Save The Children Launches Project

To Help Street Kids Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 2, 2012 (SL Times) – Save the Children launched a new program to help homeless children. A ceremony to mark the occasion was held at Mansoor Hotel on May 24. The ceremony was attended by the chairman of Somaliland Supreme Court , the minister of resettlement, legislators, the Director of humanitarian assistance in the Presidency, the deputy head of the custodial forces, representatives from the ministry of justice, labor and community affairs, human rights organization, the director of the Mohammed Moge center for the rehabilitation of street children, and some street children. The ceremony’s program was opened by the Director of humanitarian assistance at Somaliland presidency Amina Mohamud who spoke on behalf of Somaliland’s first lady. Amina Mohamud emphasized the importance of this project and how the government has both short-term and long-term plans for improving the situation of children, especially those in dire need such as homeless children. She conveyed the first lady’s congratulations to Save the Children and stressed the first lady’s commitment to assisting children. She also reminded other government departments to work with Save the Children. Mr. Eric Kitsa, the head of child protection gave some details about the project whose formal name is Strengthening Community Based Responses for Improving Care and Protection of Vulnerable Children in Somaliland (SCORE). Mr Kista said the purpose of the project is to help street children and children from low income families who live in such neighborhoods as Dami and State House. Mr Kista also revealed that the genesis of the idea for the project and its content were based on information provided by homeless children and children who work in the market. That information had to do with the problems that plague street children and how they could be helped. Some of these children who helped in launching the program were Farah Muhyaddin (6 yrs old), Muhayadin Khadar (13 years old) and Hassan (15 yrs old). The head of Save the Children, Mohamoud Muhammad Hassan, also spoke on the occasion. He said Save the Children is dedicated to helping children and that it operates in 120 countries. He disclosed that the program was funded through Danish TV Collection. The Director of Mohammad Moge homeless children Center, Lul Hasan Matan addressed the audience and spoke of the urgency for helping needy children. The other speakers included legislators Abdiqadir (Indho-Indho), Sanweyne, Na’na’, Ibrahim Ka’an, the Deputy Head of the Custodial Corps, Hassan Ali Dheere, the Minister of Resettlement, Abdirizaq, and the Chairman of Somaliland Supreme Court, Dr. Yusuf Isma’il Ali. Towards the end of the ceremony, Save the Children announced that it will donate a vehicle to the homeless children Center. Children from Hargeysa’s Orphanage Center performed very sad songs that highlighted the troubles of homeless children and touched the hearts of the audience. The project will go on for two years (2012-2013).