Our programs

EJM - Children and Youth on the Move

5 million children under 18 are affected by migration and its risks in West and North Africa

Another future is possible

Finding families for children with disabilities

Community support

Train community members in social work to equip them with the skills needed to help children and young people.

Advocacy

Support from ECOWAS and other member states ...

Another future is possible in Burkina Faso

According to Burkina Faso's Ministry of Child Protection, some 5,000 children (disabled and healthy) are living in institutions according to 2021 data. Of this number, only 1,492 of these children live with foster families, including disabled children.

Disabled children are generally not adopted. Our commitment is to provide family life opportunities for disabled children in orphanages by strengthening formal systems.

Since 2014, SSI-AO and SSI-SG have launched a joint initiative with the ministry in charge of child protection, and much has already been done...

EJM - Children and young people on the move

EJM stands for Enfants et Jeunes en Mobilité. It's a term used to describe children and young people who move within or outside their country of origin, for a variety of reasons and under a variety of conditions.

In these vast regions of West and North-West Africa, migration is an ancient and common phenomenon. Among the 40 to 45 million people who move internationally, over 5 million are children and young people aged 0 to 24. The proportion of girls in these migratory flows has been increasing in recent years. Depending on the country, they represent between 25% and 50% of children on the move.

There are many reasons for this migration. The SSIAO, in coordination with the RAO and a number of other players, is looking into the matter, and has come up with a strong response to protect children and young people on the move.

Community accompaniment

Families and communities are the foundation for the protection and development of children and young people, and must be strengthened to cope with the risks of mobility. This is why the SSIAO, through an approach based on participation, accountability, solidarity and partnership, which comprises four components (livelihood, social protection, monitoring of vulnerable children and young people, youth activities) aims to make communities fully effective players in the cause of children.

Community experiences: 22 initiatives in various sectors (market gardening, processing, manufacturing, fish farming) have been carried out in several West African countries, with varying results and challenges.