys to encourage positive interactions. The project improved the health, physical, cognitive, linguistic and socio-emotional development of 3,000 children, aged zero to three in 2,500 households in Ethiopia.
Funding partner: Grand Challenges Canada
Promoting the value of giving birth in health facilities with professionals — that was a goal of the Improving Maternal and Child Health: Partnership and Action for Community Transformation project in Ethiopia. It reached more than 120,000 women and children at more than 70 health facilities. As a result, skilled professionals delivered more than 20,700 babies safely, and 14 health centres and 59 health posts received medical equipment. Now women, men, families and communities understand the value of giving birth with help from trained professionals.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
The $7.7-million Promoting Maternal, Newborn, Infant and Child Sustainable Health Efforts (PROMISE) initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality in Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda through an integrated approach focusing on health-service delivery and utilization as well as improved nutrition. It promotes respectful and supportive maternity care as well as mother and baby-friendly environments. It also fosters engagement by fathers and ensures supportive supervision for new mothers. The initiative is being implemented through a consortium led by Children Believe in partnership with ADRA Canada and Emmanuel International Canada.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Promouvoir les efforts de santé durables pour la mère, le nouveau-né, et l’enfant L’initiative durable de promotion de la santé maternelle, néonatale, infantile et enfant (PROMISE) de 7,7 millions de dollars vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle et infantile au Ghana, au Malawi et au Rwanda grâce à une approche intégrée axée sur la prestation et l’utilisation des services de santé ainsi que sur une meilleure nutrition. Elle favorise des soins de maternité respectueux et favorables, ainsi que des environnements amicaux et familiaux. Elle favorise également l’engagement des pères et assure une supervision de soutien pour les nouvelles mères. L’initiative est mise en œuvre par le biais d’un consortium dirigé par Children Believe en partenariat avec ADRA Canada et Emmanuel International Canada.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
In rural Ghana, bicycles are an affordable way to get around. Sadly, they’re a luxury in rural communities where children need them to travel to school, which is usually far away. This leads to illiteracy due to high dropout rates and lower school attendance. This project provided 275 schoolchildren in the Northern Region of Ghana with bicycles. The gifts are making it easier for students to get to school on time, and it’s reducing the dropout rate.
Funding partner: ChildFund Korea
The Accelerating Communities’ Capacities for Essential Services and Self-reliance (ACCESS) project was delivered to speed access to clean water and education while also improving sanitation/hygiene, nutrition and livelihood development, especially for women and girls in two communities in the Northern Region of Ghana. More specifically, inadequate schools were improved with the addition of new classrooms; a solar-powered borehole was also built and 50 farmers were trained in dry-season gardening. The project directly benefited more than 1,500 people, including more than 1,000 children.
Funding partner: ChildFund Korea
In Ghana, access to Free Compulsory Basic Education is a constitutional right. Yet, many Ghanaian children from rural communities don’t attend school due to the cost, failing infrastructure and other challenges — instead many work. That’s why the Transforming Destiny project (TRADE) rescued four children from child labour. Now, they’re enrolled in school and have school uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, pens/pencils, school bags and bicycles to ride to school. The students’ caregivers also have capital and equipment to start and expand their businesses so they can support the children’s education.
Funding partner: ChildFund Korea
During this project, four districts in the Northern Region of Ghana benefited from open discussion about child-protection issues — such as gender-based violence and child marriage. In fact, more than 900 students and members of approximately 20 clubs led peer discussions about the importance of reporting cases of discrimination, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, especially among girls. Meanwhile, more than 4,600 adults, including 115 community leaders from more than 20 communities, were involved in similar conversations. As a result, child marriages are being prevented and at least one school has set up a taskforce of high-school graduates to monitor child safety.
