Newsletter September 2014

Message from the Director

The Disabled also Have Rights

Action for Children in Conflict (AfCiC) works to transform the lives of children affected by extreme poverty, hunger, illness,

persecution, abuse, and neglect. The children and families that AfCiC works with come from backgrounds of abject poverty,

poor health, abandonment and abuse. Our projects focus is to secure vulnerable children's rights to protection, education,

health and access to justice. We aim to contribute to enhanced access to quality health and development services and

information to disadvantaged children, youth, families and communities.

This month's edition we are focusing on children with disability. AfCiC supports eight primary school children who are deaf by

paying their school fees and providing shopping to those in boarding school. The importance of educating these children

cannot be overemphasised. It has been said now and again that education is a tool of empowerment for children. This enables

them to achieve their maximum potential and enhance their capacity to benefit from other entitlements that promote their well-

being.

AfCiC therefore wish to emphasise the need to enhance public awareness on the importance of educating, caring, protecting

and safeguarding children with disability. It is our hope that this will help in the attainment of Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs) number two that requires every country to achieve Universal Primary Education by 2015. This means that all children

regardless of status and ability should complete a full course of primary schooling.

But while we are encouraged by the progress these eight children are making we are acutely aware of the fact that a lot more can

be done through effective partnership between civil society and government. In addition, we are strongly convicted to use our

every available resource to give hope and a future to the vulnerable children we work with.

I wish to thank our partners; staff and volunteers for their hard work, dedication and commitment which have helped improve

the lives of thousands of children. I encourage them to continue to identify critical children needs in the community aligning

them with our strategic plan 2012 – 2017 as we shape the future leaders.

John Muiruri

Country Director

Who We AreAction for Children in Conflict is a leading Child protection, health and development organization that implements projects at the heart of the community.

The organization runs programmes aimed at preventing and protecting children living and working on the streets of Thika town and its environs.

The interventions offered for the children by AfCiC include rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration; where the children are offered life skills, basic care, protection and health care.

Implications of Child Labour on Children

ost of us have been raised up in families with both

parents, who would obviously pass a parenting Mtest. However, some did not have parents or

guardians to take care of them and had to survive on their own.

According to a survey carried out by UNICEF, there are

approximately 250,000-300,000 children living and working

on the streets across Kenya with more than 60,000 of them in

Nairobi.

The capacity of families to care and protect orphans is

overstretched. This, combined with the increasing levels of

poverty, has resulted in many children heading their own

households, living in institutional care or surviving on the

streets. With the increasingly levels of poverty, children are

forced to drop out of school and enter into the labour market.

They are involved in commercial sex work, mining work and

collection of scrap metals.

According to a baseline survey on working children and

children affected by HIV/AIDS in Thika, Meru and Naivasha,

31.1% of children reported that they gave all the money earned

to the parent(s). The children listed more than one type of work

they do on regular basis. This included general farm work,

domestic work, mining and quarrying, water and firewood,

miraa and coffee picking, carrying luggage, food vending,

construction sites, picking flowers and own enterprise.

A rapid assessment on working children report in Thika and its

environs indicate that out of 19.8% of the children

interviewed, scavenge and sell scrap metal for a living.

Hawking was mentioned by 15.1 %. The other common types

of the work on the streets include; carrying luggage 9.8%,

scavenging and selling plastics (6.7%), begging (4.7%) and

sex work (4%). Some children are reportedly used to traffic

drugs and weapons.

Working on the streets presents a myriad of challenges and

problems exposing children to injuries, tetanus, pneumonia,

common cold, STI and HIV/AIDS.

To curb this, AfCiC has undertaken efforts in piloting the child

free labour zones. Hazardous work in which children are

engaged in have been identified and a programme has been

launched for withdrawal of children. AfCiC partners with

schools, colleges and vocational training centres as major

points for taking vulnerable children withdrawn from unsafe

work.

Also a District Child Labour Committee has been formed to

spearhead the interests of working children and the

committee's efforts were strengthened with the commitment

of the Kiambu County Governor, Hon William Kabogo to

make Thika a 'child labour free county'.

Anthony Kimani, 12, was rescued from the streets in May

2014 and is undergoing rehabilitation at AfCiC's Interim

Care Centre. He is a third born in a family of eight. Together

with his siblings, they are in a child-headed family since

their mother is deceased and the father is a bhang addict

who is rarely home.

