Changing Lives by Child Protection Network Structures
Formed by World Vision South Sudan, the committees are changing the way people think about their lives and the possibilities for their children, said Walter Ochanda, Child Protection Officer of World Vision's integrated protection and education response for returnees, further enhanced protection for children and young people affected by emergencies and Warrap family tracing and reunification project in Warrap State.” It’s called protection. But it's more about responsiveness and it's well fitted to a fragile community," Ochanda commented.
"They deal with creating awareness among women, men and children about their children's protection rights, survival rights, development rights and participation rights, as well as reporting child abuse cases to the relevant authorities. The committees reflect a big cultural change. But that's OK as long as you are committed to it."
With child protection networks, World Vision South Sudan has helped set up 13 committees since January 2012, 4 in Gogrial West county and 4 in Gogrial East county; three in Tonj South county and two in Tonj East county (the centre of cattle raids and insecurity). Each serves up to 1,000 people in a payam. Interviewed in a village in Ngapagok,* the 12 elected members of the child protection committee – six men and six women – told how the projects had given them some control over their lives in an environment characterized by lawlessness, cattle raids and banditry. "The main aim has been the sensitization of people to know their rights and duties," said Machum, a community mobilizer and head of the committee.
"We can direct them to the appropriate services if a person or child has been a victim of abuse or crime." “People needed to have the knowledge and confidence to ask for help,” said Maria a committee member.
Cattle raids and displacement of population were among the main problems facing the committee, as well as insecurity and the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), they said. "When there are killings it is difficult to know who is responsible because there are so many armed cattle raiders," Machum commented. The struggles over water sources and grazing land disputes were another source of conflict.
Committee members said one of their biggest successes was in changing attitudes to displaced local people, who were often resented when they first arrived. By encouraging dialogue and resource sharing, newcomers had been successfully integrated and, for example, no longer faced attack when they went to fetch water.
"The committees taught me about my developmental rights as well as the value of education and I went back to school … Now I am studying English, mathematics, sciences and I want to get a good job," Nyibol said. Despite the challenges that confront committees, we relentlessly continue to volunteer to assist internally displaced local people and our children. Any assistance in the form of transport facilities such as bicycles or motor cycles from a benevolent agency would be the most logical support.
"They deal with creating awareness among women, men and children about their children's protection rights, survival rights, development rights and participation rights, as well as reporting child abuse cases to the relevant authorities. The committees reflect a big cultural change. But that's OK as long as you are committed to it."
With child protection networks, World Vision South Sudan has helped set up 13 committees since January 2012, 4 in Gogrial West county and 4 in Gogrial East county; three in Tonj South county and two in Tonj East county (the centre of cattle raids and insecurity). Each serves up to 1,000 people in a payam. Interviewed in a village in Ngapagok,* the 12 elected members of the child protection committee – six men and six women – told how the projects had given them some control over their lives in an environment characterized by lawlessness, cattle raids and banditry. "The main aim has been the sensitization of people to know their rights and duties," said Machum, a community mobilizer and head of the committee.
"We can direct them to the appropriate services if a person or child has been a victim of abuse or crime." “People needed to have the knowledge and confidence to ask for help,” said Maria a committee member.
Cattle raids and displacement of population were among the main problems facing the committee, as well as insecurity and the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), they said. "When there are killings it is difficult to know who is responsible because there are so many armed cattle raiders," Machum commented. The struggles over water sources and grazing land disputes were another source of conflict.
Committee members said one of their biggest successes was in changing attitudes to displaced local people, who were often resented when they first arrived. By encouraging dialogue and resource sharing, newcomers had been successfully integrated and, for example, no longer faced attack when they went to fetch water.
"The committees taught me about my developmental rights as well as the value of education and I went back to school … Now I am studying English, mathematics, sciences and I want to get a good job," Nyibol said. Despite the challenges that confront committees, we relentlessly continue to volunteer to assist internally displaced local people and our children. Any assistance in the form of transport facilities such as bicycles or motor cycles from a benevolent agency would be the most logical support.
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