Funding partner: Unicef
The $7.7-million Promoting Maternal, Newborn, Infant and Child Sustainable Health Efforts (PROMISE) initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality in Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda through an integrated approach focusing on health-service delivery and utilization as well as improved nutrition. It promotes respectful and supportive maternity care as well as mother and baby-friendly environments. It also fosters engagement by fathers and ensures supportive supervision for new mothers. The initiative is being implemented through a consortium led by Children Believe in partnership with ADRA Canada and Emmanuel International Canada.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Promouvoir les efforts de santé durables pour la mère, le nouveau-né, et l’enfant L’initiative durable de promotion de la santé maternelle, néonatale, infantile et enfant (PROMISE) de 7,7 millions de dollars vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle et infantile au Ghana, au Malawi et au Rwanda grâce à une approche intégrée axée sur la prestation et l’utilisation des services de santé ainsi que sur une meilleure nutrition. Elle favorise des soins de maternité respectueux et favorables, ainsi que des environnements amicaux et familiaux. Elle favorise également l’engagement des pères et assure une supervision de soutien pour les nouvelles mères. L’initiative est mise en œuvre par le biais d’un consortium dirigé par Children Believe en partenariat avec ADRA Canada et Emmanuel International Canada.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
The $7.7-million Promoting Maternal, Newborn, Infant and Child Sustainable Health Efforts (PROMISE) initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality in Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda through an integrated approach focusing on health-service delivery and utilization as well as improved nutrition. It promotes respectful and supportive maternity care as well as mother and baby-friendly environments. It also fosters engagement by fathers and ensures supportive supervision for new mothers. The initiative is being implemented through a consortium led by Children Believe in partnership with ADRA Canada and Emmanuel International Canada.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Promouvoir les efforts de santé durables pour la mère, le nouveau-né, et l’enfant L’initiative durable de promotion de la santé maternelle, néonatale, infantile et enfant (PROMISE) de 7,7 millions de dollars vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle et infantile au Ghana, au Malawi et au Rwanda grâce à une approche intégrée axée sur la prestation et l’utilisation des services de santé ainsi que sur une meilleure nutrition. Elle favorise des soins de maternité respectueux et favorables, ainsi que des environnements amicaux et familiaux. Elle favorise également l’engagement des pères et assure une supervision de soutien pour les nouvelles mères. L’initiative est mise en œuvre par le biais d’un consortium dirigé par Children Believe en partenariat avec ADRA Canada et Emmanuel International Canada.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
Projects in Asia
Projects in Asia
We’re based in India
We piloted a three-month project designed to shift the public’s mindset about child marriage. It united 72 civil-society organizations and seven government departments in three states in India to spread awareness about the issue to more than 1.2-million people. The anecdotal evidence shows we helped prevent 173 child marriages during the campaign. Moreover, 141 villages and 127 schools took oaths to create child marriage-free villages.
Violence against children is an ongoing issue in India. And, although this generation comprises a large percentage of the country’s population, they are often left out of conversations about their safety. Through this project, children and youth learned how to advocate for their rights by understanding the legal structure and applying what they learned.
Since the project began, the government has trained more than 250 of its teachers and 2,560+ children on child rights and protection. And, children and youth have successfully advocated that suggestion boxes (to voice safety concerns), be placed in more than 15 government schools and nearly 50 municipalities.
Specialized children and youth clubs form to discuss issues pertinent to their development. Working with community members, they address issues such as child marriages, child labour and long-term employment. Some groups access local resources to improve gender equality and education through skills-training.
Projects in South/Central America
Projects in South/Central America
We’re based in Nicaragua and Paraguay
- In Nicaragua
- In Paraguay
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Guatemala
- Mexico
The $7.3-million EMPUJE (Youth Employability: Closing the Gender Gap in Youth Employment in Nicaragua) initiative is a four-year project designed to improve the well-being of 12,000 youth (60 percent women) in six provinces of Nicaragua.
Children Believe is leading the project in partnership with local partners and government.
