Together for a more just and caring society

FUNDACIÓN VICENTE FERRER BROADENS ITS HORIZONS

For over 50 years, the Fundación Vicente Ferrer has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged communities in India. Throughout this journey, we have relied on the support of donors like you. Our donors' commitment has been fundamental to transforming the situation of these communities and promoting the fight against discrimination, inequality, and poverty. Based on our positive experience in India, we aspire to share our knowledge and learnings with others countries, especially with families and communities in situations of vulnerability and poverty. We believe that committed people, solidarity, and the power of care are the most powerful resources for transforming the world around us. Growing inequalities and the state of our world make good deeds and care more necessary than ever.

Our goal is to share our experience and all that we have built in India, and Nepal is the first of many destinations we wish to reach.

A commitment to childhood in South Asia

After dedicating more than five decades to rural communities in India, we are expanding our work to promote children's rights in South Asia. The Asian continent is facing emerging challenges, such as overpopulation and forced migration, which increasingly compromise the well-being and development of children. The negative consequences of these challenges are becoming increasingly. The situation of children in the South Asia region has reached a critical point.

Poverty and increasing inequality are forcing many children to abandon their studies, work in extreme conditions, and migrate with their families to meet their most basic needs. In the face of this reality, we aim to leverage our experience working with children in India to develop solutions that will improve the living conditions of girls and boys in countries such as Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

Data on the situation of children in South Asia reveal a disturbing reality in a region that is home to 36% of the world's children under the age of 18.

• Education and Gender: 31.8 million children do not attend school. Additionally, only one in three girls makes it to upper secondary school.
• Child Undernutrition: More than one in three children (38%) live in extreme food poverty, and nearly half of children under five are undernourished.
• Child Labor: One out of every eight children between the ages of 5 and 14 is engaged in child labor. Furthermore, nearly half of these children perform hazardous work.

Childhood cannot wait

Children are among the groups most affected by the consequences of poverty. A lack of access to education and the practice of child labor can have a profound and lasting impact, affecting their expectations for the future and perpetuating the cycle of poverty throughout their lives. To improve the living conditions and future opportunities of children in South Asia, we are developing four lines of action:

• Empowering through education. After years of efforts in India to educate the most vulnerable children, inspiring results have emerged: many children have succeeded in breaking the cycle of poverty. Therefore, we will continue to work in South Asian countries to ensure that all children have access to quality education.
• Child protection: ensuring a safe environment for children. Our experience in India has shown us that children's well-being improves when they grow up in a safe and secure environment. Building on this experience, we will work in South Asia to empower children and families by teaching them about children's rights and how to protect them.
• Support for Vulnerable Families. Poverty and lack of opportunities experienced by children are closely tied to their family circumstances. To address this issue, we will provide training and economic support to strengthen the family environment.
• Support for Children with Disabilities. Since our inception in India, we have recognized the unique vulnerability of children with disabilities. With this in mind, we will continue our work in South Asia to ensure these children receive the necessary rehabilitation to help them overcome the barriers that accentuate their vulnerability.

SEE THE INTERACTIVE DOCUMENT CHILDHOOD IN ASIA AT THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR WORK.

Links:

• CHILDHOOD ASIA

• CHILDHOOD ASIA (PDF)