Kindergartens for Vulnerable Children in Darfur

A message from Kids for Kids Founder, Patricia:

When I first began visiting Darfur I saw little children, no more than three or four years old, tied with rope to their family's huts. I was aghast. I could not think of any reason for why children would be put in such dangerous situations by their own mothers.

Speaking to mothers, I could tell they loved their children so much, but saw no other option. When children are young, a mother can tie her baby with cloth to her body as she travels the four or five hours walk to fetch water. But as the child gets older she cannot manage a heavy infant and the jerrycans she must carry - her family's only supply of water for the day.   What could they do? There was no chance of a neighbour watching their children as everyone in Darfur is carrying out the same chores, walking hours to fetch water, tending livestock, and keeping their own children safe.  Mothers do not want their two and three-year old's crawling off, so they will tie their children to their huts, keeping them secure while they are gone fetching water. Can you imagine?

This absolutely had to be stopped. You may not know, but this is one of the reason's we started building Kindergartens.

Of course, there are many compelling reasons why children need to go to school early - in Darfur many cannot start until 9 or 10, or later.   Many mothers can only afford to send their eldest son to school.  If children start education late they have little chance of reaching their full potential.  Children grow up very early in Darfur with virtually no childhood as survival is something every member of a family has to help with, even little ones.  Not only do our Kids for Kids' Kindergartens provide an early education to children, but mothers are no longer forced to tie their children to huts to stop them wandering into the desert.  Mothers can go about their daily chores knowing not only are their children safe, but they are learning, and from the earliest age possible.  They are on the path out of poverty.

Please can you help us continue to build Kindergartens, keeping children safe, and giving them the chance every child deserves at a better future? Tell your friends about this project and encourage them to donate. We have to build more schools as soon as possible.