After the death of their mother, their grandmother took

them in but the father threatened to kill her if she continued

to stay with the children.

The father took the children back to their home in Maragua

but never provided for them. This forced Anthony and his

siblings to abandon school and look for jobs to feed the

family. They scavenged the streets of Maragua before

finding their way into the streets of Thika.

“I would get fifty shillings for carrying heavy luggage and

selling scrap metal but that was barely enough for the eight

of us”, says Anthony.

Anthony is glad for the life skills and health education he is

getting at the rehabilitation centre. He is one of the many

children we have rescued from the streets but while we are

encouraged by our accomplishments so far we are aware of

the fact that a lot more can be done through effective

partnership between civil society and government.

Kiambu Governor, Hon William Kabogo flags off the World Day Against Child Labour Celebrations at the Kiambu County Government Offices

“There are approximately

250,000-300,000 children

living and working on the

streets across Kenya”

Page 2

uth Wambui, 13, is deaf and mother and daughter

communicate using sign language. Ruth is a class six Rpupil at Kambui School of the deaf.

Ruth's mother, Margret Njoki comes from a poor background

and catering for a deaf child year in year out took a toll on her

and her family. Her father, to deal with the stress, decided to hit

the bottle and became an absentee father.

Being a peasant farmer, Margret found it hard to provide for

her family of four children and an alcoholic husband.

“My husband was always drunk and the little farming I used to

do was what fed us,” says Mary.

Margret is among many parents of disabled children in Kenya

who struggle in vain to find appropriate schooling for them.

In theory, children with disabilities in Kenya have two choices

when it comes to education. They can either attend an

integrated school which would enable them to study alongside

able-bodied children or for children with more severe

disabilities, there are special schools which cater for particular

conditions.

Margret tried the integrated choice but found out that Ruth

was being more depressed wondering why she could not talk

like most of the pupils in school. When Ruth turned six years,

Margret decided to take her to Kambui School of the deaf.

“I knew raising the fees will be a challenge but I wanted the

best for my child.”

Ruth got a bursary from the Constituency Development Fund but this was not enough to cater for her tuition fee.

In 2012, when Action for Children in Conflict (AfCiC) took

over her case, she had fees arrears of Ksh 10,000. AfCiC

cleared the fees and has continued to support her ever since.

Using sign language, Ruth says she wants to be a human

rights activist to address the plight of the disabled children

in the society.

Ruth's mother is a champion of the rights of the disabled in

her village. She says that many in her community are

ignorant on issues of disability but she is determined to

inform them on the significance of educating the disabled.

She reckons that this is the only way she can unleash the

potential of every child and be the driver of change in her

community.

“Most of the people with disabled children in my

community say that educating them is a waste of time and

that they rather use the money to do other things.”

She acknowledges that the government helps but she says

they need to do more to help the vulnerable children in the

society especially those with disability.

Margret is thankful for AfCiC's support and vows she will

continue to share information on the significant of

educating the disabled. She acknowledges that it will be a

challenge but she is geared up to fight on.

Championing for the Rights of the Disabled

Ruth Wamboi and her mother, Margret Njeri

“I knew raising

the fees will be

a challenge but

I wanted the

best for my

child”

Page 3

other Teresa once said “We think sometimes that

poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. MThe poverty of being unwanted, unloved and

uncared for is the greatest poverty.” Francis Waweru suffered

from both forms of poverty Mother Teresa talked about and to

add insults to injury, he was deaf.

At the centre Francis had access to informal education,

including dancing, acrobatics, percussion, counselling, with

the programme building up to a near full academic

curriculum of Maths, English and Science, preparing him

for school.

AfCiC social workers tracked down any known family

members and put Francis in contact with his aunty. After one

year of rehabilitation, Francis was taken to his aunt and

enrolled in Kamboi School of the deaf and he is now in class

four.

Using sign language Francis says “I am grateful for the love,

financial support and opportunity this organisation is

granting me and the love that I receive from my aunt back

home.”

Francis, like many boys his age is active in sports and his

dream is to represent Kenya in the Paralympics.

“I hope to play for the Kenya's table tennis team in the

Paralympics in the near future”

The Right to Education

Francis is a 15 year old boy in Kambui

School for the deaf. Francis was raised by a

single mother and in 2006 she became sick

and could no longer provide for her son.

This forced Francis to go to the street and

look for manual work in order to feed

himself and his sick mother.

