#warchildcanada

End Child Soldiering is proud to annnounce that the third Opoka Award will be going to the Dallaire Institute for their outstanding work.

End Child Soldiering is a charity and corporation under the laws of Montana as a 501(c)(3) that supports efforts to end the use of children as soldiers and rehabilitate those that have been.

“Child soldiering is a horrific violation of children’s rights and must be stopped. We cannot turn a blind eye to the use of children as soldiers and must work tirelessly to protect their childhood and future.”

Learn more about the Grassroots Reconciliation Group HERE

Poems in Passage

"In February 2025, Poems in Passage returns to TTC buses, streetcars, and trains across Toronto, featuring Margaret Atwood in support of War Child. This initiative transforms daily commutes into moments of reflection through poetry from global icons and emerging voices.

Margaret’s contribution, The Disasters of War: A Sequel (excerpt) speaks to the senselessness of war and will be seen alongside other globally recognized writers including Rupi Kaur, and Mustafa, as well as emerging local voices."

From Africa to Asia: A Journey of Conservation and Creativity

"These elephant figurines come all the way from Kenya, crafted from discarded flip-flops collected from beaches across different regions. They are the work of @oceansole a nonprofit organization in Africa dedicated to protecting marine environments and safeguarding whales. Their mission began with a simple yet powerful idea—cleaning up every piece of trash left behind by tourists on the shores and transforming it into recycled products. The proceeds from these creations support internationally recognized projects that help animals and the environment.

This particular elephant is named Rainbow Jokia, inspired by our beloved elephant Jokia, whose rescue story has touched hearts worldwide. The largest elephant figurine in this collection was made from an incredible 1,100 pairs of recycled flip-flops, carefully assembled to bring it to life.

By creating these vibrant elephants from waste collected on beaches, we are not only preventing pollution from harming marine life but also supporting local artisans in Kenya by providing sustainable jobs. This project is expanding to other countries, employing skilled hands from local communities, and making a meaningful impact on both people and wildlife.

These handcrafted elephants are more than just art—they represent kindness, environmental awareness, and a commitment to protecting both our oceans and the magnificent elephants of the land."

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War Child is an acclaimed humanitarian organization that has been protecting children from the brutal impact of war and violence for the past 20 years. War Child Canada supports over 600,000 war-affected people every year. The global COVID-19 pandemic has added yet another challenge to the lives of vulnerable children. The virus represents a serious threat to their communities due to ongoing conflict, low resources, and limited public health and water infrastructure. War Child's front-line staff are working hard to deploy innovative ways to support and empower children, their families, and their communities as they face this new crisis.

War Child empowers communities by:

- Creating safe spaces for children to play, learn, and seek help

- Providing catch-up learning for children who were forced to leave school through the development of condensed curriculums and training teachers in delivering these lessons

- Providing free legal representation to women and children who have survived violence and abuse

- Giving communities the necessary supplies for education, like pencils, books, chairs, and handwashing facilities

- Empowering communities and local leaders to protect the rights for women and children through education and training

- Supporting farming families with the provision of supplies, including seeds and tools, and training, like livestock management and new farming techniques

- Teaching conflict resolution to young people so they can live and work peacefully

- Training and supporting young adults and women so they can build local businesses

- Offering counselling to survivors of conflict to help them overcome trauma and build new lives

Work Out for War Child is about taking action against the injustices of war, strengthening the ideals of peace, and making a difference in the lives of many of the world's most vulnerable. It is a 10-day fitness challenge taking place September 13 - 22 (surrounding International Day of Peace, September 21), open to anyone at any fitness level who wants to walk, run, cycle, swim, or engage in any form of live or virtual exercise while raising funds for programs that empower children and families to overcome the brutal impact of war. The event is completely virtual.

WAR CHILD’S GOAL: $100,000

Funds raised will support thousands of war-affected children and their families by providing essential programs that give them the chance to escape cycles of violence and poverty and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities. 93 cents of every dollar raised supports programs that benefit 600,000 war-affected people each year in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen. Using a bold, community-driven approach, War Child delivers programs that give children the best chance of overcoming the challenges of war and growing up to see a brighter future. Your donations will make it possible for vulnerable children to get back to school, and have their rights protected, while providing their families with the tools they need to escape poverty.

