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[SOMALIA, 6 August 2007] - Somali Child Protection and Development (SOCPD) is a local, non-profit organization committed to promoting child protection and development activities in Somalia. The organization was established in 1999 by a group of Somalis who sought to protect children involved with the fighting forces in the Somali conflict. At that time, children were commonly recruited into the local militia. Since then, SOCPD has been engaged in child rights advocacy, child protection programs and other support services intended to alleviate the problems burdening children in Somalia such as conflicts, floods, diseases. Since November 2006, SOCPD has provided psychosocial care and support to children and families affected by floods in Mukaydere and Yaqle villages in the Balcad district in central Somalia. More recently SOCPD has been raising awareness on child protection and providing psychosocial aid to families who have been affected by the ongoing conflict in Mogadishu. Furthermore, SOCPD has been broadcasted on the radio in an attempt to raise general awareness about the conflict and explain, more specifically, the resulting psychosocial effects and evoke child protection measures. SOCPD conducted a three-day workshop (29-31 July 2007) that focused on the protection of children from violence, exploitation and discrimination and explained the different kinds of violations that children can be subject to especially during emergencies. 40 members from IDP camps outside Mogadishu participated in the workshop. The workshop also addressed protection concerns that can arise during the night and when girls collect firewood and water from outside the camp. As a result of the workshop, it was decided that girls were no longer permitted to collect firewood or water from outside of the camp by themselves. Child protection committees were also established in the IDP camps outside Mogadishu. SOCPD is now working with Shabelle FM radio in Mogadishu by releasing daily messages regarding the promotion of child protection and the protection of Somali children from violence exploitation and discrimination.