FOREM, a private organization, hopes to place 10,000 orphans under the sponsorship of generous Algerians.
By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 16/04/10
More than a quarter-million Algerian children whose parents were killed during the Black Decade may soon see help from a sponsorship program just unveiled by the National Foundation for Health Promotion and Research Development (FOREM).
Aicha is eager to serve as an adult benefactor to one of the estimated 300,000 Algerian orphans.
"I wasn't fortunate enough to have children," she told Magharebia. "When I found out that you can sponsor a child, this seemed like a good idea to me. I'll be able to help children and follow their progress at school."
For many families looking to help children find a home, sponsorship is an alternative to adoption. In Algeria, children who are placed with a family have no inheritance or kinship rights, a regulation that deters many would-be parents from adopting.
To deal with this problem, FOREM launched a voluntary sponsorship scheme on March 31st. The organization, which deals with a range of social concerns including AIDs awareness, aims to enroll a total of 10,000 children in the program.
Sponsors are required to provide 3,000 dirhams per month to help with the child's expenses, but foundation head Mustapha Khiati is encouraging sponsors to give more if they are able.
"Although modest, this amount would enable [children] to have proper schooling, cover their healthcare needs and provide a minimum amount of leisure," Khiati told Magharebia. He said the sponsorship level was set so as to encourage less-wealthy families to contribute.
This arrangement will enable children who have lost one or both parents to remain in a family environment while also being guaranteed a minimum level of income, Khiati added.
Both children and potential sponsors involved in the program will be carefully screened according to FOREM criteria. Children must be under 16 and come from families needing financial assistance, while sponsors must be of irreproachable character. Social workers will visit the children at homes and in school to ensure they are being looked after properly.
Algeria's former religious affairs minister, Dr. Mohamed Berredouane, explained the process of sponsorship or kafala.
"Kafala, which is adoption without filiation, allows children to be taken care of by enabling them to have their adoptive family's surname on their civil status documents, which means that they can avoid having to mention 'Born under X' or 'No patrimonial name,'" Berroudouane said.
The practice of kafala was introduced in 1990, after thousands of children lost their parents in massacres committed by terrorists, Berroudouane said.
"Sponsoring is…an excellent thing," Mohamed, an imam, told Magharebia. "It's a bit like the equivalent of sadaka. It must be remembered that religion places great importance on orphans."
Reda, a manufacturer, said he was proud to sponsor a child.
"It's been a wonderful experience. I am responsible for a 10-year-old child who lost his parents. I cater to his needs, I pay for his schooling, and I find it really interesting. It allows me to do something good," he said.
Mehdi, the young child he sponsors, said: "Since I've been sponsored, I've had no worries. My sponsor is very kind. He pays for me to receive a good education and more besides. Thanks to him, I have nice clothes and I can even go on holiday. Before, I couldn't even dream about that."
Mehdi's maternal aunt also said she was grateful for the assistance.
"I've been looking after Mehdi since he lost his parents. It's my duty, but I wasn't really coping financially. I was unable to provide him with everything he needed," she told Magharebia.
"Thanks to Mr. Reda, I no longer have anything to worry about. He provides [Mehdi] with what he needs and more besides. We were able to go on holiday last year. That was a first."
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/04/16/feature-01.
By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 16/04/10
More than a quarter-million Algerian children whose parents were killed during the Black Decade may soon see help from a sponsorship program just unveiled by the National Foundation for Health Promotion and Research Development (FOREM).
Aicha is eager to serve as an adult benefactor to one of the estimated 300,000 Algerian orphans.
"I wasn't fortunate enough to have children," she told Magharebia. "When I found out that you can sponsor a child, this seemed like a good idea to me. I'll be able to help children and follow their progress at school."
For many families looking to help children find a home, sponsorship is an alternative to adoption. In Algeria, children who are placed with a family have no inheritance or kinship rights, a regulation that deters many would-be parents from adopting.
To deal with this problem, FOREM launched a voluntary sponsorship scheme on March 31st. The organization, which deals with a range of social concerns including AIDs awareness, aims to enroll a total of 10,000 children in the program.
Sponsors are required to provide 3,000 dirhams per month to help with the child's expenses, but foundation head Mustapha Khiati is encouraging sponsors to give more if they are able.
"Although modest, this amount would enable [children] to have proper schooling, cover their healthcare needs and provide a minimum amount of leisure," Khiati told Magharebia. He said the sponsorship level was set so as to encourage less-wealthy families to contribute.
This arrangement will enable children who have lost one or both parents to remain in a family environment while also being guaranteed a minimum level of income, Khiati added.
Both children and potential sponsors involved in the program will be carefully screened according to FOREM criteria. Children must be under 16 and come from families needing financial assistance, while sponsors must be of irreproachable character. Social workers will visit the children at homes and in school to ensure they are being looked after properly.
Algeria's former religious affairs minister, Dr. Mohamed Berredouane, explained the process of sponsorship or kafala.
"Kafala, which is adoption without filiation, allows children to be taken care of by enabling them to have their adoptive family's surname on their civil status documents, which means that they can avoid having to mention 'Born under X' or 'No patrimonial name,'" Berroudouane said.
The practice of kafala was introduced in 1990, after thousands of children lost their parents in massacres committed by terrorists, Berroudouane said.
"Sponsoring is…an excellent thing," Mohamed, an imam, told Magharebia. "It's a bit like the equivalent of sadaka. It must be remembered that religion places great importance on orphans."
Reda, a manufacturer, said he was proud to sponsor a child.
"It's been a wonderful experience. I am responsible for a 10-year-old child who lost his parents. I cater to his needs, I pay for his schooling, and I find it really interesting. It allows me to do something good," he said.
Mehdi, the young child he sponsors, said: "Since I've been sponsored, I've had no worries. My sponsor is very kind. He pays for me to receive a good education and more besides. Thanks to him, I have nice clothes and I can even go on holiday. Before, I couldn't even dream about that."
Mehdi's maternal aunt also said she was grateful for the assistance.
"I've been looking after Mehdi since he lost his parents. It's my duty, but I wasn't really coping financially. I was unable to provide him with everything he needed," she told Magharebia.
"Thanks to Mr. Reda, I no longer have anything to worry about. He provides [Mehdi] with what he needs and more besides. We were able to go on holiday last year. That was a first."
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/04/16/feature-01.
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