World NGO Day, marked each year on February 27, recognises the work of non-governmental organisations around the world and highlights their role in tackling humanitarian, social and environmental challenges…
It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers and professionals whose work often takes place far from the spotlight. In Monaco, where many charities and foundations operate internationally, the day provides a reminder of the Principality’s strong tradition of humanitarian engagement.
Among the organisations reflecting that commitment is Mission Enfance, a Monaco-based NGO founded 35 years ago to support children in vulnerable situations through education and humanitarian aid.
Since its creation, the organisation has focused primarily on educational projects. It builds and renovates schools, develops activity centres and toy libraries, and supports access to learning for children growing up in difficult conditions. In recent years, however, the growing number of conflicts and crises has also led Mission Enfance to expand its work to include emergency aid such as food and hygiene supplies.
Today, the NGO operates in ten countries including Afghanistan, Syria, Colombia, Iraq, Armenia, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Laos and Vietnam. In Kabul, for example, it currently distributes food assistance to families facing severe economic hardship. In Laos, the organisation is constructing schools and computer centres to help young people gain essential skills.
Working with local coordinators and partners in each country, Mission Enfance tailors its programmes to the needs of communities on the ground. After three and a half decades of activity, the organisation estimates that nearly two million children have benefited from its programmes worldwide.
Image: missionenfance.org