A new initiative titled “Small Hands, Big Dreams: Empowering Out-of-School Children (OOSC) and Children at Risk of Dropping Out (CRDO)” was launched in Taiz governorate by War Child, in partnership with Benaa Charity for Human Development (BCFHD.
The project, funded by the European Union (EU) through its Humanitarian Aid Operations, aims to improve access to quality education and enhance child protection and psychosocial well-being for 6,625 children across Al Ma’afer, Al Mudhafer, Al Qahera and Salah districts who are affected by conflict, economic instability, and natural disasters.
This initiative combines formal and non-formal education (NFE), child protection, and psychosocial support (PSS) to create sustainable, community-based solutions for the most vulnerable children, especially those from internally displaced families, marginalized groups (Muhamasheen), and children with disabilities.
The project will build and rehabilitate classrooms and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, provide learning materials and transport support, and train teachers in inclusive, conflict-sensitive methods. Community-based NFE classes will be offered, and cash assistance will be given to vulnerable families to prevent child labour and early marriage.
In addition to improving educational access, the programme will integrate psychosocial support activities such as Team Up sessions and counseling services to enhance children’s emotional and social resilience. Caregivers and community members will also play an active role through Father and Mother Councils and Child Protection Committees, strengthening local protection networks.
The project also includes a crisis modifier to ensure rapid response in case of renewed conflict or climate shocks, integrating climate-resilient infrastructure to safeguard learning continuity and community stability.
Quality monitoring will be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC), Ministry of Education (MoE), Governorate Education Office (GEO), and District Education Offices (DEO) and Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL).
By the end of the project, War Child and BCFHD aim for vulnerable girls and boys in Taiz to achieve improved learning outcomes and enhanced social and emotional skills, paving the way for a more hopeful and resilient future.