Association of Volunteers for the Management of Vulnerable Children and Unaccompanied (AVEVENA).

The Association of Volunteers for the Management of Vulnerable Children and Unaccompanied (AVEVENA) has operated in South Kivu since 1999. AVEVENA started by opening a shelter for unaccompanied children for children from DR Congo and also refugees from Rwanda and Burundi.  AVEVENA soon also found themselves developing projects on health and nutrition, demobilisation and reintegration of child soldiers into society. They have also worked on peace promotion and co-existence through activities (football matches, culture, etc), education and awareness-raising. The expansion of AVEVENA’s work has come as a result of the commitment of its founders to peace, development and human rights in east DR Congo, which required expanding beyond just offering a shelter. In this work, AVEVENA has received support from CARITAS, Save the Children UK and UN agencies, amongst others.

One of the most significant AVEVENA’s achievements was its role in the demobilisation of 2,355 children involved in the armed forces and groups. After their demobilisation, AVEVENA also assisted with the reunion of the child soldiers with their families or communities, and helped them reintegrate through their economic scheme. AVEVENA’s demobilisation programme is developed using education for peace, non-violence, co-existence and reconciliation.