Let’s give hope to world’s displaced families
Right now there are 80 million people around the world who have no home
NABIL ALI
I had just finished doing school assessments in the disputed regions of south-central Somalia, where I was part of a team reporting on the country’s educational infrastructure status. As our van began to leave, I saw a middle-aged man chasing us with a child in hand. He was a frail young boy who looked like he hadn’t eaten in days.
We stopped the van to see how we could help, and the man tried to give us his child. He could no longer bear losing another child to hunger, and he felt his son would be better off with us. We could see the pain in his eyes as he pushed his son toward us. We desperately wanted to help, but our team leader told us that our options were limited. He then pointed to a small crowd starting to gather and walk toward the van; it was other parents with their children, just as frail and in need of help.
During our 21/2 hour drive back to camp no one on our team said a word. But in silence I made a promise that when I got back to Canada, I would do my best to help reduce the type of human suffering I had just witnessed in Somalia. But the situation has not improved.
At present, there are nearly 80 million displaced people around the world, and 80 per cent of them are in countries and territories facing food insecurity and malnutrition. Refugee children generally are the most disadvantaged, with only 61 per cent of them having access to primary school education compared to the global average of 91 per cent. Girls living in fragile and conflict states face challenges in school, including gender-based violence and sexist norms, resulting in girls being 30 per cent less likely to attend school than refugee boys.
I am sharing this story now because the holiday season is a time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the next one. My resolution is that every poor and displaced person around the world should never again have to face the heartbreaking decision to give away a child so he or she can survive.
So, what do I think is needed for my resolution to have a better chance in 2021?
First, Canadian charities must put far greater emphasis on working with local agencies abroad in the delivery of international aid and development. By working with aid partners in affected regions, we can benefit from their insight into local cultures and issues, and tap into their infrastructure to get things done in a more effective fashion.
Giving more responsibility to local aid partners also gives them a bigger voice at the decision-making table where they can advocate for the services their constituents really need rather than what we think they want. And local partners are better at balancing short-term fixes with long-term sustainable solutions. For example, our partners tell us we get the biggest return on our investment when we provide multi-year funding that not only helps families with emergency relief but supports long-term sustainable development.
Second, we must increase the amount of aid going toward education and skills training, and this funding must benefit both boys and girls equally. Where possible, we must provide remote learning opportunities that do not require computers and internet access. And we must combat gender discrimination and violence, including sexual harassment, sexual as
sault and early child marriage.
And third, we must do a better job of measuring and reporting on the effectiveness of our expenditures. It’s not enough for charities to give money to good causes — to be effective, we must report on the impact of our programming costs in terms of projects funded, the regions where help was provided, and the number of people impacted.
No one wants to be forced to flee their home, leave their loves ones behind and have their entire lives disrupted. But millions of displaced families worldwide will be living their lives in limbo this holiday season as they wonder how they will survive the next year.
That’s why I believe it is time for the charitable sector to reimagine how we can more effectively provide international aid and development and put a bigger dent in the cycle of poverty, conflict, gender discrimination and displacement. And it’s why I’m asking Canadians to give generously to the charities of their choice, and let displaced families know their children belong with the people who love them most.