2014 Macedonia - Christmas |
We don't forget.....
TACC is dependent upon the incredible generosity of our fantastic supporters and 100% of your donations goes to support children here at home and in those countries in which our national team plays.
Thanks for the donated money which used to buy socks, underwear and warm clothing for the children. Really, very important to us is the assistance we receive from you and great gratitude for all your members.
- identify and register children living and working on the street
Most of the 33 children who were registered by the Centre's mobile teams in 2014 were begging in front of hotels and supermarkets. There were 138 children regularly attending the Centre.
In 2014 the Centre was able to prevent 14 of the 17 underage marriages they encountered. This required continuous effort to reach out to under-resourced and poorly educated parents not to put pressure on the kids to have underage marriage or "extramarital union" – difficult to achieve in a culture where such practice is "traditional".
Many the children supported by the centre have no formal ID documentation and without this, many of the services that we take for granted simply aren't permitted – like medical attention and education. In 2014, the Centre managed to have 90 children in regular education, including 14 into the first grade and 3 attending an elementary night school – each with documentation acquired by the Centre. For the first time, the Centre has 9 children attending High School.
Supported by donations from young French volunteers, 40 of the children went on a 5 day summer holiday for the very first time.
Like TACC, the Centre was established in 2006, but has been continually beset with difficulties to hold onto their modest premises. In August 2014, an agreement was reached with local authorities for a further 2 year lease. A week later a notice was served for them to leave by October. Only through intervention by a variety of agencies and Embassies was the eviction deferred till year end, and now through the media, thankfully the tenancy is extended till end 2015.
Working through the worldwide DCR programme for children's rights, the Centre monitors the work being done and actions taken, especially for children of marginalised groups, by state institutions and local government. The monitoring is done through the activities of the Centre: Collaboration with parents, Workshops for parents, Workshops for children and free social and legal aid.
Best regards and thanks to TACC.
Irena Velkoska
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