Contribute to... giving a voice to children in conflict areas
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Contribute to giving children in conflict zones a voice
Give children from not fully recognized states the opportunity to help build lasting peace.
Globally, 473 million children live in conflict-affected areas. Among them, approximately nine million children grow up in states that are not fully recognized—regions that lack full international recognition or protection. These children are among the most vulnerable in the world, as they fall outside the protection of international law.
In these circumstances, survival is often the primary concern. Families have little space to talk with their children about the war, loss, and fear. Even after the violence ends, adults often prefer to move on, leaving children with unanswered questions, unprocessed trauma, and identity struggles. The first 130 interviews conducted in the current research reveal a painful pattern: these children are rarely heard. Their experiences, emotions, and perspectives are overlooked, while they are left with deep psychological scars.
The Child Peace Project: giving children an active role in peacebuilding
Led by Dr. Marieke Hopman and Guleid Ahmed Jama, the Child Peace Project investigates how children in three areas connected to not fully recognized states—Gaza, Sool/Sanaag, and Nagorno Karabakh/ Artsakh—can be involved in peacebuilding activities.
The ongoing research combines legal analysis (what rights do children from these regions have in?) with extensive empirical data (what actually happens to them during and after the conflict?). The team now aims to take a crucial next step: exploring how children can actively contribute to peace, and how their voices can be given a permanent role in peace initiatives.
When children are supported to understand what has happened to them, when they are given the space to speak and be heard, the result is not only healing—it is also perspective and empowerment, for themselves and for their communities.
Why your support is essential
Funding is critical for this follow-up project. With your contribution, the research team can:
- Explore how children can safely and responsibly be involved in peace and justice activities;
- Work with local partners to identify ways to genuinely include children in discussions about war and recovery;
- Develop concrete interventions that international organisations can use to include children’s voices
Help give these children a voice at last.
Together, we can ensure their stories are not lost and contribute to a future where even children in conflict zones have the right to recovery, perspective, and peace.
Marieke Hopman & Guleid Jama
Ambassadors
The following ambassadors warmly support this project:
Jan Pronk – Former Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation and Environment, and former UN Special Representative in Sudan. Longstanding international leader in development, peacebuilding and human rights.
Mohamed Barud Ali – Chairman of the Somaliland National Human Rights Commission, long-time human rights activist, and former Minister of Rehabilitation in Somaliland.
Marc Dullaert – Founder of KidsRights Foundation and former Dutch Ombudsman for Children. Prominent advocate for children’s rights in the Netherlands and internationally.
Nigel Cantwell – Founder of Defence for Children International, leading international expert on children’s rights and alternative care.
Kees Matthijssen – Lieutenant General (ret.) in the Royal Netherlands Army and former Force Commander of the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA), with broad experience in peace operations and conflict settings, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Lisa Macheiner – Frontline humanitarian worker with Doctors without Borders, experienced in working with children in conflict and crisis settings including Afghanistan, Libya, and Gaza.
Local partner organisations: HRC Somaliland & Global Campus
Annual Fund Campaign: Together 2025/2026
Maastricht University is committed to equality, and to scientific and sustainable innovation. Together with the UM community, we will make the four unique projects a success and truly get it done together. This year the Fund celebrates its 60th anniversary, and next year Maastricht University will mark its 50th year. With your contribution, you support groundbreaking research and education, strengthen the university’s growth, and increase its impact on society. Let’s join forces more than ever during this anniversary year!
UM Crowd is part of the Limburg University Fund/SWOL. This fund is a recognized Public Benefit Organization (ANBI). This means that your donation is fully or partially tax-deductible. After your donation, you will automatically receive an email containing proof of payment.
Ka qayb qaado si carruurta ku nool goobaha colaaduhu ay u helaan cod
Sii carruurta ka soo jeeda dawladaha aan si buuxda loo aqoonsan fursad ay uga qayb qaataan dhisidda nabad waarta.
Adduunka oo dhan, 473 milyan oo carruur ah ayaa ku nool meelaha ay colaadaha saameeyeen. Qiyaastii sagaal milyan oo carruur ah ayaa ku barbaara dawladaha aan si buuxda loo aqoonsan—gobollo aan helin aqoonsi buuxa ama ilaalin caalami ah. Carruurtani waxay ka mid yihiin kuwa ugu nugul dunida, maadaama ay ka baxsan yihiin ilaalinta sharciga caalamiga ah.
Duruuftu marka ay sidaas tahay, badbaadadu badanaa waa walaaca ugu weyn. Qoysasku ma helaan fursad ku filan oo ay carruurtooda kala hadlaan dagaalka, khasaaraha, iyo cabsida. Xitaa marka rabshaduhu dhammaadaan, dadka waaweyn badanaa waxay doorbidaan inay hore u socdaan, iyaga oo carruurta uga tagaya su’aalo aan jawaab loo helin, dhaawacyo nafsiyeed oo aan la daaweyn, iyo jahawareer ku saabsan aqoonsigooda. Wareysiyadii ugu horreeyay ee cilmi-baaristan lagu sameeyay waxay muujinayaan xaqiiqo murugo leh: carruurtan dhif iyo naadir ayaa la dhegeystaa. Waayo-aragnimadooda, dareenkooda, iyo aragtidooda waa la iska indhatiraa, halka ay la nool yihiin dhaawacyo nafsiyeed oo qoto dheer.
Mashruuca Nabadda Carruurta: siinta carruurta door firfircoon oo ay ku yeeshaan dhisidda nabadda ah
Mashruuca Nabadda Carruurta, oo ay hoggaaminayaan Dr. Marieke Hopman iyo Guleid Ahmed Jama, wuxuu baadhayaa sida carruurta ku nool saddex meelood oo la xidhiidha dawladaha aan si buuxda loo aqoonsan—Gaza, Sool/Sanaag, iyo Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh—looga qayb gelin karo hawlaha dhisidda nabadda.
Cilmi-baadhistu waxay isku daraysaa falanqayn sharciyeed (xuquuqdee ayay carruurtu ku leeyihiin goobahan), iyo xog dhab ah oo ku saabsan waxa ku dhaca inta lagu jiro iyo ka dib colaadda. Kooxdu hadda waxay doonaysaa inay qaaddo tallaabo muhiim ah: inay sahamiyaan sida carruurtu si firfircoon uga qayb qaadan karaan nabadda, iyo sida codkooda loogu siin karo door joogto ah dadaallada nabadda.
Marka carruurta la taageero si ay u fahmaan waxa ku dhacay, lana siiyo meel ay ku hadlaan oo lagu dhegeysto, natiijadu ma aha oo keliya bogsasho—waxay sidoo kale helaan awood iyo aragti, iyaga iyo bulshadoodaba.
Sababta taageeradaadu muhiim u tahay
Maalgelintu waa lama huraan si mashruucan loo sii wado. Marka aad ka qayb qaadato tabarucaadka oo aad qaadhaan ku darsatid, kooxda cilmi-baadhistu waxay awoodi doontaa inay:
- Sahamiyaan sida carruurta si badbaado leh oo masuuliyad leh looga qayb gelin karo hawlaha nabadda iyo caddaaladda;
- La shaqeeyaan bah-wadaagta maxalliga ah si loo helo habab dhab ah oo carruurta loogu daro doodaha ku saabsan dagaalka iyo soo kabashada;
- Sameeyaan barnaamijyo wax ku ool ah oo ururrada caalamiga ahi u isticmaali karaan inay ku daraan codka carruurta.
Ka caawi carruurtan in ugu dambayn la maqlo codkooda.
Si aad qaadhaanka wax ugu darsato fadlan ku dhufo halkan.