Winnipeg is a human rights hotspot—and we want the world to know it! I have been the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC) Regional Representative for War Child Canada since 2018. MCIC supports, connects, and amplifies the work of their members and partner organizations. They directly engage with the public to be active global citizens and collaborate with Manitobans in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. War Child Canada is a member organization.

I am committing to walk 6 kilometres every day for 10 days to honour that on average women and children in developing countries walk 6 kilometres and carry 5 gallons (19 litres) everyday to bring clean water home to their families. My initial goal has been set to $1000, but the ultimate goal is to raise $6000 or more! Anyone in the world can participate in or donate to Work Out for War Child. Only Canadian tax receipts will be issued in Canadian dollars for any donations that are $10 and over.

If you feel inspired to contribute, please visit my personal fundraising page: https://warchild.akaraisin.com/ui/workoutforwarchild/p/MBRegionalRep

You can follow War Child Canada on Instagram @warchildcan and tag them in your posts by using the hashtag #WorkOutForWarChild

There are just a couple of days until #GivingTuesday and here are some of the causes closest to my heart ...

War Child Canada - #makenotwar campaign

War Child's mission is to work with war-affected children and help them reclaim their childhood through education, opportunity and justice. Visit https://make.warchild.ca/ to start your own own "Make ___, Not War" campaign and help fundraise to support War Child’s efforts!

Young Peacebuilders - youth peace clubs #wagepeace

Choose to empower young people to become more effective peacebuilders. Donate online at youngpeacebuilders.com/donate 

Your contribution will help ...

support the research and development of a comprehensive Young Peacebuilders Clubs (YPC) Training Toolkit - which includes manuals, handbooks, instructional videos and other self-study peacebuilding resources.

support youth peace inspired events held by YPCs across the globe.

support the creation and development of a YPC mobile app! 

support mini-grants offered to YPCs for their peacebuilding projects.

WHEAT Institute - scholarship fund #creativetherapies

WHEAT Institute, in partnership with The Winnipeg Foundation, offers the opportunity for supporters to make tax-deductible contributions to the Winnipeg Holistic Expressive Arts Therapy Scholarship Fund. There are two scholarships: Bea Louise Anderson Memorial Scholarship in support of art therapy students and Elder Harry Bone Award in support of Indigenous students. Make a donation at http://wheatinstitute.com/gifts and help contribute to the development of excellence in the therapeutic use of the arts.

Other causes include human rights organizations working with children and armed conflict, elephant conservation efforts and animal rescues. 

Whatever you support, consider giving back on Tuesday November 27th! 

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Statement by UN Child Rights Experts on Universal Children’s Day

“UN child rights experts urge Governments around the world to be united in ensuring priority attention to the realization of the rights of the child and to accelerating efforts for implementation of the Convention, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.”

“Children are key agents of change and their voices must be heard and their participation ensured to help address the pressing issues that they face,” said the experts. “Efforts by Governments, by non-state actors, by civil society organizations and by individuals must be urgently reinforced to always put children above politics, to safeguard their rights and to create a better world for all.”

Right to Play protects, educates and empowers children to rise. 

“Children are the most vulnerable people in the world, disproportionately affected by poverty, war, disease, illiteracy and inequality. Inadequate education and harmful cultural practices limit their futures and put them at risk of early marriage, child labour and conscription into armed groups.”

“But children are demanding a change. They are fighting to attend and stay in school, to be treated with dignity and respect and to be safe. They are demanding a world in which they are protected, educated and empowered, a world where they can rise above their challenges. They are transforming their communities, their families, and their own lives, and they are learning how to do that by harnessing one of the most powerful and universal influences on any child’s life – the power of play.”

What children and young people think about child soldiers

“The It Takes A World campaign in the UK focuses on campaigning to end violence against children in humanitarian contexts, and it's launch highlights the issue of children in armed groups. To support the It Takes A World campaign launch, World Vision UK has partnered with children around the world to create a research report, entitled “Their Fight, Our Future".”

Art Therapy: Refugees in Ugandan Camp Using Drawing and Drama to Heal Trauma 

“Run by refugees from DRC, Burundi and other countries, Opportunigee is the first and only entrepreneur network in Nakivale. Some of its members have started art-therapy initiatives to help young refugees move on from their pasts.”

