FAMILIES IN CRISIS: ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN NAIROBI

SLUMS- AN INTERVENTION

EDUCATION FOR LIFE - KENYA For The 2nd National Conference on Peer For The 2nd National Conference on Peer

Education, HIV & AIDSEducation, HIV & AIDS

AUTHOR: Saraphina Njoki MwangiAUTHOR: Saraphina Njoki Mwangi

CO-AUTHORS: Wasike, Charles ; Ali Molla, CO-AUTHORS: Wasike, Charles ; Ali Molla, Alphonce; Otieno Mkado, Chrispine; Olweny, Alphonce; Otieno Mkado, Chrispine; Olweny,

Fred; Matola,FFred; Matola,F

SituationSituation

• There are about 1.7 million orphans There are about 1.7 million orphans in Kenyain Kenya

• HIV prevalence rate in Nairobi HIV prevalence rate in Nairobi province in 2004 was 12% province in 2004 was 12%

• Greater percentage live in the slums Greater percentage live in the slums

• The number of children made The number of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS is not known.vulnerable by HIV/AIDS is not known.

Who is an orphan and who is a Who is an orphan and who is a vulnerable child?vulnerable child?

• Orphan-Orphan- any child under 24 years any child under 24 years without one or both parents without one or both parents

• Vulnerable child-Vulnerable child- any child any child exposed to HIV risk due to their exposed to HIV risk due to their environment or circumstances.environment or circumstances.

Case Study: Korogocho slumCase Study: Korogocho slum

• There are about There are about 1300 orphans 1300 orphans within an area of 1 within an area of 1 square kilometer square kilometer with about 89,000 with about 89,000 peoplepeople

• The other children The other children in the same area in the same area are vulnerable due are vulnerable due to the environment to the environment they live in.they live in.

Korogocho slum is Korogocho slum is characterized by:characterized by:

• Poor housing systemPoor housing system

• High insecurityHigh insecurity

• Poor sanitationPoor sanitation

• Only two reasonable dispensariesOnly two reasonable dispensaries

• Lack of recreational facilitiesLack of recreational facilities

• High congestionHigh congestion

IssuesIssues

Child- headed families: Child- headed families: How do they come about?How do they come about?• Due to high rates of unemployment, many people who Due to high rates of unemployment, many people who

move to the cities live in slums. Often, if there is an move to the cities live in slums. Often, if there is an extended family, it is back in the rural area. This lack extended family, it is back in the rural area. This lack of social structure means that double orphans are left of social structure means that double orphans are left with no one to care for them except the older sibling.with no one to care for them except the older sibling.

• If grandmothers are there,they are elderly and If grandmothers are there,they are elderly and physically weak double orphans. So, the older children physically weak double orphans. So, the older children must take up the responsibility of a provider, for must take up the responsibility of a provider, for children and grandmother.children and grandmother.

• Single orphans are often taking care of their only Single orphans are often taking care of their only surviving parent who might be sick with AIDS. The surviving parent who might be sick with AIDS. The eldest child in the family takes the role of the parent.eldest child in the family takes the role of the parent.

Difficulties OVCs faceDifficulties OVCs face

Eldest Sibling-Eldest Sibling- is is responsible for providing responsible for providing basic needs for the other basic needs for the other siblings in the family, which siblings in the family, which is quite difficult. is quite difficult.

What survival tactics do What survival tactics do they adopt?they adopt?

A lot of them adopt A lot of them adopt prostitution; street children prostitution; street children collect garbage at Dandora collect garbage at Dandora dumping site for sale; take dumping site for sale; take drugs; and others become drugs; and others become robbersrobbers

Lunch Time At SchoolLunch Time At School

Where do they get Where do they get food ?food ?

Food is very basic. Food is very basic. They might receive They might receive food from the school food from the school feeding program.feeding program.

But, often they have But, often they have to keep some food for to keep some food for supper at home.supper at home.

More Problems of OVCsMore Problems of OVCs

• Caring for ailing parents before going Caring for ailing parents before going to school.to school.

• Abuse and violations of children's Abuse and violations of children's rightsrights

• Facing stigma in school, from the Facing stigma in school, from the community and even their caregivers.community and even their caregivers.

• They are neglected by the other They are neglected by the other family members.family members.

