Corporates urged to Fund initiatives to help Stop Child Abuses in Kenya

The environment in which a child grows up determines the kind of people they will turn out to be in the society. Children are the reason why responsible parents and guardians wake up very early every single day to go out and work. Children lighten up the world and make it a better place. They bring families together and strengthen bonds.

A good life is all a child needs. A life that is full of love, care and protection. One that is free from any form of abuse. Love, care and protection for children will not only be achieved through the efforts of those entitled to look after them, but from the society at large. It is the responsibility of a people who are willing to ensure that every child around them is taken as their own.

Sadly, this is not the case at all times. Child abuse happens to be covered in some kind of darkness brought about by lack of knowledge on what really constitutes child abuse. A lot of children have been exposed to child abuse cases including child neglect, child abuse, child labor, child trafficking, sexual abuse, Female Genital Mutilation or even physical abuse.

With increase on child abuse cases being reported across the country as days pass by, people and child agencies decided to come in and help fight these cases. This is a matter of concern that touches the hearts of many individuals who value the wellbeing of children. Children are not able to fight on their own as they are vulnerable being. They need someone to speak on their behalf. Someone who is there for them and who helps bring to an end the sufferings that they may slowly be facing without the world knowing.

Apart from child agencies stepping in to help end cases of child abuse in Kenya, the corporate world can as well bring about great impact in this sector. The child agencies in place such as Childline Kenya have a filled the gap in ensuring that children are safe wherever they are.

Childline Kenya works to stop child abuse and provide a safe environment for all children. This is done through their only nationwide helpline service dedicated to children that runs 24 hours toll free, and is accessible by dialing 116. Childline Kenya provides access to rescue, counseling, safe shelter, medical care, legal support, and reintegration to children in need.

Every day more than 800 children and concerned adults call the Helpline 116 to report abuse and/or receive counseling. Since 2006, they have supported more than 2.6 million Kenyan children through the Helpline. A review of data collected through Helpline 116 revealed that 90 percent of abusers are people well known to the children. People who are much trusted including family members, teachers, religious leaders, neighbors and domestic workers.

A majority of Kenyans do not know the extent of child abuse in the country, or what to do in the instances it happens and this is why Childline Kenya came in to act as a guide I helping change this situation.

Childline Kenya has partnered with the Yetu initiative, a project of the Aga Khan Foundation in partnership with USAID, to launch a campaign dubbed “Shine A Light, because abuse isn’t obvious”. The campaign aims at among other things:

• Identify and educate Kenyans on the forms of abuse that may not always be obvious to society.
• Invoke the social consciousness of Kenyans and drive conversations about child protection and how each individual can help and abused child.
• Create awareness of Childline Kenya and the services we provide to support children in need.
• Invite Kenyans to help Childline Kenya “Shine A Light” on child abuse by donating to support the Helpline 116 and shine a light to expose child abuse.

Shine A Light is a call to arms for Kenyans to rally together to fight child abuse and be a ray of hope to those in need. This mandate will come into reality with enough funding in place as a total of 10,000,000 shillings need to be raised.

Out of the total amount of cash need for the campaign:

• 348,790 shillings will provide debriefing and counseling to 1,500 children per month
•  108,000 shillings will cover emergency rescue and reintegration missions for 10 child survivors of abuse per month
• 100,000 shillings per month will provide emergency support services to 2 abused children
• 53,850shillings per month will secure legal support services to an abused child
• 45,000 shillings per month will ensure that 10 child survivors of abuse get safe shelter
• 135,000 per year will provide education support to 3 child survivors of abuse from extremely needy homes, and,
• 400,000 per year will maintain the Helpline’s call system to ensure calls from children are received unhindered.

All corporate organizations in Kenya and beyond are being invited to help fund the campaign and improve Childline Kenya’s services to children. It is an effort that is reserving and worth giving a helping hand. Funding can be made possible by the following platforms: