Supporting Children on the Edge: 5 reasons why being a small charity makes a big difference1/6/2022
In the kind of work we do - supporting children in the some of the toughest situations across the world - there are many benefits to being a small organisation. Here are five reasons why small is beautiful… 1. We can work under the radar Being small has enabled us to access situations that larger organisations cannot, due to their size and the corresponding limitations and bureaucracy. For example, from 2011, for six years we were the only organisation providing education in safe spaces to Rohingya refugee children from Myanmar in the largest makeshift camp in Bangladesh. We attribute this in part, to our compact size. Since the influx of Rohingya refugees after attacks escalated in August 2017, a huge number of larger organisations arrived to contribute help, and we have replicated our community based education model to meet gaps in provision of education. 2. We’re agile Our size enables us to have the flexibility to meet needs in a targeted way, as they arise, quickly and in a relational manner. If our partners are faced with a crisis, like dropping temperatures, fires within crowded camps, the explosion in Beirut, sudden floods, increased air raids or arrests, then we can respond immediately, garnering support or adapting the programme accordingly to continue to meet the needs of the children we work with. 3. We’re streamlined We don’t rely on large and costly international staff offices in the countries we work in. Instead, we focus on building strong relationships with our local partners who have a thorough understanding of the situation on the ground and a depth of relationship with their communities. 4. We’re focused Having a small number of projects means we can focus on delivering work of the highest quality. Larger organisations have a higher capacity, but deal very much in 'broad brush strokes', where as we have the ability to fine tune and ensure that each child is valued as an individual. 5. We keep you connected Our small size means that our donors and supporters can have a greater connection and ownership with the work they are investing in. Your money doesn’t go into a huge machine, but to a small (but perfectly formed!) group of projects which you are updated on regularly, seeing tangibly and specifically the ongoing progress that you are making possible. Read more about our work and how we help. As Children on the Edge work with partners to respond to the needs of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Romania, we have found ourselves going back to our roots; now working with Ukrainian refugee children without parental care, living in state run institutions.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, we have been working with our partner organisations in Moldova and Romania to support Ukrainian refugee arrivals. Rachel Bentley, our CEO and co-founder and Ben Wilkes, our Chief Operating Officer have just returned from the region, where they visited our partners, met refugee families and saw first hand how the situation on the ground is changing, nearly three months on from the start of the war.
Our partners in Moldova are supporting refugees who have fled the war in Ukraine. Anastasia (age 32) and her son Platosha (age 2) have been staying at the Speranta Centre since the start of the war. Here is their story….
Over the Easter holidays, whilst many of us were enjoying the bank holiday sunshine; nine year old Florence Day, from Chichester was on the final push to the finish line of her epic 125 mile cycle ride to Paris.
Florence and her dad Chris kicked off their mammoth challenge from Dieppe on Monday 10th April, cycling 125 miles through the french countryside, reaching the Eiffel Tower on Friday 15th April. Lydia is the Chairperson of Masese I Child Protection Team in Uganda. She is also a ‘Lead Storyteller’ for her community. She'd like to introduce Nakimuli Scovia, who benefited from the Children on the Edge Africa education loan programme.
April was a bumper month for fundraising, there were challenge events, concerts and lots of cake! Read on to find out all about the fantastic fundraising that took place last month …
20,000 miles covered and over £6,500 raised in just 30 days for our latest virtual challenge.2/5/2022 Back in March we launched a new virtual challenge for spring: ‘Walk 100 miles in April’. Like our previous virtual challenges, we wanted this to be flexible so that anyone could take part, no matter their location, level of fitness or age and we were delighted when over 200 people signed up.
Children took part with their families, groups of friends walked together and lots of four-legged friends joined in with their owners. The challenge even went overseas, with people chalking up miles in Gran Canaria, Seville and Florida! |
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