Newsletter Q2 2009Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
For their full report please click here Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers - August 2009 Salaam Balak Trust
To read a full report of SBT's annual trip, just click here Salaam Balak Trust - August 2009 Seeds of Hope
Headway East London
Other News Liberia - Child Soldiers The experience of child soldiers in Africa was highlighted in recent weeks by the ongoing trial of Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia, who stands accused of a number of crimes against humanity. Some excellent articles have appeared in the press as a result and they give a real insight into the realities of life as a child soldier - there are a couple of links below which may interest: www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/12/liberia-child-soldiers www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/14/charles-taylor-liberia-faq-war-crimes New Member I'd also like to welcome Sharon Herkes as a new member to OPS. Sharon previously worked as a volunteer co-ordinator for Seeds of Hope and did a lot of work to help build that charity up to the level it is at today. She is back living in England now and will be regularly donating to OPS. Thanks Sharon for all the work you have done for Seeds. | |
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The Coalition used OPS money in the last quarter to help with a number of developments, including completing their research into the Mai Mai militia in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and producing a public education booklet designed to inform local communities of the illegality of using child soldiers. There have also been some important changes in the Coalition hierarchy. Scroll down as well for some interesting bits of news about the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, who is currently being tried for crimes against humanity at The Hague. He is alleged to have widely used child soldiers to wage a civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. Just go down to 'Other News' to read more.
The summer months in Delhi can be a quiet time for the Salaam Balak Trust when the oppressive heat can make any activities difficult. As a result, a key focus of the last quarter was the annual trip for the children who visit the Trust. Different groups of children are taken up into the mountains to get a break from the heat in Delhi. The kids from the Old Delhi Railway Station, who are directly supported by OPS, made up one of the groups visiting Manali, an area of cultural and religious significance in India, which is situated in the north of the country, in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh.
Contributions from OPS made a great difference at Seeds of Hope during the last few months. They were able to purchase computers for their school, allowing the children who visit Seeds to use the Internet for the first time and communicate with penpals around the world. We also recieved news on some of the field trips which were organised recently plus further developments for the very successful Seeds cafe.
Headway were able to organise summer BBQs, trips to the National History Museum and sailing on the River Thames since our last newsletter, thanks to donations from OPS. John Arnold has been in touch with the charity to get all the latest feedback. We also have news on our very own David Croshaw who is flying the nest to head North.