Girls living and working on the streets of Kinshasa face multiple threats. With few choices, most turn to sex work as a means of earning a livelihood and are at extreme risk of sexual violence from street boys, public, police and the military.

This project is improving protection for Kinshasa’s vulnerable and marginalised street girls by providing them with support including a mobile “night-bus” outreach service offering access to medical and psychosocial support. A 24-hour drop-in centre is providing girls with a safe space to wash, leave their belongings and have a hot meal. We’re also running educational and recreational activities through the centre. There is a nurse and social worker for counselling, medical support and referral where necessary. During the course of the project, we will also reunify 100 girls with their families, where possible and desirable from both sides. Negative community attitudes towards street girls, including of street boys and police will improve through sensitization.

Thanks for supporting us at MellonAid – We raised over $11,000 on the night!  To relive the night here and see what our Chairperson Clare Mirabello had to say check out the video of the night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flLrZEkB3oA

Hi all War Child Supporters and Monks of Mellonwah fans. Due to unforeseen circumstances at the old venue a new venue has been obtained for the MellonAid concert.
The new venue is:

• Metro Lair
• George Street,
• Sydney

View Larger Map

Raffle Tickets

Can’t get to the concert? Don’t worry you can get raffle tickets and be in the draw to wind a Gibson guitar signed by Slash from Guns’n'Roses
See the YouTube to find out more about the Slash signature guitar.

Not only is this a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top it has been especially adjusted and customised by Slash and is signed by him.Slash Gibson Les Paul Gold Top Guitar

To get your raffle tickets contact War Child or the Monks of Mellonwah

The Monks of Mellonwah, a hot new alternative funk/rock band with a unique sound, blending elements of classic blues & rock with more modern sounds, are presenting Australia’s first ever MELLONAID event, a charity concert for the benefit of War Child Australia.

Supporting the Monks of Mellonwah are Claire, Tred and Gawk, making for a quality 4-band line up that will be sure to rock the Factory Theatre and with your help raise some significant money to aid the wonderful charity work done by War Child.

War Child is an international relief and development agency, dedicated to providing immediate effective and sustainable aid to children affected by war. War Child is currently working in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Uganda.

“All net proceeds from MELLONAID will be donated to War child in an effort to help children much less fortunate than us. It is that simple” – Joe de la Hoyde, lead guitarist of the Monks of Mellonwah.

You can help by buying a ticket and coming to The Factory Theatre at 7.00pm on February 19th 2011, adding your support to War Child Australia and having a great time in the process. As Joe says, “MELLONAID is going to rock.”
For further information please visit the following links –

Monks of Mellonwah – www.monksofmellonwah.com
MELLONAID Blog – www.mellonaid.blogspot.com
War Child – www.warchild.org.au

Last night I attended the book launch of ‘Girls Night In’. A wonderful collection of short stories written by Jessica Adams, Cecilia Ahern, Maggie Alderson, Nick Earls, Gretel Killeen and long list of other accomplished authors. The evening began with some champagne and nibbles. Authors mingled and talked about old times and it was an opportunity for some young fans to meet their literary idols.

The evening was not all about champagne and chit-chat though. This event had a serious side. We all remembered that sales of the book generate income for War Child designated to helping children in war torn countries. So it was befitting that the room stopped in silence to listen to Mark Waddington speak about the progress and activities that War Child is making.

Hey guys, I’m new to this. The first of many posts in the hope to gain an audience. I will start by explaining who I am, and what I will be attempting for War Child in 2011. I’m a regular guy, My name is Adam, I’m 24, live in Melbourne and am studying to become a police officer. Next year on August 5th I will set off for the challenge of a lifetime. Running 960km at an average altitude of 400m above sea level in 22 days through the Himalayan mountains. I will be traveling the Friendship highway from Lhasa,Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. This will set a new world record, raising awareness and funds in support of War Child Australia.

The route goes from Lhasa (3660m) I’ll make my way over two passes, one called Khamba La at 4794m, and the 2nd, Karo La at 5054m. I plan on pushing over both these as quickly as possible being able to rest a further 261km along the route in Gyantse at 3950m. This should be much better for sleep as at high altitude without oxygen when you sleep it is known for some to choke uncontrollably. 90km after that I plan on passing through Shigatse at 3900m Tibet’s second largest city again catching up on some rest and refuelling for the long slog ahead. I will then come across another pass called Gyamtso at 5220m. 244km after Shigatse I will pass through Shegar. The most difficult of the challenge will be the next 181km after Shegar where I will again go over two passes Lalung la pass at 5124m and shung la pass at 5200m. After travelling the 181km I will find myself reaching Zhangmu at 2300m. It is then another 123km to Kathmandu (1400m) where i will hope to finish the challenge at most likely the monkey temple a well known landmark.

Adding to the difficulty of juggling the terrain, temperature changes, and altitude I will also be attempting this with little or no support carrying a minimum of 15kg worth of equipment, barefooted and with very little knowledge of Tibetan or the nepalese language. I hope that there are many others out there with as a much passion as me,to get on board and help support War Child.

