The effects of drought, famine and armed conflict on children in Somalia have been devastating. Including the loss of many young lives, Somali children live with severe long-term effects on their development, arising from psychological trauma and lack of proper nutrients at critical stages of their lives.
Decades of civil war and conflict have left many children in Somalia uprooted from their homes or deprived of their parents or both at the same time.
Whereas traditionally children would be cared for by other family members, this has not been the case due primarily to the breakdown of family structures amidst civil unrest and migration caused by drought or violence. Hundreds of thousands of children have been left alone to fend for themselves, mired in poverty and exposed to all kinds of risks and dangers.
Founded to meet the needs of vulnerable children whose parents lost their lives in the conflict. The program is primarily engaged in establishing orphanages and providing health care, education, financial support and other in-kind support to the host families looking after orphans. It has expanded over the years and now manages and sponsors over 2,000 orphaned children across the country.
Orphaned and other groups of highly vulnerable children and families continue to be primary beneficiaries of SIU’s seasonal projects such as the provision of gifts during the two Eid holidays.
SIU Foundation also has a special Ramadan project where food is distributed to orphans and other children and families in need. In addition, SIU Foundation has invested in numerous income-generating projects and social development programs to provide a livelihood for poverty-stricken families.
IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS, SIU FOUNDATION WILL IMPROVE ON THE FOLLOWING AREA