The project aims to boost life skills and soft skills among youth, so they can: identify, gain and retain employment; gain awareness of gender equality in accessing and identifying non-exploitative job opportunities; improve opportunities in engaging youth, especially women, in dialogue and consultations with potential employers and/or employment services; and improve access to skill-training.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
Children Believe is leading a $15.2-million regional project in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, designed to improve the well-being of children and youth who are at risk of irregular migration. The Government of Canada is contributing $12.6 million to the four-year project. The initiative addresses a number of the root causes that fuel irregular migration — from high levels of crime and violence, limited employment and educational opportunities, to social exclusion and a lack of information on the inherent dangers of migrating without following the normal immigration procedures. For this project, Children Believe is partnering with two non-governmental organizations: ChildFund International-USA and Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Prévenir la migration irrégulière des enfants en Amérique centrale (PICMCA) Children Believe est responsable d’un projet régional de 15,2 millions de dollars canadiens au Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexique et Nicaragua, visant à améliorer le bien-être des enfants et des jeunes qui sont à risque de migrations irrégulières. Le Gouvernement du Canada participe au financement de ce projet à la hauteur de 12,6 millions de dollars canadiens, et ce sur une période de quatre ans. L’initiative s’attaque à un certain nombre de causes profondes qui engendrent la migration irrégulière des enfants : niveaux élevés de criminalité et de violence; opportunités d’emploi et d’éducation limités; exclusion sociale; et, un manque d’information sur les dangers inhérents à la migration irrégulière, c’est-à-dire, hors des procédures normales d’immigration. Pour la mise en œuvre de ce projet, Children Believe’s associe aux organismes non gouvernementaux ChildFund International-États-Unis et Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
All children deserve access to education. That’s what the government of Nicaragua believes and what Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (now Children Believe) improved through the construction or renovation of three classrooms in an early childhood development centre. The facility was in urgent need of toilets, running water, ventilation, lighting and play areas to create safe spaces for children between the ages of three and six to learn and thrive. Thanks to funding from Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, and in collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Education, the updated classrooms feature running water, proper toilets, better ventilation, lighting, a better playground as well as chairs, tables, games and other school supplies. More than 200 adults (including parents) and 15 teachers were also trained in child protection, so the renovated spaces remain safe for the 150 children they support.
Funding partner: Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
A 2015 evaluation of our Remansito program uncovered that just five percent of mothers of children aged zero to five felt they lived in a safe and healthy environment. So, we worked with 1,000+ children, youth and adults to create 100 educational kits for community leaders to reflect and inform others about local issues. There was discussion about safety (to prevent abuse), hygiene, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy and good nutrition. In 2017, our end-line evaluation showed a nine percent improvement in how mothers felt about the health and safety of their community. And, the results are expected to continue as the initiative continues in local schools.
Children Believe is leading a $15.2-million regional project in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, designed to improve the well-being of children and youth who are at risk of irregular migration. The Government of Canada is contributing $12.6 million to the four-year project. The initiative addresses a number of the root causes that fuel irregular migration — from high levels of crime and violence, limited employment and educational opportunities, to social exclusion and a lack of information on the inherent dangers of migrating without following the normal immigration procedures. For this project, Children Believe is partnering with two non-governmental organizations: ChildFund International-USA and Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Prévenir la migration irrégulière des enfants en Amérique centrale (PICMCA) Children Believe est responsable d’un projet régional de 15,2 millions de dollars canadiens au Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexique et Nicaragua, visant à améliorer le bien-être des enfants et des jeunes qui sont à risque de migrations irrégulières. Le Gouvernement du Canada participe au financement de ce projet à la hauteur de 12,6 millions de dollars canadiens, et ce sur une période de quatre ans. L’initiative s’attaque à un certain nombre de causes profondes qui engendrent la migration irrégulière des enfants : niveaux élevés de criminalité et de violence; opportunités d’emploi et d’éducation limités; exclusion sociale; et, un manque d’information sur les dangers inhérents à la migration irrégulière, c’est-à-dire, hors des procédures normales d’immigration. Pour la mise en œuvre de ce projet, Children Believe’s associe aux organismes non gouvernementaux ChildFund International-États-Unis et Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
