o much time is spent worrying about what children will become, yet we forget about what we can do for a child today. I love children, and believe that every child, no matter their circumstances, has the right to an education and to experience the joy of being a child! But millions of kids around the world have been forced to flee due to conflict, growing crises, and natural disasters. They are stripped not only of their childhood, but left to deal with trauma, fear, and uncertainty. Women and girls often pay an even higher price, being exposed to sexual violence, exploitation, the danger of sexual trafficking, early marriage, and other forms of gendered injustice.
My background is in international relations and peace and conflict studies. I spent years working at embassies and for the US Department of Defense fostering relations amongst nations. But I traded in peacebuilding with senior level diplomats and generals to teach children the foundational elements of peace, and the social and emotional skills they need to grow into emotionally intelligent adults.
But, protecting the fundamental rights of children to have access to quality holistic education is no easy feat. In humanitarian contexts, education receives less than 3% of humanitarian aid funding. Of that 3%, psychosocial support, early childhood development, and the more ‘fluffy’ subjects like social and emotional learning are at the bottom of the priority list. Understandably basic needs such as food, water, and shelter come first. But what about the emotional and physical health of women and children? Studies show that anxiety, depression, and other alignments of the mind can have profound impact on physical health in the long term.
The cost of inaction is tremendous. It leaves children exposed to a variety of security risks, potential for drug abuse to numb the pain, and the inevitable abyss of intergenerational trauma and violence.
Henceforth, I founded Amal Alliance, an international nonprofit NGO that aims to empower displaced and disenfranchised children by making an intentional effort so children can learn to heal by identifying, processing, and managing their emotions and feelings, whilst acquiring the social and emotional skills needed to succeed. These 21st century skills include empathy, effective communication, planning skills, responsible decision making, creativity, teamwork, environmental stewardship, global citizenship, and emotional regulation. Employers note these are among the most sought out skills, ensuring children are learning competencies that will enhance the odds of finding meaningful employment.
Invisible Sheroes
At Amal, we pride ourselves with making our programming adaptable to ensure it meets the needs of the communities. We train women from the refugee camps to be our classroom facilitators. We gather feedback from the parents, teachers, and children to ensure our content is culturally sensitive and conducive to their goals and aspirations. We elevate the voices of women and children by taking our concerns to international arenas such as the UN, so the invisible plight is not left behind.
While carrying out our mission, I’ve encountered numerous women, courageous sheroes. These women are at the forefront, fighting to make this world a better place. Yet, most play an invisible role with no spotlight or credit. These women include: the mother that fled Iraq while she was pregnant and traveled inside a barrel with her unborn child and 2 year old toddler for weeks on end until she reached safer ground, who gratefully kissed the ground that welcomed her despite having encountered tremendous xenophobia –to the mother that fled Haiti by boat, walked through the amazon in Brazil, and carried her baby throughout the entire migration path from Central America to Tijuana Mexico, who now found herself sharing a blanket with strangers in a shelter to survive the cold–to the NGO worker in Greece that attempts to assist an unaccompanied minor who lost her mother during their departure from Syria. These women are unsung sheroes, fighting for a better life. In a society still filled with gender injustice, these women continue to plant seeds of kindness, understanding, and opportunity in the fight for a brighter tomorrow.
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The Invisible Struggle for a Better Tomorrow
Image via Adobe Stock.
March 14, 2023
Millions of children don't have access to education or the ability to experience the joy of being a child. Yet wherever the situation is the worst you can find heroic women fighting an invisible battle to give children a better present and future, writes Amal Alliance founder Danielle De La Fuente.
S
o much time is spent worrying about what children will become, yet we forget about what we can do for a child today. I love children, and believe that every child, no matter their circumstances, has the right to an education and to experience the joy of being a child! But millions of kids around the world have been forced to flee due to conflict, growing crises, and natural disasters. They are stripped not only of their childhood, but left to deal with trauma, fear, and uncertainty. Women and girls often pay an even higher price, being exposed to sexual violence, exploitation, the danger of sexual trafficking, early marriage, and other forms of gendered injustice.
My background is in international relations and peace and conflict studies. I spent years working at embassies and for the US Department of Defense fostering relations amongst nations. But I traded in peacebuilding with senior level diplomats and generals to teach children the foundational elements of peace, and the social and emotional skills they need to grow into emotionally intelligent adults.
But, protecting the fundamental rights of children to have access to quality holistic education is no easy feat. In humanitarian contexts, education receives less than 3% of humanitarian aid funding. Of that 3%, psychosocial support, early childhood development, and the more ‘fluffy’ subjects like social and emotional learning are at the bottom of the priority list. Understandably basic needs such as food, water, and shelter come first. But what about the emotional and physical health of women and children? Studies show that anxiety, depression, and other alignments of the mind can have profound impact on physical health in the long term.
The cost of inaction is tremendous. It leaves children exposed to a variety of security risks, potential for drug abuse to numb the pain, and the inevitable abyss of intergenerational trauma and violence.
Henceforth, I founded Amal Alliance, an international nonprofit NGO that aims to empower displaced and disenfranchised children by making an intentional effort so children can learn to heal by identifying, processing, and managing their emotions and feelings, whilst acquiring the social and emotional skills needed to succeed. These 21st century skills include empathy, effective communication, planning skills, responsible decision making, creativity, teamwork, environmental stewardship, global citizenship, and emotional regulation. Employers note these are among the most sought out skills, ensuring children are learning competencies that will enhance the odds of finding meaningful employment.
Invisible Sheroes
At Amal, we pride ourselves with making our programming adaptable to ensure it meets the needs of the communities. We train women from the refugee camps to be our classroom facilitators. We gather feedback from the parents, teachers, and children to ensure our content is culturally sensitive and conducive to their goals and aspirations. We elevate the voices of women and children by taking our concerns to international arenas such as the UN, so the invisible plight is not left behind.
While carrying out our mission, I’ve encountered numerous women, courageous sheroes. These women are at the forefront, fighting to make this world a better place. Yet, most play an invisible role with no spotlight or credit. These women include: the mother that fled Iraq while she was pregnant and traveled inside a barrel with her unborn child and 2 year old toddler for weeks on end until she reached safer ground, who gratefully kissed the ground that welcomed her despite having encountered tremendous xenophobia –to the mother that fled Haiti by boat, walked through the amazon in Brazil, and carried her baby throughout the entire migration path from Central America to Tijuana Mexico, who now found herself sharing a blanket with strangers in a shelter to survive the cold–to the NGO worker in Greece that attempts to assist an unaccompanied minor who lost her mother during their departure from Syria. These women are unsung sheroes, fighting for a better life. In a society still filled with gender injustice, these women continue to plant seeds of kindness, understanding, and opportunity in the fight for a brighter tomorrow.