• Lack of EducationLack of Education

Comparing Orphans in school Comparing Orphans in school in two areas in Kariobangiin two areas in Kariobangi

Orphans in Schools

65%

35% Huruma

Karogocho

AssumptionsAssumptions

• The number of orphans is taken from The number of orphans is taken from the schools. There is a possibility that the schools. There is a possibility that a lot of orphans do not attend school.a lot of orphans do not attend school.

• Korogocho area is smaller compared Korogocho area is smaller compared to Huruma and has the smallest to Huruma and has the smallest population- compared to the other population- compared to the other areas in Kariobangi so the number of areas in Kariobangi so the number of orphans is still large.orphans is still large.

Grieving:Grieving:

The OVCs who head families experience The OVCs who head families experience trauma and stress, as a result of:trauma and stress, as a result of:

• Taking care of their sick parentsTaking care of their sick parents

• Death of their parentsDeath of their parents

• Caring for the rest of the siblingsCaring for the rest of the siblings

• Stigma from other community Stigma from other community membersmembers

EFL Kenya’s OVC INTERVENTIONS

• Behaviour Formation Programme (BFP) 8-13 years

• Behaviour Change Programme (BCP) 14-18 years

• Care Givers Programme

• All Programmes offer Psycho social support and HIV preventive approaches.

Behaviour Formation Behaviour Formation Programme (BFP)Programme (BFP)

BFP OBJECTIVE: To offer psycho-social support and value based life skills training for survival into adulthood.

BFP Helps them in: -Grieving process -Setting goals in life

-Identifying desirable values and good role models

-Making informed choices-HIV/ AIDS awareness-Sexual awareness and changes in life

Art Therapy Helps OVC’s Art Therapy Helps OVC’s GrieveGrieve

Behaviour Change Behaviour Change ProgrammeProgramme

• BCP OBJECTIVE: Re-orient OVC to a different lifestyle through supportive BCP.

• Uses Gerald Egan’s Model of helping skills.

GERALD EGAN’S MODEL OF HELPING SKILLS.

Care Givers ProgrammeCare Givers Programme

• OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE: Help them grieve and : Help them grieve and train them to be role models and train them to be role models and improve the OVC quality of life.improve the OVC quality of life.

• We use Gerald Egan’s Model of We use Gerald Egan’s Model of Helping SkillsHelping Skills

• Caregivers are mostly social workers, Caregivers are mostly social workers, elderly grandparentselderly grandparents

• some of them are PLWA’S some of them are PLWA’S

Why Psychosocial Why Psychosocial Support?Support?•Many Programmes for OVC have

focused on physical needs.•Need for holistic Programmes- that

are aimed at meeting the psychosocial and physical needs

•Need for grieving- stress and burnout hampers human development not dealt with appropriately

METHODOLOGY

• Art therapy- drawing• Indoor and outdoor games• Storytelling• Music• Writing• Drama/ skits• Group work discussion• Demonstrations• Spiritual Rituals and prayer

LESSONS LEARNT LESSONS LEARNT

• Well structured, children friendly BFP and BCP Well structured, children friendly BFP and BCP in a different environment from the slums in a different environment from the slums helps OVC’s grieve and set meaningful goals helps OVC’s grieve and set meaningful goals in lifein life

• We question whether bringing OVC’s to a We question whether bringing OVC’s to a different environment makes it difficult for different environment makes it difficult for them to readjust to the slums’ challengesthem to readjust to the slums’ challenges

• Caregivers need a chance to grieve and deal Caregivers need a chance to grieve and deal with stress and burnout resulting from care with stress and burnout resulting from care giving giving

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

• EFLEFL- Proper follow-up programmes should - Proper follow-up programmes should be done to assess the impact of OVC- BFP & be done to assess the impact of OVC- BFP & OVC-BCP programmesOVC-BCP programmes

• CSO’sCSO’s- Co-operation Vs Competition.- Co-operation Vs Competition.

• Church leaders-Church leaders- Prophetic role Vs Prophetic role Vs PreachingPreaching

• PoliticiansPoliticians- Action an Accountability Vs - Action an Accountability Vs AvoidanceAvoidance

**END****END**

Thank You Thank You

Education For Life KenyaEducation For Life Kenya