Henriette's Relief Current Programs |
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Profile of Children Receiving Assistance
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The characteristics of the children who benefit from our initiatives are far from rosy. Each of these children, who are tomorrow's adults, has a story. Today they find themselves in the nutrition centers, and are part of a new family, that of those forgotten by their society.
Thanks to our partnership with the nutrition centers, we are able to trace their individual history, which can be found in the reports prepared by the centers. They are, above all, malnourished. Even though a few of them seem to be in good health, clinical exams confirm that their malnutrition goes from occasional to chronic. In addition, these reports outline the following:
- 28 % have been abandoned
- 25 % are orphans
- 12 % come from single-parent families without an income
- 35 % come from families where both parents are present but earn no income
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Profile of the Families of Children Receiving Assistance
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In 2003, we conducted a survey among the families to analyze their socio-economic situation and to better understand why the children were so under-nourished. At that time, the results of this survey allowed us to plan activities that directly impacted the families and their communities. We visited 150 families in the target zones for the Élimosantu and Ste. Bernadette nutrition centers. The results obtained from visiting these families were as follows:
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- 92 % have no source of income
- 40 % are single-mother families without income
- 50 % are unmarried couples without income
- 10 % are legally married couples
- 30 % use television as a source of information
- 65 % of parents have no more than a primary education
- The average family size is five persons
- The average age of mothers is 28
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In 2006 the profile of these families remains the same because their life situation, as well as the country's social and political situation, has not changed. In actuality, it has worsened. Such a portrait tells us how difficult it is for these families to invest in the education, nutrition, and health of their children. They live in a situation where their fundamental rights to life are violated.
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Kimbondo Pediatric Center
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This is the first center with which HRP & HKMF started working. It is headed by Dr. Laura Perna, an Italian citizen. This center welcomes on average 220 children per month. It offers programs for nutrition rehabilitation, as well as health services. Given their status and the level of income of the children it welcomes, various services are free.
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This center is part of a Catholic network. Managed by a group of Catholic nuns, it also offers nutritional rehabilitation and health services. However, unlike Kimbondo, it is an ambulatory care center. No children live in the center. Its intake capacity is 180 children per month.
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Just as Élimosantu, Ste Bernadette center is part of the Catholic relief network. But unlike Élimosantu, Ste Bernadette only offers nutrition rehabilitation services, with very little emergency health assistance. Its capacity is similar to that of Élimosantu, and it provides no in-house residential facilities.
These partners are our main strength in carrying out our mission. We share the same vision and cooperate in order to better answer the children's needs.
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