Save the Children organizations operating in Nepal have united into a single entity to create a stronger voice for the country’s children.

Japanese Ambassador Tatsuo Mizuno (first from left), former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Kul Chandra Gautam (second from left) and Save the Children Country Director Gunnar Andersen (fourth from left) at the at the programme organized to launch the unified Save the Children at the organization’s office in Kathmandu on Wednesday, April 01,2009. nepalnews.com/Kristin Johnston

Japanese Ambassador Tatsuo Mizuno (first from left), former Deputy…
Speaking at the programme organized to launch the unified Save the Children at the organization’s office in the capital Wednesday, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCS) Ram Charan Chaudhary, who was the guest of honor at the programme, congratulated the child rights organization for coming under one umbrella in their objective to work for the welfare of children in the country.

Minister Chaudhary hoped that Save the Children’s plan to work in a unified manner will be crucial in bringing lasting improvements to children’s lives while at the same time pledged that the government will seriously implement all the child rights conventions it is signatory to. He also expressed government’s commitment to ensure children’s rights as well as working towards bettering their lives, adding that it is serious towards protection as well as rehabilitation of disabled, conflict-hit and trafficked children.

Likewise, Binda Hada, secretary at the MoWCS, Kul Chandra Gautam, former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF including other distinguished guests spoke at the event.

Stating that the idea behind the unification was to establish one unified programme delivery structure, Gunnar Andersen, Save the Children Country Director, assured that Save the Children will continue in its mission to improve the lives of children by continuing to work in three main areas they have been working on – education, health and protection.

On the occasion, a message from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to Save the Children was also read out. In the message, President Yadav conveyed his hopefulness in Save the Children’s ability to accomplish even more for children through their unified presence, further stating, “as a global entity fighting for the rights of children, I hope the unified presence of Save the Children will create a stronger voice for children in Nepal whose issues and concerns are often neglected.”

Save the Children Norway, Save the Children Japan, USA and Sweden and other members contributing to programmes in Nepal will now have united presence (UP) in Nepal under the name unified Save the Children.

Save the Chidlren Norway has been elected as Managing Member and Save the Children USA and Japan as Participating Members. Save the Children Sweden, which has a regional office in Nepal, will be a Project Participating Member.

Government sanction and official legal recognition of the unified Save the Children was obtained on the 19th of March 2009 when the appointed director of the unified organization, Mr Gunner Andersen, signed as agreement with the Social Welfare council (SWC), according to a press release issued by the organization working for children’s rights.

“As a unified organization, Save the Children aspires to achieve even more for Nepal’s children,” the press release said.

According to the release, Save the Children will be working in 56 district across 5 regions, with 90 partner NGOs, and in collaboration with three different ministries; the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministery of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

The focus areas of the unified programmes will be education, Protection (including Conflict, Violence, Abuse and Exploitation) and Health (HIV/AIDs, Emergency and Disaster Response).

In addition, the Nepal office will oversee all Save the Children programmes operating in Bhutan. nepalnews.com Apr 01 09