Over £4,000 of this was raised by a fantastic group of 27 runners who were all part of this year’s Run for Refugees Team. All 27 team members committed to raise a minimum of £100 each for our work with refugee children in Bangladesh and Lebanon.

Mother and daughter team, Michele and Tiki (pictured above) were part of these fundraising efforts and talked to us about how they got support in the run up to the race. On the day they were kitted out in their ‘Run for Refugees’ t-shirts, complete with matching tutus.

Here are some of Tiki’s comments describing their experience of this year’s Chichester Half:

“I was really quite nervous on the morning of the race, training in the last couple weeks had done a bit awry as I had been unwell…Mum was also a bit nervous as she knew what was ahead of us having completed last years race as well! 

There is a specific focus on issues of trafficking, child marriage and exploitation within the activities of the camp and host community Centres and teachers are trained to raise awareness with the children. They also work with parents to talk to them about the negative effects of child marriage and the value of girl’s education. We have seen positive results from this over the years, with parental attitudes changing both in the camps and the communities.

Safiya is studying Grade 3 at one of the Centres. She's also a member of the Child Council, and in one of their recent newsletters she wrote an article about her feelings about child marriage.
She says,  “If I leave the school my grandmother will marry me off, which I don’t like at my early age. I have decided to advocate against early marriage in my slum. If my neighbours don’t hear me I will bring my teacher to explain it to them, early marriage is a risk for health and life".

Child councils attached to the Learning Centres in both areas have extra activities focused on gender issues, and give girls a voice. In Cox’s Bazar they have become instrumental in campaigning against child marriage, and creating change within their communities.

Partnering with ‘Girl Determined’, the new Centres in the camps will be used to host weekly gatherings for adolescent girls, led by local trained facilitators. They will cover issues such as decision-making, self-confidence, girls’ rights and planning for the future.​

The current situation for Dalit women and girls living in Bihar State is desperate. Surviving as part of the lowest strata of a brutal caste system, with the added oppression that arises from being female, traps many women in poverty and abuse.

UN Women state that despite government efforts for reform, across the country they continue to face severe maltreatment, including acid attacks, child marriage, dowry-related violence, honour killings, rape, sexual harassment and trafficking.

Compounding this situation are pervading levels of caste discrimination which despite being outlawed, determine much of the structure of daily society. Dalits are considered the ‘lowest’ of the caste strata and face severe restrictions, exploitation and violence.

The work we support here focuses on supporting women and girls to realise their rights to education, health, income, protection and shelter. We encourage them to develop their confidence and self-esteem and to restore a sense of their inherent self-worth.
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We provide access to education for 1,200 Dalit children within 30 colourful and safe environments. Located on rooftops and canal-sides, under trees and inside homes, the Centres are accessible to all. Children learn maths, reading, writing and vital life skills and gain understanding of their inherent worth. They develop knowledge of their rights and will ultimately be resourced to access mainstream education opportunities.