“Since 2014, NakivArt, an art collective founded by members of Opportunigee, has been hosting art therapy workshops for young refugees at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement.”

Elephants Get Closer To Legal Rights Than Ever Before

War Child Canada: Make __ Not War

Read my blog about War Child Canada’s new campaign! 

In Syria, A School Helps Children Traumatized By War

“Therapists have known for decades that a primary way young children communicate and comprehend trauma is by drawing pictures. If that's true, these drawings on the wall are one collective scream.”

“This school, along with 10 others like it, is designed to ease the kids back into something like a normal life.”

And 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend! 

War Child Canada’s project INVESTING IN YOUNG PEACE-BUILDING ENTREPRENEURS IN SOUTH SUDAN VIA CASH TRANSFERS AND START-UP GRANTS was chosen as one of the top 2018 Bridge Builder Challenge ideas and will receive a grant of $260,026! Read more HERE

Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire to receive Dal Management's Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Award! 

“Each year, the Dalhousie Faculty of Management presents the Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Award to a Canadian who exemplifies exceptional qualities of character, courage and adherence to ethical principles.” 

Dr. Denis Mukwege awarded Nobel Peace Prize

“Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and founder of Panzi Foundation USA and Panzi Foundation DRC, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He is recognized for his humanitarian work with survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”

USAID-FUNDED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICA (CRCA) ACTIVITY

“Invisible Children is partnering with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on a five-year project to support communities in areas of central Africa impacted by armed group violence.The USAID-funded Community Resilience in Central Africa (CRCA) Activity is focused on improving the protection of civilians and strengthening community resilience to security threats in central Africa’s Mbomou Uele border region, which spans northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and eastern Central African Republic (CAR).”

Elephant Conservation

DSWT has the opportunity to raise $500,000 for their field teams — and every cent counts!

“The DSWT is primarily known for our success in rescuing and raising orphaned elephants, — but without a safe and secure wilderness for these orphans to return to, our efforts would be futile. That's why our Anti-Poaching and Saving Habitats Programs, which combat threats to wildlife and protect wild spaces, are such a crucial component of our work. As recent tragic events across Africa have shown, a solid presence in the field is more important now than ever.”

“We're very excited to announce that, thanks to the support of generous partners, we now have the opportunity to double donations to our Anti-Poaching and Saving Habitats Programs. Our partners have agreed to match up to $250,000 in a matched giving campaign — yielding a potential $500,000 for our field work. This is a game-changing amount that would allow us to both take on new measures and support our existing teams across Kenya.”

This is a limited opportunity — lend your support and donate HERE

DR Congo's Kabila torches ivory stockpile

“Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila on Sunday set light to an ivory stockpile to highlight the problem of poaching in the central African country. The president also released five grey parrots and set light to a stockpile of pangolin scales in a ceremony at the Nsele Nature Park on the outskirts of Kinshasa.”

                                               Fundraising

Want to get involved?

To do so, you can support War Child’s initiative by organizing a fundraising event to raise funds for their international projects. Doing fundraising leads to:

Working with your community

Advocating and raising awareness about children and war

Inspiring others to be involved and spread the word

War Child provides individuals and groups interested in fundraising with help to ensure their event is a success. To fundraise register your event using the on-line registry system, once registered you can send friends invitations, collect donations while keeping track of donations as well. 

What are some ways you can fundraise for War Child?

If you would like to fundraise and gather more information please visit,

Volunteer On Campus – “Stir things up on Campus”

War Child’s Campus Outreach Program, gathers students from all over Canada. This has been going on for three years now with over 16 campuses in Canada. War Child’s campus reps advocate and show their dedication on campus to support children affected by war.

War Child relies on the campus reps to get the word out and fundraise for them by:

•Helping kids caught up in war.

•Fighting for children’s rights.

•Learning about the issues.

•Networking with students across the country.

It is important that campus reps engage and encourage others to get more involved. They can do this by starting possible War Child groups on their campus and join the chapter at their schools. War Child highly relies on their campus reps and groups to advocate for their cause all over Canada.

What are some ways you as a student can advocate at your campus?

For more information go to: