Chloe

Dear friends and donors,
Thanks to your unfailing support, we have been able to carry out some wonderful initiatives in recent months. In May, we organised a magnificent photo exhibition in Brussels in support of Omoana. A huge thank you to the talented photographer Maxime Collier for his moving work, and to everyone who came along and shared this moment with us. Your presence made this event a real success!
We also took part in the Race for Gift, where we were able to mobilise 20 passionate runners, collect 200 donations and raise an impressive total of CHF 13,659 to support our projects. A big thank you to all the participants and donors who, through their efforts and generosity, enable us to continue to make a real difference.

Finally, as we embark on a new donation tracking system, we would like to express our deep gratitude to Jean Genoud, father of our founder and director, for over 20 years of invaluable commitment, particularly in managing the database. His constant support has been an invaluable force for Omoana.
Your commitment to us is the driving force behind what we do, and for that we thank you a thousand times over.

Coming back from Uganda is always a mixture of joy and emotion for me. During my trip last September, I had the opportunity to attend an awareness-raising session run by Girls Menarche Initiative (GMI), our new partner, in an isolated village where access to education and resources is terribly limited. There, surrounded by shy but curious young girls, I was struck by the strength of this initiative and the hope it represents for thousands of girls who would otherwise be left behind.

In this remote village, seeing these young girls open up about a subject as sensitive as menstruation was a powerful moment. But what touched me even more was seeing the boys present, involved in the discussion. GMI understands that to break taboos and fight stigma, you have to talk to boys too. Their approach is incredibly intelligent: by educating both sexes, they transform the perception of menstruation into a collective issue of respect and empathy. In this way, boys become allies in the fight for equality and inclusion.

What touches me even more is the personal story that links us to GMI. One of the founders is a former beneficiary of Omoana House, our rehabilitation project for children born with HIV. To see that he has now become a key agent of change in his own community, working to transform the lives of other young people, was a moment that moved me deeply. It’s a great example of how, with support and resources, marginalised children can become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

By launching this project, ‘Menstruation doesn’t stand in the way of dreams’, we’re taking a new step together, and I know we’ll have a real impact. Because what we’re doing is much more than providing products or information. It’s about restoring confidence, dignity and hope. This project reminds me that every support counts, that every gesture we make resonates in the lives of these young people. Through this collaboration, we’re not just changing the face of menstrual insecurity, we’re building bridges between the past and the future, between the dreams of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your commitment to us.

Chloé Collier
Program coordinator

In Uganda and Iraq, children in conflict with the law have generally been exposed to situations of extreme violence. Various forms of exploitation, including prostitution, dangerous work, the sale of drugs and affiliation with armed groups, have affected their development. Many of those monitored by the Omoana partners have also been placed in detention in difficult conditions, far from their families. When they return, it is not always easy for their families to know how to support them emotionally.

This is why Omoana and its partners have created the ‘Family Together’ approach. These interactive sessions help families and friends to know how best to welcome children back from detention.

They are invited to reflect on the causes and contextual factors that lead children into these exploitative situations. They are also encouraged to draw inspiration from key people who have had a positive impact in their own lives to better support children and young people in their families. Sessions on child and adolescent development and the impact of trauma on children and adolescents are taught. Stress management methods for parents are also proposed. This is complemented by interactive exercises on communication and discipline, with role-plays inspired by forum theatre. Through these, they explore a way of guiding children by letting them know what behaviour is acceptable and what is not, in a way that is both firm and caring. Finally, they discuss how to boost their self-confidence. Alongside these group sessions, family members also have access to individual counselling.

Children in conflict with the law are first and foremost victims of exploitative systems, and require all the attention they can get. The method used by Omoana’s partners aims to put families at the centre of solutions. Omoana focuses on technical support and moves away from material support. Strengthening their ability to face adversity together is essential. This requires dedicated and competent social workers, whom we are lucky enough to have as partners, and to whom we try to offer the most relevant tools possible.