In Syria, external kafala enables a child to remain with his/her parent(s) instead of being placed in a residential facility. It involves a private person ( kafil ) providing the parent(s) with regular financial support for the child’s upkeep and education. Hufez Al Nemah NGO has developed the Kafala Excellence Project, which is designed to ensure external kafala for children who are looked after within their vulnerable extended families and focuses on broad care needs; physical, educational, health and psychological.
Currently some 3,100 children benefit from the scheme. As well as a monthly financial payment, the project also provides various supplementary forms of in-kind support and access to specific services based on individual need.
For more information see: Cantwell, N. and Jacomy-Vite, S. (2011) Assessment of the Alternative Care System in the Syrian Arab Republic, UNICEF.