South East Asia

In South East Asia ORA partners with Project: AK-47 rescuing child soldiers; to let them be kids, not killers, for as long as possible.

How much does it cost to sponsor a child in Project: AK-47?
NZ$47 per month provides love, feeding, shelter, clothing, education and protection to rescued child soldiers.

What is Project: AK-47?
Project: AK-47 rescues child soldiers and children in armed conflict in Southeast Asia and Latin America and provides them with long-term care and rehabilitation through to adulthood, at which point they either send them onto university or provide them with agricultural land to farm or help them find other career options. Project: AK-47 does their best to honour national governments and cultural or ethnic groups and sub-groups that may be opposed to those same governments; not to take sides, but rather to come alongside and serve. As they serve, they often find that the very children they really want to help are given voluntarily.

Who does Project: AK-47 rescue child soldiers from?
Project: AK-47 rescues child soldiers out of resistance armies and drug cartels. They work in regions where conflicts rage and information on children and projects is often highly sensitive.
In Asia, they demobilise children from one of the largest drug cartel armies in the world, as well as several resistance armies.  In Latin America, we focus on providing alternatives for children involved in the drug wars.

Why aren't other groups working in these areas if the problem is so huge?
The regions in which Project: AK-47 works are extremely dangerous, restricted-access areas, which makes it very difficult for groups to get in and provide effective aide. National leaders come from generations (over 120 years) of working in these volatile locations, which has given Project: AK-47 an open door into these otherwise closed places.

What is a child soldier's life like in these areas?
Child soldiers range from 3-17 years old, with up to 1/3 being female. Project: AK-47 usually targets children 15 and under, with the average age being 9-12. Their tasks vary, depending upon their age. The younger children are used more as gofers and drug “mules,” as well as for hard labour, while the older children are also used for things like making guns, providing surveillance/security, and training for combat. The children suffer an array of abuses, including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse. They are treated as prisoners and are threatened with execution if they try to escape. They live in extremely harsh conditions and do not know love, safety, or comfort. They are, in fact, slaves of these armies.

How does Project: AK-47 get the children out of the armies?
Project: AK-47 is able to negotiate diplomatically with local governments and militaries to give them children largely through education incentives. They actually turn the children over to Project: AK-47 voluntarily. These governments see the benefit of Project: AK-47 programs, because by educating the next generation, Project: AK-47 is helping to sustain the future of their nations.
 
Fact: Project: AK-47’s major target region in South East Asia has a 1% literacy rate, so the children’s private high school education puts them in the upper tier of their society.

Fact: Most resistance armies are fighting because they feel marginalized. If you come and serve a society’s needs, they are more likely to work with you.

How do children become enlisted in these armies and cartels?
The vast majority of children were conscripted because they were orphans and there was nowhere else for them to go; however, there are many cases of children being kidnapped or turned over by their parents or caregivers because of extreme poverty. No matter what their conscription entailed, most of them were subjected to this life against their will and long to be released.

Where do the children go after they are rescued?
Project: AK-47 has established homes where they rehabilitate and raise rescued children, allowing them to grow up in a loving environment until they are ready to be reintegrated into society as healthy adults.  Children both live in and attend school at these group homes. Not only do they receive love and attention from the staff, but they also have a family of “siblings” who have all endured similar treatment. Project: AK-47 also runs education programs where children live with or return to their families, but are engaged with Project: AK-47 in school and extra-curricular programs like soccer to keep them out of gangs and military training.

Where are the homes?
Project: AK-47 homes are located within the countries where the children are rescued. Children would lose their heritage and national identity if taken out of their home countries, which would defeat the purpose of raising them as the future agents of positive change in their cultures.
 
Who takes care of the children?
Project: AK-47 has teams of committed nationals who are trained to work directly with rescued children, serving as their parents, counsellors, and teachers. In the Philippines, adults who were once child soldiers themselves are some of the key participants. Not only is it impossible for Project: AK-47 projects to have a Western presence, it is also more helpful for house parents, teachers, and caregivers to share the children’s culture and language.

How long have Project: AK-47 been rescuing child soldiers?
Project: AK-47 has been working with children at risk in Southeast Asia since 1994, but launched their intentional child soldier demobilization strategy in 1998.  After years of strategic building, they successfully negotiated the rescue of 30 child soldiers in 2005, and to date (2010) have 474 orphans and children at risk in their care.  More than two hundred of these are child soldiers they have rescued. In 2009, they launched projects in Mexico and the Philippines.
 
How often will I get updates on my Project: AK-47 sponsored child?
Every year we will send you a project report for your sponsored child. And as soon as the ORA New Zealand office hears about any major change in your sponsored child’s life we will personally contact you.
 
How long will my sponsorship last?
Many factors affect how long a child is in a sponsorship project. Most children finish sponsorship when they are ready to stand on their own two feet. We always try to keep you well informed and give as much notice as possible as to when a child is ready to graduate from the program.
 
What happens if I can no longer sponsor my child?
We understand if your circumstances change and you can no longer sponsor a child. In these cases we need to find another sponsor for the child as soon as we can and we would be grateful if you could find a friend or work colleague who could take over your sponsorship.
 
Can I write to my sponsored child or send a gift?
Unfortunately, due to the logistical and security challenges of working in a war zone, we are unable to facilitate communication between Sponsors and children.
 
Can I choose the nationality, gender and age of my sponsored child?
Go to our Facebook page to see photos and profiles for children needing sponsorship, or call 07 843 2224 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). We can send you the details of the most vulnerable child and community in need of your support.


I would like more information about my sponsored child...
We are always happy to answer any questions you have, our heart is to be transparent. As soon as the ORA New Zealand office hears about any major change in your sponsored child’s life we will personally contact you. A comprehensive sponsorship policy is available from the ORA New Zealand office.


Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 07 843 2224 for more information on how you can sponsor a child.