VULNERABLE CHILDREN SUPPORT
Organization :The Amaf schools
Contact person :Peter Lalo
Email :amafschool@yahoo.com
“Support for UVCs at Nairobi Slums ,Kenya
The proposed project, “Support for UVCs at Nairobi Slums ,Kenya”, is in line with the objects of the
Constitution . The project is in line with Government’s development activities falling within the UN
Sustainable Development Goals Numbers one to four, which deal with poverty, zero hunger, good
health and well-being and, quality education. The Kenya Government has made all efforts through the
Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Disability, to champion the implementation of the UN Sustainable
Goals. However, the UN Human Development Report 2016, acknowledges that if human development
for everyone is to be realized, there is need to recognize that the most disadvantaged groups in society,
such as slum populations, need extra assistance to overcome discrimination. This project will
complement these efforts by especially addressing problems of UVCs in the slums area of Traditional
Authority in the slums of Nairobi., in terms of provision of food, health, education and counseling needs
due to the AIDS scourge and high levels of poverty and illiteracy in this area. These challenges have
worsened the living conditions of UVCs, including orphans, in an area which is very rural and remote
with poor basic infrastructure. However, the major goal of this project is to provide basic health care
and material support to the selected children while helping them to get an opportunity for early
childhood education in order for them to grow into reliable members of the communities they live in
and, the country as a whole.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Kenya, known as the warm heart of Africa, is a home to 6.8 million children (51 percent of the total
population) and presents a number of opportunities and challenges for its youngest citizens and their
families. The prospects for child survival has improved over the past few years due to improved
economic management, stable macroeconomic conditions and increasing agricultural production, which
are helping to reduce poverty and hunger. Kenya’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate seems to have stabilized at
12 per cent.
But on the down side, poverty continues to be chronic and widespread, and the country’s
development is thwarted by a fast growing population, limited arable land, cyclical natural disasters,
food insecurity, malnutrition, HIV and AIDS, and a high incidence of malaria, one of the leading killers of
children under the age of five. According to the UN Human Development Report of 2015 on Kenya, one
in eight children are still dying due to malnutrition levels.
THE PROBLEM OF UVCS
In Kenya, due to poverty levels, malnutrition is devastating and the single biggest contributor to child
death. There has unfortunately been no change in children’s nutritional status since 1992 and
malnutrition rates remain very high. Around 46 percent of the children under five are stunted, 21
percent are underweight, and four percent are wasted. Micronutrient deficiencies are common. The
ministry of Health’s Micronutrient Survey (2001) revealed that 60 percent of children under five and 57
percent of non-pregnant women had sub-clinical Vitamin A Deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency lowers
children’s immunity and reduces their chances of surviving a serious illness. The causes of Malnutrition
in children include poor childcare practices, diets lacking in calories and nutrients, frequent bouts of
disease and chronically under- nourished pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The impact of HIV/AIDS has affected all levels of society but nowhere has it been more devastating
than on children. Of the one million orphans in Kenya, over 500,000 have lost one or both parents to
AIDS. Without parental protection, these children are exposed to neglect, abuse and exploitation and
lack access to basic necessities and services. Orphaned children also suffer immense emotional turmoil,
which leaves deep psychological scars. Worse still, very young children, including the girl children, are
involved in commercial sex as a means of survival. The male children practice robbery, theft, smoking
and alcoholism, just to mention a few. These immoral behaviors have grave consequences on their
health and lives and on the lives of their families and those of fellow community members.
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION:
There is real evidence that one of the big challenges of malnutrition and HIV/AIDS scourge has created
for Kenya, is the big number of orphans left behind. This situation is aggravated by the prevalence of
poverty and higher illiteracy levels in the area. The UVCs and their needs have over the years
overwhelmed those who have tried to assist them. Most times they are left in the hands of relatives
who are struggling to keep their own immediate families from starving.
The Programmer will entirely depend on volunteers within and around the villages and other sponsors.
