Eritrea: a home for 45 orphan girls

Dear Donors,

In recent years, the situation in Eritrea has remained marked by deep instability. After the war with Ethiopia (1998–2000), the two countries remained in a “no peace, no war” state for a long time, interrupted only temporarily by the 2018 peace declaration. However, the conflict that erupted again in Ethiopia in 2020 and the ongoing tensions in the Tigray region have rekindled uncertainty and concern, also affecting security in Eritrean territory.

Internally, the country continues to experience an increasingly intense climate of militarization. Military service, theoretically limited to 18 months, often extends for long periods and involves an ever-growing number of citizens. Recent reports from human rights organizations indicate a new national mobilization and further restrictions on freedom of movement, including a ban on leaving the country for all individuals under the age of 50.

Alongside this, the government has tightened control over schools, health centers, and social facilities, many of which have been confiscated or nationalized. Communications are heavily restricted: internet access is almost nonexistent, SIM cards are strictly monitored, and contact with local partners is irregular and often impossible. Even internal travel requires specific permits, difficult to obtain and valid only under certain conditions, making it challenging to verify projects or meet beneficiaries.

In this context, after months of attempts and careful evaluation, we have to inform you of the project’s closure. Our intervention aimed to improve the lives of 45 orphaned girls hosted at the family home “Casa Foca,” providing them with a safe place to live, medical care, daily meals, and the support needed to attend school. However, the worsening situation in the country has made it impossible to guarantee regular monitoring, reliable communication with local contacts, and transparent use of funds. For Aleimar, responsibility and transparency toward the children and toward you are essential values: if we cannot ensure safety, continuity, and proper oversight of the project, it would not be right to ask for your continued support.

Even as we close the project, we will not abandon the girls hosted at Casa Foca. Aleimar will continue to cover their school fees, ensuring that each child can complete their educational path. This is a commitment we feel deeply: your generosity has changed their present and will continue to protect their future.

We invite you to remain by our side by supporting Aleimar’s other active projects on GlobalGiving, so that together we can continue to defend the rights, dignity, and future of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Your support remains precious and capable of transforming lives.
Thank you sincerely for your trust, closeness, and extraordinary compassion.