War Child UK has announced that the UK government will be matching public donations to their Torn From Home Appeal, to help keep children affected by war in Afghanistan at home and safe. 

In Afghanistan, thousands of children, some as young as eight, are forced to leave home in search of work after decades of war have destroyed their family’s livelihoods. With no financial security, and the youngest members to care for, families are left feeling they have little to no choice but to take the agonising decision to resort to child migration and labour. 

Matched funding from the UK government will help to change that – enabling a project which will focus on increasing access to local employment and learning. Key to this will be the build of two multi-purpose support centres in Afghanistan to host a range of activities in a safe and accessible community space. War Child UK’s team will support younger children up to the age of 14 return to school and provide a package of support to older children aged 15-17, to include business skills training, local apprenticeship placement or business start-up mentoring.

Donations made up to and including the 18^th February 2021, will be doubled by the UK government. This will go towards supporting War Child UK’s work in helping to keep families together, sparing thousands of children from migration and labour where they can face exploitation, abuse, and then deportation back to the border where they are left afraid and alone.

Rob Williams, CEO of War Child UK said:

We are thrilled that the UK government will be doubling public donations to our Torn From Home appeal. Not only will this make the generosity of the public go twice as far, but it will have a significant impact on our work in Afghanistan, and to the lives of the children and families we are supporting there.

Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab said:

No child should have to leave the safety of their family and find work because of war. UK Aid Match gives the public the chance to double the impact of their donations to some of their favourite charities. War Child UK will be able to help keep children affected by war in Afghanistan at home and safe, with the support they need to reach their full potential.