Angola has had a civil war that lasted more than a quarter of a century. Now Angola is slowly climbing out of the doldrums. More than a million people have been killed in the fighting. A whole generation of children in Angola has never known anything but war. All these children have been traumatised in one way or another by Angola’s protracted war.
The number of children living on the streets of Angola’s cities is rising. Some lost their parents in the war. Luanda has more than 5,000 vagrant children, from babies to boys. During the war, children fled from rural and combat areas to the capital where it was safer.
One in three children die before their fifth birthday. Every day, 420 children die. One in three children goes to school. Only a third finish the fifth grade, 80% of them have been under fire at some point. Half have ever seen someone injured or killed by a landmine. Angola is one of the countries with the most landmines and unexploded ordnance in the world.
Despite the challenging situation, Angola has hope for the future and there are several foundations and organisations working to improve the situation. One such foundation is dedicated to creating better educational opportunities and offering hope to the children of Angola.
This foundation recognises that education is the key to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and violence. They work closely with local communities, schools and teachers to develop and implement education programmes tailored to Angola’s specific needs and challenges.
One of the foundation’s priorities is to improve access to quality education for all children in Angola, including those in difficult circumstances, such as street children and orphans. They focus on setting up schools and classrooms in both urban areas and remote rural villages so that every child has the opportunity to go to school.
Besides providing physical infrastructure, they are also committed to improving the quality of education. This includes training and supporting teachers, developing educational programmes aimed at developing essential skills and providing teaching and learning materials adapted to the local context.
The foundation also understands the impact of trauma on the children of Angola and has set up programmes to provide psychosocial support. Through counselling, play therapy and other activities, they help children cope with their experiences and strengthen their resilience and emotional well-being.
In addition, the foundation works with local and international organisations to locate and remove landmines and other unexploded ordnance. Clearing these dangerous remnants of war not only improves the physical safety of the children and community, but also paves the way for the development of agricultural land and economic activities.
The foundation believes in the power of cooperation and involves local communities in all their efforts. They work closely with parents, community leaders and local organisations to bring about sustainable change and create a hopeful future for Angola’s children.
Although the challenges in Angola are still great, there is hope. Through education, psychosocial support and landmine clearance, the foundation provides a ray of hope for the children of Angola. With every step they take, they strive to bring about positive change and pave the way for a better future for the whole nation.
