A music video featuring world music personalities will be launched as part of the EU Children for Peace initiative to coincide with the International Day of Peace tomorrow.
Children for Peace funds humanitarian projects for children growing up in conflict regions across the world.
Over one billion children live in countries affected by conflict and they are especially vulnerable to the fallout of war.
The video aims to make the world aware of such children’s plight, particularly their lack of access to education.
The initiative was established in 2012 from the prize money that the EU received from the Nobel Peace Prize 2012.
It is now a permanent legacy project of the EU, thanks to continued funding and commitment from the European Commission and member states.
Humanitarian projects funded under this initiative address a severely underfunded sector: education in emergencies.
This is largely due to life-saving emergency relief often taking priority over education and other needs during a crisis.
Over one billion children live in countries affected by conflict and they are especially vulnerable to the fallout of war
In the first two years of the initiative, the EU and its partner organisations reached more than 108,000 young people in 12 countries. This year, the EU has dedicated €6,712,500 to the project.
Children account for half of the victims of conflicts and are among the most vulnerable victim groups and are often the hardest hit by wars. Through the EU Children of Peace initiative, the EU aims to turn ‘children of war’ into ‘children of peace’.
The project funds humanitarian projects for these children, providing them with access to schools where they can learn in a safe environment, as well as with psychological support to heal their traumatic war experiences.
In the first year of the initiative (2013), about 28,000 children from Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Colombia and Ecuador as well as Syrian refugees in Iraq have benefitted. This year, the scope has been extended to reach out to more than 80,000 young people with projects in South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Myanmar.
Apart from providing immediate help such as shelter, food, clean water and medicine, education is one of the best tools to help boys and girls build a long-term future.
It is particularly crucial for both the protection and the development of children affected by conflict. Apart from contributing to their development, educational activities provide girls and boys with psycho-social support and help create at least some sense of normality.
Children benefitting from the initiative have been given the opportunity to participate in, perform and film a choreographed song and dance based on an original melody while adding their own cultural touch.
The song Rêver (dreaming) was composed especially for the project by Senegalese musician Wasis Diop, who also sings in the video.
Children from a number of regions affected by conflict – South Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia and Ecuador – have reproduced the song and choreography. (European Union)