Always committed to child protection and to the promotion of the fundamental rights of children – especially through the programme Houses of Smiles active in many countries around the world – today Cesvi Foundation intervenes also in support of the resilience process of vulnerable boys and girls, their parents and caregivers in Western Libya through educational and child protection services.
In fact, here Cesvi promotes quality non-formal education to out of school children – both in person and remotely due to COVID-19 – and remedial classes for children in need and at risk of drop-out. Creating safe, protective spaces and engaging learners in relevant education opportunities for children affected by the crisis is a necessary action to allow the child, the family and the whole community to recover, helping them to reduce the distressing effects caused by the crisis, providing a protective environment in which they continue their overall development and are able to learn and freely express themselves. Moreover, Cesvi offers protection services addressed to children and families in need, sensitises caregivers and community members on child protection and offers psychological support to the most vulnerable children.
All this takes place in the Baity Centres of Tripoli, Misrata and Zuwarah, which provide children with a safe space to recover from traumatic events, interact with each other and explore positive interaction with peers and adults, not only parents and caregivers, but also members of the community, who are invited to participate in this development process.
Last May – within the “PEERS: Protection Enabling Environment and Resilience Services” funded by the European Union (#EUTF4Africa) – Cesvi has organised a big mural event in the Baity Centre in Misrata involving children, families and members of the community and of CSOs to give a voice especially to the youngest, allowing them to unleash their imagination and to dream together about their future. During the event all participants have contributed by colouring, drawing, painting and having fun together to the realisation of a mural. More than 70 people participated to the event, co-funded by UNICEF, children, parents and caregivers, Cesvi staff and representatives of the community.
During the initiative, the children have been called to talk about themselves, to talk about their daily lives, their tastes and especially about their dreams and hopes for the future. Some want to become a doctor, some desire to help people, some want to build an orphanage for less fortunate children. Despite their difficult past and the complexity of their present, the children have demonstrated a strong positivity, resilience and willingness to look at their future with not only imagination, but also great concreteness. In the video Shaping the future we have collected their stories and the most significant moments of the initiative.