7 fund in action

We’re helping children break down barriers and unlock their incredible potential

Our latest projects have been tackling violence, bullying, child marriage and missed education, and making sure children — especially girls — get a true chance to realise their potential.

We work with families, communities and governments to ensure the impact from these projects is sustainable. As well as addressing immediate needs, we work to deliver long-term support that creates lasting change for children.

Tackling child marriage in Nepal

Nepal has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Asia. Girls are often forced to drop out of school and are left especially isolated- their potential stolen away.

How we’ve helped

We’ve been working to ensure children and adolescents in targeted communities in Madesh Province, southeastern Nepal can access and stay in education. This has been achieved through encouraging consistent school attendance and supporting young people with non-formal education.

We’ve supported a project to help girls who aren’t in school return to education and we’re helping girls and boys build life skills to protect themselves. This programme has also given them vital skills such as financial management and communication skills to set them up for success in the future. We’re working with parents and communities to better understand the harmful effects of child marriage and supporting health services provide mental health support to boys and girls.

Supporting girls to get an education in Uganda

In Uganda, we’re tackling violence in schools and communities- so girls can stay in or return to school and realise their potential.

60 percent of girls in Uganda don’t make it to secondary school at all. Just as they are discovering who they could become, girls face abuse in schools, exposure to physical and sexual violence and increased risks on child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

How we’ve helped

UNICEF has been working in schools and communities in Adjumani District in northern Uganda to create safe environments for every child and adolescent to learn and build skills to help them succeed in life. The project has also supported girls and young women who are pregnant, a parent or have been affected by sexual violence and dropped out of school, return to education.

More than 25,000 adolescents have benefited from Lifeskills sessions in schools, helping to provide them with the critical skills they need to protect themselves and secure future jobs so they can thrive in life. This includes managing conflict, violence protection, problem solving and critical thinking.

We’ve been supporting schools with teacher training and creating protection systems to track and report violence. We’ve worked with parents and community groups to show the lifelong impact of supporting girls to stay in school. And we’ve helped adolescents to build the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves from violence and take control of their futures.

Tackling violence in El Savador

In El Salvador, we’re tackling violence- in homes, schools and communities- so children can grow up free from fear and realise their potential.

El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in the world that’s not at war. It’s ranked one of the deadliest countries for women. More than two thirds of all sexual abuse victims are girls under 18.  Children here are denied even the most basic chance to play outside because it’s so dangerous. Poverty and migration also increase the risks faced by children.

How we’ve helped

We’ve been working in the most violent municipalities like San Marcos and San Martin in El Salvador to prevent and respond to cases of violence against children. We’ve helped to strengthen and improve access to child protection systems, supporting children to stay in school and transforming public areas into child friendly spaces, helping children, including those with disabilities, to safely play sports, learn life skills and build resilience.

Tackling bullying in Indonesia

In Indonesia, we’ve been working to tackle violence and bullying – so children can feel safe at school and realise their potential.

Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable, and the impact can last a lifetime – destroying a young person’s self-esteem

How we’ve helped

UNICEF has supported a school-based programme in West Papua, Indonesia, helping children continue their education, improve the quality of their learning and be protected from violence in schools and communities.

We’ve supported a student-led anti bullying programme, helping to reduce rates of school drop-out and child marriage. We’ve also supported adolescent boys and girls develop life skills and confidence so they can make informed choices about their lives.

Since the programme’s completion, national and local governments have taken steps to embed and expand elements of the programme to reach more teachers and students across the country.