Our programmes

Action for Children in Conflict Kenya (AfCiC Kenya) is a registered non-governmental organisation that has been in Thika since 2004 operating programmes aimed at preventing, supporting and rehabilitating street children.

Street Children's Day Care Centre

AfCiC staff members conduct street work to build and maintain awareness of who and where the street children are. The most vulnerable and needy are identified for admission into the rehabilitation and reintegration phase of our programme. The children are educated about the programme and what it can do to help them. It is important the children understand that the first step of attending the Day Care Centre is part of a process to remove them from street life and into a more sustainable and hopeful future and is not an end in itself. Staff also build awareness and trust amongst the wider street children community.

If the child wants to leave the street he or she begins to attend the Street Children’s Day Centre in Majengo (near the centre of Thika town). The aim is to prepare him or her for reintegration to society and family life. To try and take children from the street and straight back into society without appropriate preparation and education would result in failure and a swift return to street life.

Street Children's Residential Interim Care Centre

For children who find it especially hard to break from the street or whose families require more in-depth intervention the child moves to the Interim Care Centre. There, during residential care for up to six months, intensive rehabilitation and family reintegration work prepares the way for a return home.

Staff members liaise with families, local institutions, schools and support organisations to facilitate each child's return to society. The range of outcomes is usually:

• Child returns to school and family with appropriate support - this is the preferred solution.
• Child returns to school with residential support.
• Child enters skills training apprenticeship.

School Feeding Programme

With the recent introduction in Kenya of free primary education there is now an opportunity for all Kenyan children to receive a basic level of education. Unfortunately, many families still experience social and economic constraints that prevent their children from taking advantage of this. Children are often required to earn an income in order for the family to be able to feed them.

Action for Children in Conflict, Kenya, has developed a partnership with St Patrick's school in Thika to address some of these constraints. The programme identifies vulnerable children and provides them with lunch ever day, probably their only meal of the day. The programme currently feeds 140 children a day, 95 of the most disadvantaged for free (the others contribute what their family can afford). AfCiC Kenya is also aiming to expand the feeding programme among other schools in the Thika district.

School Holiday Programme

After long school holidays children from poor or vulnerable families often do not return to school. The reason seems to be that they become a burden to their families and are often sent out of the house to work or beg. The lure of the street and a small amount of money often overtakes their desire for education and they fail to return to school

AfCiC aims to reduce this burden on the family and increase the chances of children completing their basic education through the provision of a School Holiday Club. The Holiday club at St Patrick’s Primary School during school holidays in August 2004 and 2005 provided additional education, extra interest lessons, lunch and games/sports for between 100 and 150 children, helping keep them off the street.

Kenyan Children's Legal Aid Work (KCLAW)

KCLAW provides free legal advice to children and guardians and advocates for children’s rights and fair treatment. In the year 2001 the Government of Kenya enacted the Children's Act. The Act sets out the rights of the Children and the responsibility of the Parents, the Government and the community to ensure the children enjoy those rights, among others. Years on the majority number of children are nowhere near enjoying the benefits of this Act. Indeed many children and their parents/guardians are not even aware of those rights.

Through publicity, advocacy and free legal aid KCLAW empowers children and parents/guardians, especially disadvantaged and vulnerable children, to improve their wellbeing and claim their full rights under the law. The programme lays special emphasis on the girl child, child mothers and widows.