Angola: programs & priorities

ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Angola has helped hundreds of thousands of children since beginning work in the country in 1994. As a result of the civil war, psychosocial support to children is at the core of ChildFund in Angola's work. This includes uniting orphaned, displaced and emotionally troubled children with supportive families and communities. Child caregivers have also been given training on how to better understand the impact of war on children and to promote emotional healing while helping children address their fears and concerns.

ChildFund in Angola focuses on opening channels of communication between community members and between parents and children, and provides training in non-violent conflict resolution and the effects of violence and discrimination on community members.

ChildFund in Angola has also implemented programs to support families during the transition period after hostilities ended, as families returned to the communities they had fled during the war. Angolan communities now benefit from ChildFund's child protection networks, which operate at central, provincial and municipal levels, and offer communities the assistance they need and ensure child protection issues are addressed.

ChildFund has also participated in programs for the reintegration of under-age soldiers.

Development in progress

Due to the significant levels of poverty in Angola, health is a major priority for ChildFund in Angola programs. ChildFund conducts paediatric and antenatal consultations, traditional birth attendant training and is participating in the National Vaccination campaign to distribute child health charts and provide vaccinations to children.

ChildFund in Angola's public health education initiatives include malaria prevention, anti-tetanus vaccination information, nutrition and health information for pregnant women and HIV and AIDS prevention and education.