World Vision rallies behind movement for Syria's children

World Vision, UNICEF, UNHCR, Save the Children and other agencies today united behind a call to governments, aid agencies and the public to champion the children of Syria by backing the “No Lost Generation” aid intervention.

The organisations are so concerned about the situation facing millions of Syrian children that they are uniting behind a call for donor and public support to fund critical education and protection programmes to lift Syrian children out of misery, isolation, and emotional and mental distress.“Millions of Syrian children are in dire need, out of school, living in extreme vulnerability and we need to stand with them,” says World Vision’s Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Conny Lenneberg.

“The world needs to do more to ensure we don’t lose a generation of children, with all the terrible long-term implications that could bring.”The “No Lost Generation” strategy is being publically unveiled one week ahead of a major donor pledging conference in Kuwait. World Vision is backing the “No Lost Generation” initiative with its Stand With Me campaign – that spotlights the challenges facing children.

Additionally, a major public engagement campaign under the hashtag #childrenofsyria is being launched, using social media to enlist influential supporters and public contributors in the run up to the third-year anniversary of the conflict in March. A special website has been established at www.championthechildrenofsyria.org that tells the stories of children affected by the conflict, and show the importance of investments in children for the longer-term future of Syria and the wider region.“We are happy to see that the European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) is a supporter of the Champion the Children of Syria website,” says World Vision Brussels and EU Representation Director of Advocacy and Justice for Children, Deirdre deBurca.

“As the EU and its Member States is the largest donor in the region, they must continue these efforts. Without strengthened international support Syria’s children may never recover.”Over one million Syrian refugees are children, of which more than 425,000 are aged under five. The situation for over three million displaced children inside Syria is even more dire. “It’s critical that we remember the children at the heart of this crisis and refocus our energies by standing with them,” continues Ms deBurca. 

Under the “No Lost Generation” strategy, World Vision, UNHCR, UNICEF, Save the Children and other partners across the region will channel a targeted $1 billion into programmes that, in partnership with governments and local communities, deliver safe education, protection from exploitation, abuse and violence, psychological care and support and offer more opportunities for social cohesion and stability in an already volatile region.

The initiative will also scale up access to quality education, through formal and non-formal approaches, including introducing curricula for children who have been out of school and creating safe environments that reduce children’s exposure to further risks.