Children in Crossfire

Children in Crossfire
Formation1996
FounderRichard Moore
TypeNon-profit
Headquarters2 St Josephs Avenue,
Derry. BT48 6TH
Location
Coordinates54°59′29″N 7°19′30″W / 54.991483°N 7.325057°W / 54.991483; -7.325057
Websitewww.childrenincrossfire.org

Children in Crossfire is a registered charity founded in Northern Ireland which aims to eradicate poverty and help children in war zones[1] and works in partnership with local organizations in the developing world to make healthcare and education more accessible to young children. Children in Crossfire is registered as a charity in Northern Ireland (NIC101412) and the Republic of Ireland (CHY 20045517).[2] It is also a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States.

The charity has raised funds totaling over £25 million for causes in 10 countries including Malawi, The Gambia, and Ethiopia.[3]

The headquarters of the Children in Crossfire is located in Derry.[1]

History

On May 4, 1972 during the Northern Ireland conflict ten year old Richard Moore was walking home from school past an army lookout post when a British soldier fired a rubber bullet from ten feet away blinding him for life.[4] Despite the blindness Richard went on to complete school with a degree in Business Administration, and became an accomplished musician.[5]

Feeling a lack of satisfaction in the mid-1990s, Moore felt the need to give back to the world and help other children who, like himself, had been "caught in the crossfire" of violence.[6] In 1996 he realized this goal and began the Children in Crossfire charity with a mission to "combat the ravages of child poverty around the world."[5]

In 2007, Moore was the subject of the BBC documentary titled Blind Vision in which he tracks down the soldier who originally shot him in order to offer his forgiveness.[7][8] The two have become firm friends and give joint talks regarding the Gift of Reconciliation. In 2010, at the invitation of the Dalai Lama, they gave a talk in Dharamsala to an audience of over 2,500 people.[9]

Children in Crossfire has been of interest to the Dalai Lama since its founding, and it has been described as "one of his favourite charities".[1] Having met with Moore initially at a peace conference in Belfast, the Dalai Lama was invited to the 10th anniversary of the organization's founding in 2007.[10] Upon his arrival, the Dalai Lama stated to Moore, "Richard I'm here, your friend, you're my hero."[11] The Dalai Lama returned to Derry in September 2017 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NGO.[12][3]

Outreach

Since its 1996 inception Children in Crossfire has raised over $32.4 million to combat poverty in 10 countries.[13] This money has gone to provide clean water to over one million people in Malawi, provide accessible education for visually-impaired students in The Gambia, treat over 2,000 cancer patients in Tanzania, and treat over 10,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Ethiopia.[13][14] The charity has also given preschool access to over 100,000 children throughout Africa.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Dalai Lama's planet". The Economist. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  2. ^ "The "deemed" list of Northern Ireland charities". The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Dalai Lama joins Joanna Lumley for 20th anniversary conference of Children in Crossfire". irishnews.com. September 9, 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Richard's Story". Children in Crossfire. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b Sweeney, Eamon (September 13, 2015). "Children in Crossfire: A true tale of tragedy to triumph". Derry Journal. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Children in Crossfire". Richard Moore. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Soldier who blinded man forgiven". BBC News. BBC. February 13, 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Blind Vision (2007)". BFI. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Soldier and boy he blinded 40 years ago become friends". berwickshirenews.co.uk. November 8, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  10. ^ Monlam, Tenzin (June 15, 2017). "Dalai Lama to visit Derry for 20th anniversary of Children in Crossfire". Phayul.com. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Interview with Richard Moore, the Dalai Lama's Irish Hero, Part 2". The Tibet Post. June 7, 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Dalai Lama plans return to Londonderry". Belfast Telegraph Digital. June 15, 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  13. ^ a b McDaid, Brendan (June 15, 2017). "Dalai Lama to visit Londonderry for Children In Crossfire charity's anniversary". News Letter. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Actress Joanna Lumley to join the Dalai Lama in Derry for Children in Crossfire event". Belfast Telegraph Digital. July 18, 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  15. ^ Schmauder, Casey. "Coming out of the crossfire". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 20 July 2017.