Children & Youth
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Photo: Sean Sheridan for Mercy Corps
Teaching the next generation and keeping them healthy are essential to tomorrow's strong, vibrant societies. Mercy Corps works with communities to shelter and nurture children and youth through innovative education, sports and job training programs.
Through the power of sports, community service and vocational training, we empower young people to make smart life choices and find a productive place in the changing global economy.
Our signature Comfort for Kids program focuses on helping children process trauma after natural disasters and conflict. See our expert's recommendations for how parents and caregivers can help children through times of crisis ▸
All stories about Children & Youth
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Yemen: Protecting children in the crossfire August 9, 2012
Seven-year-old Hadiel looked forward to starting first grade last year at Nusaybah school, in the heart of Yemen’s capital of Sana’a. But the presence of heavily armed soldiers and certainty of violence kept her home.
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South Sudan: Creating safe spaces for learning August 7, 2012
After decades of war, residents of Unity state dreamed of brighter futures last July when they became citizens of the new nation of South Sudan.
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Lebanon, Syria: Syrians take refuge in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley August 6, 2012
I recently returned from two days of visiting dozens of Syrian refugees in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to assess their needs and figure out how Mercy Corps can help. More than 35,000 Syrians have already registered as refugees in Lebanon, according to the UN refugee agency.
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Iraq: A life after divorce August 5, 2012
Rasha’s story is unfortunately typical of girls in Iraq: She was married off against her will at age 13.
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Jordan, Lebanon, Syria: Aiding Syrian refugees August 3, 2012
As fighting intensifies and thousands of Syrians flee their country for the relative safety of neighbors like Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, Mercy Corps is meeting important humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees.
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Myanmar: Innovative conservation efforts honored July 31, 2012
Mercy Corps' innovative efforts to save valuable mangroves in Myanmar has won a big accolade.
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Kenya: Choosing opportunity over violence July 30, 2012
Earlier this summer I spent three weeks in Kenya with Mercy Corps colleagues who are implementing an ambitious program called “Yes Youth Can!” (YYC).
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Kenya: Young people shape their economic future July 30, 2012
Young people in Kenya face enormous hurdles. Today, the youth unemployment rate is an alarming 65% and growing. Suffering with few job prospects and a slow economy, many young people have been lured into violence fueled by political and tribal conflict.
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Afghanistan: Students welcome visit from British government official July 12, 2012
The normal school day at our vocational training center in rural Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan was recently shaken up — but students were eager to discuss the changes education has brought to their lives.
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South Sudan: Building on hope one year after independence July 9, 2012
South Sudan Country Director Mathieu Rouquette met these two little girls in the market in Bentiu, Unity State, when they peeked their heads into a camera shop that recently received a Mercy Corps business grant.