In order to continue its work, the project will from time to time require on-going support from generous
donors. Funds will be needed to cover costs such as administrative costs, volunteer training and support,
feeding programmer, emergency relief, basic drug supply and children excursions. The project will
identify a similar project that will act as a model and, if possible, do a twinning arrangement in order to
learn and share best practices. From time to time, the project will source donations in every form,
including pre-school education materials, toys, clothes, blankets and food items that can be distributed
to the children.
The key challenges faced by the slum communities are:
Parents/guardians do lack resources to make contribution towards the general welfare and education
of UVCs.
School going UVCs do lack the required scholastic and training materials.
Most children cannot access proper nutrition which leads to poor health and poor mental growth.
Some of them are HIV positive and chronically sick and in need of constant care.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Being a Community based project, The amaf schools aims at providing morning meals mainly in form of
porridge and lunch for the primary school going ages as well as early childhood education initiatives in
form of pre-school learning activities in order to prepare some of the UVCs for primary school. The
project will further provide basic materials such as clothes, beddings, essential drugs and food rations to
the UVCs. Part of the land acquired for the project will be cultivated to grow plants such as maize,
legumes and vegetables to support the nutritional aspects. There will also be an aspect of animal
husbandry in form of chickens and goats raring to supplement the food rations. Structures will also be
erected which will be used as a child care and counseling facility.
PROJECT MISSION:
Provision of high quality and holistic childcare for improved quality of life.
PROJECT GOAL:
To support early childhood development to UVCs in order to improve their physical, mental and spiritual
wellbeing.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
To promote spiritual growth, good educational foundation, health care and support services to UVCs.
To promote volunteer work, community participation and ownership among the concerned
communities
To help UVCs access good nutrition and health care, scholastic materials and other resources.
To promote cohesion, collective responsibility and love at family, community and societal levels for
equal opportunities and rights for all.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
Undertake a comprehensive feeding and day care programme for the UVCs
Organize meetings with selected representatives of the communities and form a project committee to
support child care activities
Carry out sensitization meetings with all relevant stakeholders
Undertake a needs assessment in order to identify specific needs of the beneficiaries within their
community
Identify UVCs and compile their profiles
Identify volunteers and train them on child care activities
Provide food items, basic drugs and other materials to UVCs in their homes
TARGET GROUP:
The main target group are the UVCs mostly affected by HIV/AIDS, hunger and poverty in the project
area. Initially, the project is targeting a total of 20 UVCs with a possibility of increasing the numbers in
future once the structures are fully erected and, funds permitting. The project will also emphasize on
support to the girl-child.
EXPECTED OUT-COME:
20 UVCs shall access pre-school support and development.
20 UVCs shall access scholastic and training materials.
20 UVCs shall access nutritional foods on daily basis during daytime.
20 UVCs shall access basic primary health care and material support.
Guardians of the UVCs shall be assisted with food, material, moral and spiritual support
The communities within the project area shall become more responsible and development oriented in
addressing issues of HIV/AIDS, poverty, illiteracy and the plight of the UVCs.
EVALUATION AND MONITORING:
The project will be subject to evaluation on a quarterly basis. However, day to day monitoring of its
progress will be carried out by the project steering committee through the project coordinator in
consultation with the UVCs and the beneficiary community members to ensure the attainment of the
project goal. Quarterly reports will be sent to the donor/sponsor by the Project Director in line with
agreements for transparency and accountability. All the necessary information and photographs
concerning the UVCs will be available on request.
PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY:
Although the activities of The Amaf schools have been carried out by well-wishers on a voluntary basis,
since 2014, using the meager resources solicited by the The Amaf schools ’s Trustees, once the project
takes off, the beneficiary community members will be mobilized and sensitized about the need to
contribute positively towards the welfare of the UVCs through volunteer work. Government and other
local and international organizations shall be sensitized about the project for possible support and
partnership.
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