10 years on active duty!

Version française, cliquez ici.

Click here to download our 10th Anniversary Special Edition Annual Report (2009-10)

This year, CCI celebrates its tenth birthday! Through the years, we have every day re-kindled our relationship with our partners, as much in India and Thailand as in Quebec, so that we may together fight against the exploitation of children. Nevertheless, again this morning, 215 million children in this world got up and went to work. Some of them are barely 6 years-old… Most of them slave 7 days a week, up to 16 hours per day. They are more often than not deprived of attending school, and are exposed to physical, sexual or psychological abuse. For the past 10 years, our efforts are the result of your involvement. Today, thanks to your support, we are proud of having come this far. We are successfully and simultaneously managing three projects in the field, and we hope more than ever to come to the aid of a growing number of impoverished children and families. Ten years-old, that’s a great age at which to measure the progress made and to face the future with great confidence! Her's wishing you "Happy reading", and we hope to see you, or see you again, at one of our future events!

The CCI team

CCI’s Latest News

News from India

India remains more than ever a priority for CCI. This is because 36% of its population survives below the poverty level on less than $1.00 a day.

Announcing a new project! The Rescue Foundation is now our new Indian partner, and together we are fighting against sexual exploitation in Mumbai. This Indian non-profit non-governmental organisation frees some 300 young girls annually, and provides them with the necessary care and services to see them rehabilitated. The Rescue Foundation was for that matter honoured by Châtelaine magazine last month! CCI is financing the construction of a school aimed at helping around 100 young girls strengthen their links with society, and offering them more choices for the future through formal education and career training workshops (Photo: Young girls freed by the Rescue Foundation taking courses in self-defence in a suburb of Mumbai). To know more »»

CCI is sending out a call for donations to support the building of this training centre for young girls freed from the sex trade. These young girls need YOUR support. To make a donation »»               

News from Thaïland    

In December 2009, CCI entered into a partnership with a Thai non-governmental institution called the Foundation for Child Development (FCD),  in the Province of Samutprakarn near Bangkok. Our project ensures the running of the Santikham Centre, which cares for illegal immigrant and working children in this suburb of Bangkok. Over a million people live in the Province of Samutprakarn; between 350,000 and 900,000 of them are illegal immigrants. The majority come from neighbouring countries (Cambodia, Burma and Laos) and hope to findin the Province of Samutprakarn near Bangkok. Our project ensures the running of the Santikham Centre, which cares for illegal immigrant and working children in this suburb of Bangkok. Over a million people live in the Province of Samutprakarn; between 350,000 and 900,000 of them are illegal immigrants. The majority come from neighbouring countries (Cambodia, Burma and Laos) and hope to find work to improve their standard of living and send their savings to their loved ones in their country of origin. This situation almost always leads to children working in awful conditions which deprive them from the possibility of going to school.

It is estimated that there are some 46,000 child labourers in the Province of Samutprakarn only. Among those between the ages of 6 and 18, over 72% are employed; half of them are less than 14 years-old; many are younger than 10. Because of their illicit situation in Thailand, illegal immigrants survive in dangerous situations, in a climate of constant fear and suspicion, always afraid of being denounced to the police, constantly running the risk of being expulsed and losing everything from one day to the next.
   
The Santikham Centre is only open on weekends at the moment. In the medium term, FCD intends to ultimately stay open seven days a week. Children know that at the centre they can count on the love and support of adults so that they may reach their full potential.

This project is being jointly run with the Mathieu-Lafond Foundation, CCI’s partner in Quebec.

What’s happening in Canada

CCI in schools and public spaces 

Last September 15, CCI manned a kiosk at the Volunteer Fair of the Montreal International School, to show students a way to get involved that is in line with CCI’s mission.

On September 20, members of the CCI team attended the showing at Montreal’s Concordia University’s Cinema Politica of the movie “BAS! Beyond the Red Light!” CCI representatives were at the exit doors to answer questions and prolong the overwhelming effect that the documentary film never fails to evoke.

On September 24 again in Montreal, CCI attended the Culture Days celebration at the Maison de la Culture Frontenac, which provided a wonderful opportunity for us to meet the public and introduce our humanitarian projects.

On October 14, CCI manned a kiosk at Concordia University during the World March of Women. A full programme of events gave rhythm to the festivities which took place in the Atrium of the University’s EV Building: conferences, kiosks, etc. CCI team members also helped build a giant ‘marcher’ with recycled materials with other representatives of organisations working in international cooperation, for the final march in Rimouski. The World March of Women took place from October 12 to 17. To learn more about this march »»

CCI in the media

In its September 2010 edition, the French-language Châtelaine published a photoreport by the photographer Kiran Ambwani and film director Wendy Champagne on the documentary "BAS ! Beyond the Red Light !". The pages explain the fate of these young girls who were victims of the sex trade in Mumbai but were freed from captivity by the Rescue Foundation (see above).

CCI’s Founder, Roxana Robin, was interviewed on Radio-Canada’s TV programme “C’est la vie” on October 12. The programme drew a picture of her past history, and of her commitment which is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children in India and in Thailand. You can see Episode 27 (in French) of the programme on Tou.tv.

