Page 25 - GDG Annual Report 2019

Projects: MIDDLE EAST Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries: Projects: AMERICAS
3,000
704,000

Relieving Hunger in Syria Surfing for a Mission

A girl in Al Safira, Syria picks pomegranates, In Mexico, project J731N Mexican Children’s Development with a focus on life skills. Once aged 18, youth move into a
a favourite fruit produced in the village. With
WFP’s help there is hope the village will return Project operates ‘Mision Surf’ – a surf school, hotel and semi-independent transition home with several other young
to pre-conflict production levels. community outreach centre working to empower the local adults, where they are supported to independence. To date, 16
community. 50 children, young adults and women from the youth have successfully transitioned and are now in full time
community attend English, swimming and surf lessons weekly. employment or university studies.
Youth from the project’s residential care program also attend
In Bolivia, project J819N Casa Segura Children’s Development
training, where surfing is often a form of therapy for those
Project was established as a locally-relevant response to the
recovering from trauma. Jose, aged 21 says...
needs of vulnerable children. Local authorities assess the
situation of each child and place them in the best alternative
“When I surf, I don’t have to think about anything care option, with ongoing assessment for the potential for
except the waves. Not my past, not drugs, reintegration. Our project has created a small, family-style
not anything. There is nothing like it.” environment, where each child establishes a close, long-
term relationship with house parents, attends local school
Jose 21 years, beneficiary of J731N
and engages in community activities. Today 3 children have
successfully completed secondary school and are attending
The project also runs a Youth Transition Program for youth higher education courses, where they will also find part time
in Misión México’s residential care, beginning at age thirteen employment as they move to greater independence.

Image: WFP/Marwa Awad

After seven years of civil conflict, 2018 saw the government In 2018, WFP impacts included*
retake large parts of Syria from opposition groups. Military
operations caused yet more displacement, with an estimated
12 million people scattered within and beyond the country’s
borders. For most Syrians, life remained precarious at best. • 4.8 million people receiving WFP food
assistance inside Syria.
Stabilizing the nutritional situation of so many people across
six countries, including in their own homeland, is enormously
costly; the prospect of doing so when millions return will • 400,000 people benefiting from WFP
require long-term and sustainable levels of funding. projects for food production and
Our project J807N Syria Emergency Relief Project is vocational training since 2016.
contributing to the incredible work of the World Food
Programme (WFP) in Syria combating food and nutrition • 2.5 million Syrian Refugees assisted in
insecurity and malnutrition.
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

*The J807N project contributed to WFP’s overall Syria program
and impact.

24 Annual Report 2019 Global Development Group Global Development Group Annual Report 2019 25