As the government moves to transition vulnerable children from charitable homes to family & community care, a non-governmental organization that has been involved in the reintegration of vulnerable children back into the community is sharing useful insights that could help other organizations transition smoothly.
The St Martin Catholic Social Apostolate (CSA) in Nyahururu is involved in various initiatives involving community members committed to protecting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) from abuse, violence and neglect and ensure every child grows up safe and protected.
The program mainly prioritizes shaping values and behavior within communities to ensure that Orphans and vulnerable children remain under the care of communities and do not end up in Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs).
While indicating that the program is promoting positive community child care approaches grounded in shared morals, Mr Simon Maina, a social worker attached to the St. Martin CSA, said their focus was on empowering individuals in the community who possess gifts, talents and resources that can be shared with vulnerable persons.
Mr Maina said the initiative encompassed a component of empowering economically disadvantaged parents in a holistic manner, taking into account economic, social, personal and political dimensions.
Making his presentation to the Nakuru County Children Advisory and Care Reform Committee, Mr. Maina elaborated that the 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 such parents to transform their lives and ensure that their children’s needs are met.
Mr. Maina explained that they were working closely with state agencies, the community, faith actors, civil society and other stakeholders to build communities where every child is valued, heard and protected.
The Advisory and Care Reform Committee is chaired by County Children’s Director Mr. Pilot Khaemba.
It is tasked with overseeing the transition of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) from Charitable Children’s Institutions (CCIs) to family and community-based care as the government implements the 10-year National Care Reform Strategy (2022-2032) for children.
The care reform strategy, which is being spearheaded by the National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS), emanates from the belief that all children belong in a family backed by overwhelming scientific evidence that children under institutional care suffer severe and sometimes irreversible developmental setbacks as opposed to those raised in families and communities.
Mr. Maina expressed concern that in Kenya thousands of children are still exposed to violence and abuse, harmful practices and lack of parental care, adding that there is a clear link between fulfilling children’s rights and achieving improved quality of life among children and young people.
He indicated that the St. Martin CSA programme works to enhance the realization of children and young people’s rights by tackling the root causes and issues they face in families, community and school.
“Our 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,” stated Mr Maina.
He added “Our engagement with stakeholders also aims at driving changes in practice and policy at local and inter-county levels through our experience and knowledge of the realities children face. We address community challenges with a unique approach shaped by our guiding motto—’Only through community.’
St. Martin Apostolate operates the St. Martin’s CSA Boys Centre and Rose Rescue Centre for Girls.
Mr. Maina explained that they were encouraging orphans and vulnerable children at the community level to exploit their hidden talents and abilities, which he said often were overshadowed by personal struggles, leading to feelings of hopelessness, diminished self-esteem and a loss of faith in their own capacities.
“Our role is to help them recognize their worth and potential, showing them that they can make positive changes in their own lives. By contributing to their own well-being, the beneficiaries will demonstrate that they are not helpless, but capable of reshaping their futures. In doing so, we honor their dignity and recognize the potential within each individual,” he noted.
Through St Martin CSA rescue centers, Mr Maina emphasized that rescued children were receiving care, rehabilitation and psychosocial support as they are prepared for reintegration with either their parents, relatives, or foster families.
“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,” he further said.
He disclosed that they were engaging 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.
Mr Maina regretted that the number of vulnerable children from impoverished households is on the rise, a trend that is exacerbated by the prevailing economic downturn. He said it was imperative to safeguard the well-being of children by ensuring their access to essential resources, including food, shelter, education and healthcare.
St. Martin CSA, under the project ‘Watoto Tuwalinde,’ that started in six years ago, 240 children into the rescue centers and provided with care and psychosocial support while 97 boys and 92 girls were reintegrated back into the community either with their parents, relatives or foster parents
Mr. Maina pointed out that 406 boys and 385 girls in primary schools within Nyahururu Sub-County were empowered on child rights and child participation, while 94 fathers and 625 mothers had received guidance on proper parenting skills through workshops and community dialogue sessions.
Mr Maina told the committee that comprises children’s officers, representatives of various government departments and members of charitable children’s institutions that his organization was committed to sharing its success journey with them to ensure as many children as possible are successfully reintegrated into the family setup.
His colleague Agnes Makena told the meeting that the St. Martin’s approach involves five critical components that include admission, home tracing, rehabilitation and reintegration, follow up and finally disengaging.
She said that the organization only disengages when they are satisfied that a child has settled well within the family.
By Jane Ngugi