Children Believe is leading a $15.2-million regional project in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, designed to improve the well-being of children and youth who are at risk of irregular migration. The Government of Canada is contributing $12.6 million to the four-year project. The initiative addresses a number of the root causes that fuel irregular migration — from high levels of crime and violence, limited employment and educational opportunities, to social exclusion and a lack of information on the inherent dangers of migrating without following the normal immigration procedures. For this project, Children Believe is partnering with two non-governmental organizations: ChildFund International-USA and Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Prévenir la migration irrégulière des enfants en Amérique centrale (PICMCA) Children Believe est responsable d’un projet régional de 15,2 millions de dollars canadiens au Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexique et Nicaragua, visant à améliorer le bien-être des enfants et des jeunes qui sont à risque de migrations irrégulières. Le Gouvernement du Canada participe au financement de ce projet à la hauteur de 12,6 millions de dollars canadiens, et ce sur une période de quatre ans. L’initiative s’attaque à un certain nombre de causes profondes qui engendrent la migration irrégulière des enfants : niveaux élevés de criminalité et de violence; opportunités d’emploi et d’éducation limités; exclusion sociale; et, un manque d’information sur les dangers inhérents à la migration irrégulière, c’est-à-dire, hors des procédures normales d’immigration. Pour la mise en œuvre de ce projet, Children Believe’s associe aux organismes non gouvernementaux ChildFund International-États-Unis et Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
Children Believe is leading a $15.2-million regional project in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, designed to improve the well-being of children and youth who are at risk of irregular migration. The Government of Canada is contributing $12.6 million to the four-year project. The initiative addresses a number of the root causes that fuel irregular migration — from high levels of crime and violence, limited employment and educational opportunities, to social exclusion and a lack of information on the inherent dangers of migrating without following the normal immigration procedures. For this project, Children Believe is partnering with two non-governmental organizations: ChildFund International-USA and Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Prévenir la migration irrégulière des enfants en Amérique centrale (PICMCA) Children Believe est responsable d’un projet régional de 15,2 millions de dollars canadiens au Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexique et Nicaragua, visant à améliorer le bien-être des enfants et des jeunes qui sont à risque de migrations irrégulières. Le Gouvernement du Canada participe au financement de ce projet à la hauteur de 12,6 millions de dollars canadiens, et ce sur une période de quatre ans. L’initiative s’attaque à un certain nombre de causes profondes qui engendrent la migration irrégulière des enfants : niveaux élevés de criminalité et de violence; opportunités d’emploi et d’éducation limités; exclusion sociale; et, un manque d’information sur les dangers inhérents à la migration irrégulière, c’est-à-dire, hors des procédures normales d’immigration. Pour la mise en œuvre de ce projet, Children Believe’s associe aux organismes non gouvernementaux ChildFund International-États-Unis et Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
Children Believe is leading a $15.2-million regional project in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, designed to improve the well-being of children and youth who are at risk of irregular migration. The Government of Canada is contributing $12.6 million to the four-year project. The initiative addresses a number of the root causes that fuel irregular migration — from high levels of crime and violence, limited employment and educational opportunities, to social exclusion and a lack of information on the inherent dangers of migrating without following the normal immigration procedures. For this project, Children Believe is partnering with two non-governmental organizations: ChildFund International-USA and Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
French translation
Prévenir la migration irrégulière des enfants en Amérique centrale (PICMCA) Children Believe est responsable d’un projet régional de 15,2 millions de dollars canadiens au Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexique et Nicaragua, visant à améliorer le bien-être des enfants et des jeunes qui sont à risque de migrations irrégulières. Le Gouvernement du Canada participe au financement de ce projet à la hauteur de 12,6 millions de dollars canadiens, et ce sur une période de quatre ans. L’initiative s’attaque à un certain nombre de causes profondes qui engendrent la migration irrégulière des enfants : niveaux élevés de criminalité et de violence; opportunités d’emploi et d’éducation limités; exclusion sociale; et, un manque d’information sur les dangers inhérents à la migration irrégulière, c’est-à-dire, hors des procédures normales d’immigration. Pour la mise en œuvre de ce projet, Children Believe’s associe aux organismes non gouvernementaux ChildFund International-États-Unis et Educo.
Funding partner: Global Affairs Canada
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