A jovial Francis Waweru

Francis' mother succumbed to her illness and passed away in

2007 and Francis relocated to the streets of Thika town. After

living for two years in the street, Francis came into contact

with AfCiC’s street worker and was taken at the AfCiC

Interim Care Centre in Thika for rehabilitation. He had been

denied basic rights as defined in the UN Convention for the

Rights of the Child especially the right to education, shelter

and health.

Page 4

The Disabled also have rightsNelson Kuria* is a single blind 60 year old man living in

Gatanga village, Muranga County. Kuria was living in Narok

when his dad passed on in 2003. Although his dad was poor, he

managed to leave him a piece of land.

Kuria was elated by the news, gathered his belongings and

went back home. He followed all the due process with the

courts and the land ownership was transferred to his name.

Being a blind and destitute person, Kuria's neighbours decided

to take advantage of him. They breached all legal proceeding

and went to the land dispute tribunal and revoked Kuria's land

ownership.

Kuria was mystified because during the gazettement notice no

one challenged the ownership of the land. He did not know

where to plead his case and sought out advice from his friends.

“I was about to give up when a friend told me about Action for

Children in Conflict (AfCiC) and the work they do in helping

the vulnerable in the community,” says Kuria.

AfCiC through Kenyan Children's Legal Aid Work (KCLAW)

programme provides free legal services at the grassroots levels

to the vulnerable children and families in the community

ensuring that poverty and disability cannot be an excuse for

inaction on gross human right abuses to people like Kuria.

Through this, AfCiC enables the most impoverished and

vulnerable people in the community access justice and legal

redress where their human rights have been infringed

through the provision of free direct legal advice, tailored

advocacy and campaigning and ongoing community

education.

For Kuria's case KCLAW are in the process of revoking the

transfer of Kuria's land to the neighbour who is trying to take

advantage of his situation. Kuria is grateful for the efforts

done by the KCLAW programme.

“Because of the KCLAW programme I am hopeful that this

land dispute will come to pass and I will be able to live on the

land my late father left me. I will forever remain thankful to

AfCiC for the support that they have given and continue to

give”

*NB names used in this article are not real names.

Page 5

The Month that was...Action for Children in Conflict (AfCiC) through its Child Lead the Way programme

(CLTW) conducted several activities during the August holiday namely;

i. Governance and mentorship forum

ii. Domestic workers training

iii. Peer educators training

iv. Children and work conference

These activities organised by the CLTW team, brought together 175 children and 15

facilitators. The activities addressed several issues that are relevant to take the children

through their academic life as well as the puberty stage and help them transform

diligently into adulthood. The sessions included:

i. Healthy relationships in schools and the community

ii. Behaviour change and communication skills

iii. Sexual and reproductive health.

iv. Life skills including drug abuse and HIV and AIDS

v. Group dynamics and leadership skills

vi. Setting goals and making informed career choices

vii. Academic and social challenges facing students in schools and possible

solutions

viii.Self esteem, self awareness and personal development

ix. Resisting peer pressure

x. Basic skills on the employment law and conflict resolution

It was quite remarkable to see to the children cooperate their young energy and thirst

for knowledge in their participation during the interactive sessions. They were

enthused by the efforts the AfCiC community is putting towards their well being. And

these are some of the remarks they gave:

“I am grateful for these activities. I had a goal but my goal was not SMART. When I go

back home I am going to set a SMART goal and I am confidence my grades will

definitely improve,” says David Mwangi

“As a school captain, my biggest challenge is how to do my work without being hated

and criticised. This forum has helped me learn how to relate with my fellow student

and carry out my responsibility as a captain effectively and efficiently,” says Margaret

Wanjiku

“I have learned to make proper decision concerning peer influence. And I am also

grateful for the self esteem session because I believe it will help me work on my

confidence,” says David Karani

“As a domestic worker I did not know most of the employment laws but know I am

empowered and no worker will take advantage of me,” says Jane Muthoni

The facilitators of these activities recommended that more training and fora to be held

especially the ones involving the children and their parents/guardians. Their hope was

to see the knowledge put into practice

@AfCiC

actionchildren.or.ke

Action for Children in Conflict

For More Information Contact

Action for Children in ConflictndImara Plaza 2 floor

P.O. Box 6439-01000

Thika

Mobile No: +254722 753 137

kenyadirector@actionchildren.or.ke

infokenya@actionchildren.or.ke