Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program
OUR GOAL
CIVS Kenya provides free education and a great start at growth and learning to children who are either orphans or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other socio-economic challenges at our Resource Centers through the Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE). We also offer daytime meals through our Feeding program.
Higher poverty index has always been witnessed in areas with poor income and low purchasing power. This has been the situation in rural areas around our projects since such areas also experience high HIV/AIDS prevalence, perennial floods, and drought seasons among other challenges. The death of one or both parents contribute to the breakdown of the family structures and inevitably poverty, especially if the deceased parent was the main breadwinner. In this case, many children are left behind with no social support, adequate resources to access affordable social space for holistic growth and learning, and no adequate food to eat hence becoming nutrition deficient in the long run. This then increases their susceptibility to diseases and affects their school attendance at school since they are also not able to concentrate in class resulting in increased cases of dropouts.
Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) plays a vital role in a child’s early years of development. A good ECDE Foundation promotes the positive transition of a child to the next stages of development and learning.
- We run Two inclusive ECDE centres in Ahero and Awach that provide a free and safe space for growth and learning to more than 100 children. Some children are either orphans or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other socio-economic challenges. The children are aged between 2-5 years old and are supervised by qualified teachers. The program has enabled us to retain more children in school who could have otherwise turned into school dropouts as a result of prevailing economic and societal challenges. Our children usually have enough time to play outside under supervision in a secure environment. This has helped to promote their social behavior, physical health, creativity, and overall growth. We have set ourselves the task of providing these children with a good foundation as this contributes greatly to improving their cognitive, social, and emotional well-being Skills.
- To offer a safe place for learning and keep these kids at school, CIVS Kenya also initiated a feeding program at Ahero Resource Center. The program provides daytime meals to more than 100 school going orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) both from the ECDE Center and also from a neighboring primary school with the overall goal of improving the well-being and school performance of OVC. The program has proved to help meet basic nutritional needs while keeping children focused in the classroom. Additionally, we have witnessed increased school enrolment rates, reduced absenteeism, and improved food security at the household level.
The relatives and caregivers appreciate the fact that our program allows them to go to work without worrying about who would take care of their children.
ABOUT US
The Center for International Voluntary Service (CIVS Kenya) is a Community Development Organization working with local marginalized communities in Kenya to support them in their development and fight the poverty through volunteering and community development programs.
REACH US
- +254 722 210968
- info@civskenya.com
OUR LOCATION
- Mumias Road, Buruburu Business Center, Rubis Station Building P.O. Box 824 00515 Buruburu, Nairobi, Kenya.