Children’s Ministries

Over 1 billion children – more than half the children in developing countries – live in poverty. According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die daily due to poverty (11 million annually). Around 30% of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted and poor nutrition contributes to 3.1 million deaths in children under five. In addition, annually, 1.4 million die from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation; 2.2 million die because they are not immunized; and 15 million children are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Poverty denies children safety, dignity and protection. Each year, tens of millions of children are victims of exploitation, violence and abuse. Some are abducted from their homes and schools and recruited into armed forces. Some are forced into early marriage, or subjected to violence and abuse in the home, school and community. An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year; 2 million children, the majority of them girls, are exploited in the multibillion-dollar commercial sex industry. Countless others are forced to labor in sweatshops, mines, farms, and factories. Currently, 180 million children are engaged in the worst forms of child labor. UMCOR accompanies and empowers children, families and communities by providing access to the resources, training and technical support they need to break the cycle of poverty and reach their God-given potential. We support programs working to create a healthy and safe environment where children are protected, cared for, well-nourished, happy and healthy. Our goal is to ensure that children have the material, emotional and social resources they need to thrive and become active and engaged citizens. Recognizing that the root causes of childhood poverty, disempowerment and marginalization are complex and intertwined, UMCOR seeks to support programs that address multiple and often overlapping

(a) Provide funding, accompaniment and technical support to organizations that empower children and their caregivers to address the root causes of childhood poverty. (b) Develop resources and educational materials to educate and raise awareness within the faith based community about the issues faced by people who are poor and food insecure and call people to action to mobilize for ending the systemic injustices of hunger and poverty in the world.