Children in Crossfire

Last updated
Children in Crossfire
Formation1996
FounderRichard Moore
Type Non-profit
Headquarters2 St Josephs Avenue,
Derry. BT48 6TH
Location
Coordinates 54°59′29″N7°19′30″W / 54.991483°N 7.325057°W / 54.991483; -7.325057
Website www.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.

Contents

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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.
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