Outreach Programmes for Vulnerable Children

Programme Outline

The purpose of our Outreach initiatives is to provide in-depth, tailored prevention programmes to prevent at risk children from taking to the streets through early intervention, and to provide swift and effective rehabilitation for those who still find themselves in an exploitative or dangerous situation.

Activities

We run three main programmes focused on prevention and rehabilitation of street and other acutely vulnerable children:

	Education Empowerment A School Drop Out Prevention Project working directly with teachers in poor public primary schools to target those most at risk and meet their needs whilst still in a schooling environment; Non Formal Education for out of school youth; Child Play Therapy Sessions in Thika Women's Prison.
	Economic Empowerment Skills Training and Into Work support for older street & disabled youth, Family Sponsorship and Micro Finance projects with vulnerable families & for those displaced by the post election violence.
	Youth and Empowerment After School Children's Clubs to prevent identified children from being exploited on the streets in the evening and at weekends; Outreach Clinics for street children in Makongeni and Ruiru; and Community Training and Research activities.

Achievements

In 2008, we achieved the following successes:

137 acutely vulnerable children were returned to and retained in local primary schools through early intervention in schools and families. 251 former street children were supported to remain in school through assistance with school uniform, books, pens, school feeding, counselling and positive encouragement. 230 parents of street children directly supported with practical, financial and emotional support to enable genuine family reunification. 6500 well balanced nutritious meals provided to current and former street children. 32 at risk children were retained in school through our After School Children's Clubs. 16 street children reunited with their families 19 older street youth taken for skills training in the community to enable them and their families to support themselves. 3 older street youth are now in decent and productive employment through our Into Work programme. 20 acutely vulnerable families have been supported with Micro Finance Training and loans to enable them to set up income generating activities and become economically self sufficient.