In Celebration of the Day of the African Child – 16th June 2025 Every year on June 16th, the continent…
Community Programme for Children in Need
Programme Overview
In Kenya, thousands of children are still exposed to violence and abuse, harmful practices and lack of parental care. We have seen a clear link between fulfilling children’s rights and achieving improved quality of life among children and young people.
The programme therefore works to enhance the realization of children and young people rights by tackling the root causes and issues they face in families, community and school.
To do this, we build the capacity of various stakeholders in child protection structures at the community level, including community volunteers and other duty bearers, to advance children rights and respond effectively to the needs of vulnerable children.
Our engagement with stakeholders also aims at driving changes in practice and policy at local, county and national levels through our experience and knowledge of the realities children face.
Focus Areas
Goal: The programme aims to enhance the safety of children by building the capacity of various stakeholders in child protection structures at the community level, including community volunteers and other duty bearers, to respond effectively to the needs of vulnerable children.
Child
Protection
We work with children and duty bearers to protect children from physical, sexual and emotional abuse including neglect. Through our rescue centres, we ensure rescued children receive the care, rehabilitation and psychosocial support as they are prepared for reintegration with either their parents, relatives or foster families.
Empowerment of Children on their Rights
We work to ensure children are aware of their rights and possess the knowledge, skills, and confidence to actualize them. The approach is designed to foster a sense of empowerment among children, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their safety and well-being within the school environment, their homes, and their communities.
Strengthening Child Protection Structures
We engage in collaborative and partnership activities with government agencies and other relevant actors with the objective of developing shared goals, strategies, and interventions for child protection. In this endeavor, we apply a set of interventions that focus on the strenthening of the child protection system at the community level, thereby empowering local communities to enhance the protection of children from abuse.
Social and Economic Empowerment of Parents
We work to empower economically disadvantaged parents, with a particular focus on women, in a holistic manner, encompassing economic, social, personal, and political dimensions. This strategy is designed to address the challenges posed by poverty, lack of information, and inadequate skills, with the aim of facilitating sustained changes that will enable these parents to transform their lives and ensure that their children's needs are met.
Projects
Watoto Tuwalinde Project (2022-2026)
Goal: To contribute to the safety of Children in Nyahururu Sub- County.
Interventions
We enhance child participation by creating platforms for children to air their views.
- We are working to strengthen the capacity of teacher in-charge of children governments in primary schools to provide a platform for children to air their views and participate in school affairs.
- We train children elected as leaders in their schools to build their capacity to analyze, articulate issues affecting children and participate in protecting their rights and those of others.
- We collaborate with the schools, government officials, Charitable Children institutions and Civil Society Organizations in organizing and celebrating the Day of the African Child (DAC).
We partner with the government, civil society organizations and community structures for child protection to protect and rescue children from abusive situations.
- We provide temporary institutional care to rescued children through our two centres of children; St. Rose Rescue Centre for Girls and the St. Martin Boys Centre.
- We work with abused children including those rescued from the streets, prepare them for reintegration and reunite them with their families, relatives of foster parents.
- We work with families and communities to promote positive social norms and practices to help prevent violence against children.
We work with parents of vulnerable children to empower them socially and economically to help them improve their capacity to provide for their family’s needs and get access opportunities to change their own futures.
- We organize parents into self-help groups for social and economic empowerment.
- We provide guidance and empowerment to parents on good parenting practices.
- We hold community dialogues with community members on topical issues affecting children.
We work to strengthen children protections structures by supporting capacity building initiatives for government officer, community volunteers, opinion leaders and organized groups to reduce incidences of child abuse.
- We offer trainings to community volunteers and other duty bearers on child protection and how to respond in cases of child abuse.
- We drive changes in practice by duty bearers at local and national levels through our experience and knowledge of the realities children face.
The Leave No Child Behind in Inclusive Education project (2023-2025)
Goal: To contribute to social inclusion and poverty reduction by enabling greater access to education system in Laikipia County for children from marginalized and special needs groups.
Interventions
We support school going children from vulnerable and marginalized households to access quality education
- We offer training and support to community volunteers in developing and implementing action plans to address barriers to education, mobilize communities and connect out-of-school boys and girls with educational opportunities
- We train children on life skills to promote self-empowerment and encourage open dialogue about home and school environments
- We facilitate dialogues in the community on the rights and responsibilities of children to address structural and contextual barriers that expose children to early marriages, child labour, street-living, school dropout and abuse.
- Train parents in vulnerable households through their support group on responsible parenthood and promoting learning environment at home
- We provide partial school support to vulnerable children inform of school fees, uniform, solar lamps, sanitary wear for girls to see that such children are retained in school.
We support the creation of a stimulating, safe, inclusive and child-friendly school learning environments for all girls and boys especially those from vulnerable households;
- We advocate for the enrollment of school going age children to local schools.
