In the slums of Nairobi (Kenya), thousands of children face extreme vulnerability, poverty, and a lack of opportunities. Although the country has made significant efforts, access to basic and secondary education is not always guaranteed for all, and there are major deficiencies in school infrastructure and equipment in marginal urban and rural areas. The lack of financial resources is the main obstacle preventing the most vulnerable families from ensuring that their children attend school., since the cost of access to education, even in public education, can be prohibitive. Many families are even unable to meet expenses such as uniforms, books or school supplies. Faced with this situation, a large number of children are forced to leave their homes and live on the streets, where they are victims of physical and sexual abuse, drug use, labour exploitation, violence, malnutrition or recruitment by criminal gangs.
To address this reality, the Karibu Sana programme welcomes children and adolescents who have been excluded from the education system and are in a situation of endemic poverty and vulnerability, lacking a safe family environment.
As part of the Karibu Sana programme, in collaboration with Strathmore University and the ADEY Foundation, this project focuses on ensuring that girls rescued from the streets, and currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Dorothea Rescue Centre, can access education in a safe and protective environment.
The aim is not only to ensure access to basic and secondary education, but also to promote their physical, emotional and social well-being, equipping them with skills for their personal development.
This initiative will help strengthen the rescue and immediate care processes, as well as the rehabilitation program (specialized medical and psychological care) for these girls. To achieve this, the capacities of the center’s rescue and rehabilitation teams will be strengthened by offering them the necessary resources and tools so that they are better prepared to respond effectively to rescue situations and provide quality initial care to the girls housed at the center. Support will also be provided to the rehabilitation teams responsible for caring for the health and emotional well-being of the minors in care. In parallel, work will be done with the girls to strengthen their social and emotional skills, fostering their resilience, self-esteem and overall well-being.
Special attention will also be given to equipping the center with new resources that meet the basic needs of the sheltered girls. Among the planned improvements is the construction of a chicken coop to help ensure adequate nutrition, as well as the provision of materials for the center’s library and playroom, promoting enriching and educational leisure time.
Furthermore, thanks to the support of the ADEY Foundation, all the girls will receive an annual scholarship to attend primary or secondary schools. This will ensure their access to quality education, which is key to overcoming the barriers that perpetuate their situation of vulnerability and exclusion.
With these initiatives, the Karibu Sana programme strengthens the processes of protection and comprehensive development, helping the girls in the programme build a better future and promoting their autonomy and well-being.