A report on our Annual General Meeting in September

CCI’s AGM was held on September 23; some 25 persons were present and the event was, in everyone’s opinion, quite successful. One member maintained that “it was a very pleasant and well-organised meeting. Your work is extraordinary as well as necessary.” An important item was the election by acclamation of a new Member of the Board, Ms. Hélène Vanier. As a volunteer for the past two years, she stands out because of her deep commitment to CCI, and it is felt that she will enrich the Board because of her communication and fundraising skills. She also has some humanitarian work experience under her belt, namely in Nepal and in Bangladesh where she worked with orphans.

We were honoured by the presence of Ms. Carole Cartier, Co-Founder of the Mathieu-Lafond Foundation (CCI partner on our new project in Thailand). She gave a vibrant talk which testified to the foundation’s commitment: “The foundation believes in the coming of a world where the child is recognised and respected as having rights, needs, dreams, plans and hopes.”

The evening ended with the projection of the harrowing film "BAS! Beyond the Red Light!" (see above) which depicts the work of our Indian partner, the Rescue Foundation, with young girls freed from the sex trade in Mumbai. We thank all who support us and those who attended the AGM with us that evening! A big ‘thank-you’ to the restaurant ChuChaï for its show of solidarity through its contribution of delectable goodies for all present. Also, this year’s Financial Statements and Annual Report were distributed to everyone. (Photo: Sister Monique of the Sisters of Charity, and Karine Cloutier Lévesque, Acting Executive Director).

 A glance at ....

The third annual World Day for Decent Work was celebrated last October 7. For more information »»

November 20 will be Universal Children’s Day. On that same day, we celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The trade of human beings is a world-wide plague. Just the trade of children in itself creates all of 1.2 million victims a year.

 Upcoming Events

Literary contest

CCI will soon declare its 2010/2011 Literary Contest open. Primary and secondary school students, and adults as well, are invited to get their thinking caps on and tackle the touchy subject of child labour. Check our website or our Facebook page on a regular basis to learn all about the contest and when it starts. Winners will be revealed on World Day Against Child Labour (June 12), when prizes will be awarded.

What’s new within CCI ...

We are happy to welcome three new persons to CCI’s working team: Arianne Cardinal, Administrative Assistant; and Audrey Lémery and Barthélemy Saccoman, both interns.

Arianne Cardinal earned a Masters in Political Science from the Université du Québec à Montréal, with a specialty in development studies and international cooperation. “For me, the fact that CCI works with local organisations that it supports and whose expertise it knows well, without wishing to replace them, is in itself evidence of humility and respect. It makes me want to convey to allaround me the importance of the work that we do.” (Photo on left: Audrey Lémery and ArianneCardinal).

Audrey Lémery is a student at Sciences-Po Paris who chose to spend her third year of studies in Montreal, as an eight-month intern at CCI: “It is a great opportunity for me to finally be able to get actively involved in the field of international cooperation. Every day, I add my modest little brick to a big building representing our war against the exploitation of children around the world.”

Barthélémy Saccoman is also a student at Sciences-Po Paris who chose to intern at CCI foreightmonths: “During my stay here, I will do everythingpossible to advance CCI’s cause: increasing awareness, more fundraising, strengthening our projects in India and Thailand. The Rescue Foundation project in Mumbai is closest to my heart ever since I saw the film ‘BAS!’.”     

  To support us ....

Win-a-Mercedes Contest

Terre sans frontières (i.e. world without borders), a non-profit non-governmental organisation in Quebec, is organising a big raffle for which the drawing will take place on November 4. A Mercedes and tens of thousands of dollars are up for grabs. CCI is selling tickets and for each sale, CCI earns 50% and the other 50% goes to finance Terre sans frontières activities. Tickets cost $150 each, and groups of people can get together to buy a ticket.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. Hurry up! November 4 is already upon us! For details on the raffle »»

The Green Consciousness Guide

The Green Consciousness Guide (Montreal’s only green guide and local coupon book) costs $20 and provides information on numerous discounts in ethically-friendly shops in Montreal. You can get a guide through CCI and for each copy sold, $7 goes to CCI. Do a good deed and at the same time, save!

Donate

We invite you to support CCI by making a financial contribution so that we may continue our efforts to protect children from abuse and exploitation.

Only $20 per week is needed to cover the basic needs of a child. To donate:

By check made out to the order of Children’s Care International and mailed to:

152 rue Notre-Dame est, 6e étage Montréal, QC H2Y 3P6, Canada

Through our website »»

In person. Come and meet us, and learn more about our projects.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Become a CCI fan on Facebook or follow updates on Twitter !              

Talk about us to people around you!

Help us to promote the cause of exploited children! Send this bulletin to your friends!

Donate some of your time!

Interested person are invited to join CCI and thus participate in community outreach. Learn more about becoming a member of CCI by writing to info@aipe-cci.org or calling us at (514) 871-8088.