- We build the capacity of teachers in the implementation of competency-based education.
- We train Boards of Management and Parents Associations in schools on child- friendly learning environments.
- We work with communities, the ministry of education, teachers, schools’ boards of management and local authorities to address barriers to education.
Strengthening family and community care project (2024-2027)
Goal: To contribute in the development of a system which allows all children to live safely, happily and sustainably in family and community-based care where their best interests are served.
Interventions
- We strengthen the capacity of the social service workforce (duty bearers) fulfil their obligations and responsibilities to ensure children’s rights to a family environment are being met.
- We lobby duty bearers for the adoption of families and community-based care in line with the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022-2032
- We mentor Charitable Children Institutions’ transition to family and community-based care
- We strengthen the capacity of the County Care Reform Committees to oversee the implementation of Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya.
- We raise the awareness of alternative care for children and the harm of institutionalization.
- We collaborate and partner with other likeminded organizations to help change the mindset that supports residential care and increase understanding and support of family care and community-based care for children.
Impact Stories and Testimonials
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Preventing Family Separation through Family Strengthening
Lucy was identified through a distress call from County General Hospital, which requested the programme’s assessment of the girl and…
Don’t be Silenced
My name is Jane, 10 years old and a fourth born in a family of six children. My father was…
Restored Dignity
A colleague drew our attention to a case that was trending on social media after discovering that it originated from…
Enhancing Access to Education through Linkages
Hosea, a 14-year-old from Kirima Ward, is one of numerous children who have been identified as potential beneficiaries of educational…
Achievements and Metrics
Under the current project; Watoto Tuwalinde that started in 2020, we have;
Child Protection
146 boys and 94 girls
were admitted into our rescue centre, provided with care and psychosocial support.
were admitted into our rescue centre, provided with care and psychosocial support.
0
97 boys and 92 girls
were reintegrated back into the community either with their parents, relatives or foster parents
were reintegrated back into the community either with their parents, relatives or foster parents
0
Child Right to Participation
406 boys and 385 girls
children in schools’ governments of primary schools in Nyahururu Sub-County were empowered on child rights and child participation
children in schools’ governments of primary schools in Nyahururu Sub-County were empowered on child rights and child participation
0
Capacity Building of Duty Bearers
94 male and 625 females
parents who received guidance on proper parenting skills through workshops and community dialogue sessions.
parents who received guidance on proper parenting skills through workshops and community dialogue sessions.
0
stakeholders participated in the capacity building activities on child protection organized by the programme
0
Survival and Developmental Rights
418 boys and 339 girls
who could otherwise be out of school were retained in both primary and secondary schools through provision of schooling needs.
who could otherwise be out of school were retained in both primary and secondary schools through provision of schooling needs.
0
Get Involved Section
Be a partner in child protection
St Martin CSA Boys Centre
The purpose of this institution is to provide temporary shelter for boys who have been rescued from the streets, those who have been in contact with law and those who have been rescued from various forms of abuse. The objective of the center is to assist these boys in developing a sense of direction and stability, thereby facilitating their reintegration into family or foster care environments.
A monthly financial contribution of KES 3,000 will provide support per month to a boy residing at the St. Martin CSA Boys Centre. Your contribution will facilitate the provision of medical care, secure accommodation, good nutrition, counseling, and the fulfillment of educational requirements for the boys in preparation for their reintegration into the community. Boys who may not fit in a school will be supported to acquire vocational training that will empower them to pursue brighter futures.
St Rose Rescue Centre for Girls
The rescue center provides temporary shelter to girls who have been subjected to violations of their rights. The objective of the center is to ensure that these girls attain optimal health, social, physical, and psychological healing during their stay at the center and after reintegration. A considerable number of girls are affected by adverse physical and psychological consequences resulting from physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. As a result of neglects, some of these girls are rescued from the streets.
A monthly financial contribution of KES 3,000 will provide support per month to a girl residing at the St. Rose Rescue Centre for Girls. Your contribution will facilitate the restoration of physical and psychological well-being in survivors through the provision of medical care, secure accommodation, good nutrition, counseling, and the fulfillment of educational requirements in preparation for their reintegration into the community.
Children Supported from the Community
The number of vulnerable children from impoverished households is on the rise, a trend that is exacerbated by the prevailing economic downturn. It is imperative to safeguard the well-being of children by ensuring their access to essential resources, including food, shelter, education, and medicine.
Your annual contribution of KES 12,000 will assist in the protection of a vulnerable child, preventing them from becoming victims of harm and exploitation. Furthermore, it will help to avoid the separation of families and facilitate the retention of children in school by providing financial assistance for essential expenses such as school fees, uniforms, and other necessary supplies.