We’re campaigning in seven countries to reduce the chance of children on the move having to live without family care. Here’s how.
Around the world, millions of children are living a life on the move. This includes children who leave home to access rights and opportunities elsewhere, as well as others who are forced into moving by situations such as conflict, climate change and natural disaster.
Unfortunately, research shows that a childhood on the move is also more likely to be a childhood without family care. Although some children leave the family environment voluntarily to find work or live independently, others become separated unexpectedly due to dangerous journeys, border policies and other factors. In both circumstances, family separation can have a damaging and traumatic impact on children, increasing exposure to both physical and psychological harm.
Our Childhood on the Move Initiative is tackling the root causes leading to family separation, and helping children who are already living alone access the opportunity of living in a family environment once again. In Nepal, for example, we’re visiting schools to educate children about the dangers of a life on the move, to prevent them joining the half a million children already estimated to have left home to find work in the streets. In Greece, we’re running an advertising campaign to attract potential foster parents to care for unaccompanied migrant children who have fled war and conflict.
Although each country’s situation is different, the Childhood on the Move Initiative is united in tackling family separation – because children should be able to grow up with adult care, wherever they are.
Learn more about our Childhood on the Move Initiative and the campaigns we’re running in each country at familyforeverychild.org/childhoodonthemove.