Ogow in bogga qaadhaanku uu yahay af Ingiriisi. Haddii aa u baahan tahay cid kaa caawida la xidhiidh: Guleid Jama, oo iimaylkiisu yahay g.jama@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Si wadajir ah, waxaan hubin karnaa in sheekooyinkooda aan la lumin, isla markaana aan gacan ka geysan karno mustaqbal ay carruurta ku nool goobaha colaadaha ay helaan xaqa soo kabasho, aragti, iyo nabad.
Marieke Hopman & Guleid Jama
Safiirrada
Safiirrada soo socda ayaa si diirran u taageeraya mashruucan:
Jan Pronk – Wasiir hore oo Holland u qaabilsanaa Iskaashiga Horumarinta iyo Deegaanka, iyo Wakiil Gaar ah oo hore oo Qaramada Midoobay u joogay Suudaan. Waa hoggaamiye caalami ah oo muddo dheer ka shaqaynayay horumarinta, dhisidda nabadda, iyo xuquuqda aadanaha.
Mohamed Barud Ali – Guddoomiyaha Komishanka Qaranka Xuquuqda Aadanaha Somaliland, u dhaqdhaqaaqe xuquuqda aadanaha muddo dheer, iyo Wasiir hore oo Dib-u-dejinta Somaliland ah.
Marc Dullaert – Aasaasaha KidsRights Foundation iyo Ombudsman hore ee carruurta Holland. Waa u doode caan ah oo xuquuqda carruurta gudaha Holland iyo heer caalami labadaba.
Nigel Cantwell – Aasaasaha Defence for Children International, khabiir caalami ah oo hormuud u ah xuquuqda carruurta iyo daryeelka beddelka ah.
Kees Matthijssen – Sarreeye Guuto (hawlgab) oo ka tirsanaa Ciidanka Boqortooyada Holland iyo Taliyihii hore ee hawlgalka Qaramada Midoobay ee Mali (MINUSMA), leh waayo-aragnimo ballaadhan oo ku saabsan hawlgallada nabadda iyo goobaha colaadaha, oo ay ku jiraan Afghanistan, Iraq, iyo Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Lisa Macheiner – Shaqaale bini’aadantinimo oo safka hore ka shaqaysa oo ka tirsan Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), leh waayo-aragnimo ku saabsan la shaqaynta carruurta ku nool xaaladaha colaadaha iyo dhibaatooyinka, oo ay ku jiraan Afghanistan, Libya, iyo Gaza.
Ururrada bah-wadaagta maxalliga ah: HRC Somaliland & Global Campus.
Ololaha Sanduuqa Sannadlaha ah: Together 2025/2026
Jaamacadda Maastricht waxa ka go’an sinnaanta iyo hal-abuurnimada cilmiyeed iyo mid waarta. Iyadoo lala kaashanayo bulshada Jaamacadda Maastricht, waxaan ka dhigi doonnaa afarta mashruuc ee gaarka ah kuwo guuleysta oo si dhab ah loogu hirgeliyo wadajir.
Sanduuqu wuxuu sannadkan u dabaaldegayaa sannad-guuradiisa 60-aad, halka sannadka soo socda Jaamacadda Maastricht ay gaadhi doonto sannad-guuradeeda 50-aad. Tabarucaaddaadu waxay taageertaa cilmi-baadhis iyo waxbarasho horudhac ah, waxay xoojisaa kobaca jaamacadda, waxayna kordhisaa saameynteeda bulshada. Aan mideyno dadaalkeenna si ka badan sidii hore sannadkan xuska gaarka ah!
UM Crowd waa qayb ka mid ah Limburg University Fund/SWOL. Sanduuqan waa hay’ad si rasmi ah loo aqoonsan yahay oo u adeegta danta guud (ANBI). Taas macnaheedu waa in tabarucaaddaadu gebi ahaan ama qayb ahaan laga jari karo cashuurta. Kadib markaad tabarucdo, waxaad si toos ah u heli doontaa iimayl ay ku lifaaqan tahay caddaynta bixinta.
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