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The Red Cross helps the most vulnerable without discrimination, whoever and wherever they are. We have a strong tradition of supporting work with refugees and displaced people in emergency situations across the world. In the UK, young and unaccompanied asylum seekers are amongst the most vulnerable. This project is being set up to offer practical and emotional support to minors (aged 15-18) who have arrived in the UK alone. The London-based project operates through ‘peer befriending’ - whereby children are given an opportunity to meet other young people and build a supportive network to reduce the risk of isolation – and ‘peer education’ – to give children invaluable life skills to help them integrate into their communities. Children will be taught skills that will help them adapt to life in the UK, such as improving English, job skills, IT and health awareness. The project focuses on London where the majority of minors are placed. We aim to give hope to a misunderstood and vulnerable section of the community. We need £175,000 to fund this programme over the next three years. Please support us in helping some of the most vulnerable in our society.
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Situation
Young people seek refuge in the UK for a range of reasons. Many have experienced or witnessed human rights abuses, which has caused them to flee their homes. Others will have been forced to leave by families at risk of persecution. Each month, it is estimated that 230 children arrive alone. These are children aged between 10 to 17. Two thirds of these children are allowed to remain until their 18th birthday when a formal application for asylum can be made. Many have no adult supervision. They are traumatised and suffer from stigma, language barriers and are vulnerable to exploitation. They need help to adjust to life in our country and prepare for the future. This project will give these children the opportunity to learn new skills and help them integrate into society. Working through ‘Peer Education Groups’ of other young volunteers, they will be offered a safe environment where they can learn important life skills such as cooking, managing money, health awareness, job skills and improving their English. Teaching them skills in a fun environment will build a sense of accomplishment and will enable them to become more confident. Understanding how society in the UK works will enable them to become more independent and better able to integrate. The children are involved in the organisation of the project; by designing materials and requesting specific areas of training. The project will also involve the volunteer co-ordinators running awareness raising activities in local schools to challenge some of the myths surrounding asylum. Where children have been separated from their family by conflict, the Red Cross helps them trace their family and send a message to let them know they are safe. This project will build on the success of similar Red Cross projects elsewhere in the country. We need to secure £175,000 to run the programme from 2008-2010. We value the support we receive very highly. We invite supporters to become as involved in our work as they wish to, so they understand the impact their contribution makes to the lives of the people we help. We want our supporters to feel as much of a sense of ownership and pride in the Red Cross as we do.