To make your support count go to everydayhero and sign up to sponsor me, Adam Justin, barefoot runner.
http://www.everydayhero.com.au/adam_justin

From the bottom of the sea to the highest mountain, there’s a story for everyone in the latest Kids’ Night In book – volume three. Kids’ Night In 3 might just be the most amazing collection of stories ever. And every copy you buy helps to raise money for War Child, the aid organisation that helps children all over the world, affected by war. This book – published, 2009 – is an ocean of bedtime stories, poetry, recipes, hilarious cartoons and cool art to explore! Look between the pages for wellknown authors such as Jessica Adams, Anna Fienberg and Tamara Sheward.

It has never been easier to raise money for War Child thanks to Everyday Hero.

With the help of Everyday Hero you can raise money by creating a personalised online fundraising page with your own photos or videos telling your story about how and why you are trying to raise money. There’s no hassles collecting promised money or issuing receipts because Everyday Hero sends a receipt immediately by email and pays the money directly into War Child’s bank account.

Invite people to support your event by email. Online fundraising lets you email people all over the world to show them what you are doing and why, and ask for donations. Everyday Hero suggests that 30 per cent of people you email will donate, so the more emails you send the more money you will raise! Now you can set up your event for War Child at Everyday Hero processes every donation from your sponsors, issues the tax deductible receipt (if applicable) to the donor

Dear supporters, we are very excited to introduce you to our new website which, as we have some new volunteers on board, we are planning on making a much more regular item. We really wanted to let you know about a few fund raising initiatives that are about to come to fruition.

First, the War Child Australia Cambodia Challenge – organised with the assistance of Inspired Adventures. You can raise money for War Child and take a 10 day bike ride through Cambodia helping out at threedifferent orphanages as well as visiting more traditional tourist destinations such as Angkor Wat. To set yourself a new goal and sign up for the challenge see the further details at http://www.inspiredadventures.com.au/warchild2010. It would also be a great help to us if you could tell all of your friends about it.

Secondly, at the beginning of October, Penguin released the latest ‘War Child Australia’ book, ‘Kids Night In 3′. This book is the perfect choice for any 8 to 12 year old that you know for Christmas and all of the contributors and Penguin have generously agreed to donate all royalties to War Child.
To give you an idea of what funds raised can buy:
• $30 buys books for 30 street children
• $60 will reunite a child with their family, after being separated by war
• $100 provides medicine for 30 children for one month!

We look forward to telling you more about what we at War Child Australia have been doing through our newsletter and website in the coming months. In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas and a safe, and a happy New Year.

Clare Mirabello
Chair, War Child Australia

It has now been more than two months since the amazing participants of the War Child Cambodia Challenge returned home from their incredible adventure. Organised in collaboration with Inspired Adventures, participants raised funds for War Child Australia, travelling to Cambodia to experience firsthand the effects of genocide and war on local communities. This was an extraordinary personal challenge, on both a physical and mental level. Huge thanks must go to the eight amazing women who took up the call – Marcia, Victoria, Judith, Viviene, Jo, Mimi, Kim and Cathy. With their help we have raised much needed funds and awareness to support the work of War Child Australia, and their effort and dedication is truly inspiring.

We are pleased to announce that the total tally fundraised by the group is over $30,000. This is an incredible effort, and we are greatly appreciative of the participants and the businesses and individuals who supported them. The money raised from the Cambodia Challenge will go directly towards community projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing education and support to children affected by war. Our sincerest gratitude must also be extended to the dedicated team at Inspired Adventures, facilitators of this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

For all participants, the challenge was an opportunity to explore and appreciate the beauty of Cambodia, while at the same time providing support to existing community initiatives in the region. The trip involved a ten-day bike ride through Cambodia, often in temperatures of over 40°C, as well as lending a hand in Siem Reap at two different orphanages. The journey also led the team to many of the popular tourist destinations around Cambodia, including the world-renowned temples of Angkor Wat and exquisite palaces and architecture of Phnom Penh. Cycling through through the green Cambodian countryside, the participants were greeted each day by the warm and hospitable locals with open arms.

Of course, the War Child Cambodia Challenge began months prior to the actual trip itself. The eight participants adeptly dealt with the physical preparation of cycling upwards of eighty kilometers per day during training; developing and facilitating creative fundraising ventures to raise funds for the trip; and the mental and emotional preparation necessary for working the orphanages and acculturating to the Cambodian way of life.

The legacy of genocide and civil conflict continues to linger in Cambodia, despite the fact that war has long since ended in the country. This trip provided the team with invaluable direct insight into the continuing destructive consequences of war, and the impact this has had on the most vulnerable group in this community – children. The 2010 Cambodia Challenge has reinforced the importance of work done by War Child Australia in working with children such as these, helping to nurture and support communities in post-war contexts, and bolster awareness for these issues back home.

Planning is already underway for a similar challenge in 2011. If you have any questions or ideas for next year’s adventure, or simply want to check out the 2010 participants’ blogs and photos, log onto www.warchild.org.au.