PARTNER with uS

Fidan*, 9, lives in a tent with her mother Yadigar* and father, a year after the earthquake destroyed her home and belongings. Their village is located on the hills of Adıyaman, where transportation is difficult. Their house was destroyed in the earthquakes on February 6th. The family are living in a tent and container (prefabricated shelter) and received winterization support including blankets, heater, electric oven and kettle to help them through the coldest months. Ayşe Nur Gençalp / Save the Children Türkiye

SCI CEO Inger Ashing holds a ball and plays with children in a Child Friendly Space in Kyiv region, on February 9, 2023. This CFS was established by Your Way organization, with support from Save the Children. Inger Ashing visited Ukraine on the 8th and 9th of February 2023, to see the support that Save the Children provides for children in the country. OLEKSANDR KHOMENKO/ Save the Children

This is a story about a girl in the eye of a storm. You might not notice it from the way 12-year-old Atika and her best friend swap stories as they walk to school together. Or as Atika washes the dishes and sweeps the yard after dinner. Or as she plays affectionately with her family’s horses – out in the fields she loves. But the signs are there. And for Atika’s family, they’ve become impossible to ignore. They’re in the landscape where Atika lives in East Sumba, Indonesia. “The trees are too brown…” she says: “The fields are burned.” They’re in the way her community’s crops failed last year; decimated by drought. They’re in the number of children missing school to help out at home or search for food; or because their parents couldn’t afford to eat, let alone cover the costs of uniform and equipment. And they were there in how tired Atika used to get after a long, dangerous walk to fetch water. But this year Atika doesn’t have to walk so far, and nor do her friends and neighbours. Save the Children and local partner, the Stimulant Institute, have introduced a series of life-changing initiatives, including a solar powered water system that pumps water to taps in the community. So for the first time, people have clean water to drink nearby, and effective irrigation for the crops they rely on for food. It’s the first of many signs that this community’s climate resilience is growing; and part of a programme of Anticipatory Action, which is harnessing community expertise and a deep understanding of climate change to protect villages – and lives – like Atika’s. The other signs of hope? School attendance is up now that water is accessible nearby and boosted by the cash assistance we’ve provided to cover school costs. And the community is better prepared for climate-related emergencies thanks to educational sessions delivered at schools. We’ve also supported eco-friendly agricultural training for families like Atika’s, so they can grow more nutritious crops. “We don't worry anymore,” says Atika’s father, Titus: “And children no longer need to go to the springs.” Seven million people, including 2.5 million children, will likely be affected by water scarcity, food insecurity, and other related challenges across Indonesia in 2024. It’s why this holistic Anticipatory Action programme is so critical. It will support 350,000 people, including 122,500 children like Atika, to build resilience to climate change – and see nature as a source of opportunity and joy again. Ulet Ifansasti / Save the Children