Targeting: Re-integration with Community and Family, Preventative Programs

Project Summary: 
In conjunction with the Kenyan Government Children’s Department in Nakuru county, we are again hosting our bi-annul Kitechild Training on Exit Strategies for C.C.I.’s.

This training is a follow up to the our second training held in January of 2019. We will review the progress that has been made in regards to the strategies that were outlined in our initial meeting. Information that will be covered includes:
• CCI’S (charitable children institutions/ homes)regulations and understanding the government of Kenya children Act
• Alternative family care and exit methods
• Good practice in child care

Number of Children Impacted : Approximately 1,200 children, with 20 Children’s Centers and Institutions participating.

Impact

Short term:

• The main objective of this training is to continue educating CCI’s about family re-integration and providing proper care while children must live in an orphanage.
• The government of Kenya has standards and policies, drafted with the aid of UNICEF, for orphanages, of which re-integration is a key component in these policies. Hence as much as we support provision of quality care for high risk children in orphanages through sustainable projects, we also want to be at the forefront in advocating for children to be de-institutionalized and be placed back in a  family setup  when possible, for the best interest of the child.

Long term:

• The major goal is for children to be re-integrated back to their community through a well developed exit strategy.  This must begin with education and the drafting of work plans and strategies to achieve re-integration. In addition, this training and subsequent follow ups will develop outreach programs to support children who are back home, i.e. providing for their educational costs while at home, providing nutrition, etc. In the end, only those children who are truly in need of shelter and care will reside in these children’s centers, while ‘social’ orphans, or those bred out of poverty, will be able to live with their families.

Partner Background: 

20 Orphanages, Children’s Center’s, and rescue centers have signed up to participate in the training. The training will be co-hosted by Kitechild employee Martha Maina, who has over 20 years of experience in the field working with at-risk children, as well as the government children’s district officer for Nakuru, Eunice Njeri. All polices and strategies are pulled from research by UNICEF and Save the Children, in conjunction with successful training strategies already in place in other centers.