Case Studies

These case studies are a small glimpse of the work that ANPPCAN is doing throughout Africa.

KENYA ELECTION CRISIS 2008

During the post-election violence in Kenya, ANPPCAN was first and foremost concerned with the children within the country.  We took several steps to assess the situation and take action.  In fact, we are still adapting to the current situation to make sure children are protected and not taken advantage of during these unstable times.

CHILDREN'S CENTRE AT JAMHURI PARK IDP CAMP IN NAIROBI

One of the largest IDP camps in Kenya was in Jamuri Park, next to the Kibera slums.  People fleed here to escape tribal violence and the skirmishes within their former homes.  ANPPCAN immediately visited the camp and took the necessary steps to establish a Children's Centre.

From humble beginnings, the Children's Centre soon became the focus point for anything to do with children.  Other organizations such as UNICEF, GOAL Kenya, Childline and World Vision put their collective resources towards the newly founded Children's Centre.

The Children's Centre at the Jamhuri Camp enabled organizations to provide services not possible at other camps.  There was counselling for children, temporary schools set up with volunteer teachers, games, toys and plenty of education materials.  We also made arrangements with Health Centres to ensure every child was able to remain healthy during this difficult time.

The collaboration and teamwork set up between ANPPCAN and other organizations also helped when it came to protecting children.  Volunteers at the Children's Centre were able to prevent several cases of attempted Child Trafficking within the camp.  In one case, a group tried to traffic 87 children before volunteers at the Children's Centre intervened.

ANPPCAN was still doing work in the Jamhuri Park IDP Camp until it was closed recently.  At that time, we decided to focus our efforts on the other camps throughout Nairobi and the surrounding area.

ANPPCAN SENDS OUT TEAM TO SEVERAL IDP CAMPS

The post election violence resulted in deaths, destruction of property and displacement of people in various parts of Kenya.  Children comprise a large percentage of these displaced people, many of whom still live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.  Media reports and observations from Humanitarian workers indicate that children in these camps have been subjected to inhumane situations and are at high risk of abuse and exploitation by people pretending to offer support to them.

ANPPCAN is responding to the crisis by assessing the situation of the children in IDP camps with the ultimate goal of establishing Child Protection systems.  The ANPPCAN team visited five IDP camps, three institutions hosting IDP children and two schools that have admitted these children in Nairobi, Limuru and Thika districts.

After presenting these findings to the staff at ANPPCAN Head Office, the office concurred to focus their efforts in the administration of Huruma and Mathare camps and the St Bridgets Primary school.  Our goal is to set up effective systems of administration and Child Protection.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Since 2004, ANPPCAN saw there was a need to raise awareness and to create an avenue to discuss research, program policies, legislation and good practices associated within the realm of Child Sexual Abuse. 

With ANPPCAN's extensive involvement in the areas of Child Rights and Protection, it was clear that sexual abuse against children was an issue that needed to be addressed.  In almost every program area that ANPPCAN is involved in, there were clear cases of this horrible vice against children.  

The idea for an international conference on Child Sexual Abuse was floated around between several associates and partners.  It wasn't until a meeting with Prof. Carol A. Plummer – School of Social Work, Louisiana State University, USA. that the idea started to blossom into reality.  With people now willing to team up for this effort, ANPPCAN started utilizing it's networking skills and started preparing for the monumental task.

CHILDREN'S PRE-CONFERENCE AND MARCH THROUGH NAIROBI

The Child Participation Program at ANPPCAN helped organize a Children's Pre-Conference.  This was held on a Saturday to accommodate children, and the event was kicked off with a Children's March through the streets of downtown Nairobi.  The march ended at the JICC, and the involvement and participation of over 300 children made this event a huge success.  Members of the Children's Parliament were also present. The attendance of the Children's Pre-Conference and March exceeded our highest expectations.  It was the ideal way to involve children and to launch the First International Conference in Africa on Child Sexual Abuse.

1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN AFRICA ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

The main conference began the following Monday, and enjoyed an exceptional response from academics, practitioners and policy makers.  Many of the key-note speakers and attendees paid their own way to be there!  There were many workshop presentations interspersed between the keynote and plenary speakers.

The Conference has several objectives which were accomplished by the end of the conference.  ANPPCAN had hoped to bring people together to share experiences and best practices.  To create an avenue in which practitioners, academics and policy makers could openly share and discuss research, program practices and policies, legislation concerning Child Sexual Abuse.  There were over 350 delegates from over 40 countries in attendance.

ANPPCAN also hoped to bring Child Sexual Abuse to a higher agenda.  To raise more awareness regarding the seriousness of this problem.  To make it clear that Child Sexual Abuse is not something to be taken lightly. 

The success of the conference made it clear that there is a great need and desire for such events.  ANPPCAN is honoured to have contributed towards making this dream a reality.  That being said, there is still a difficult fight ahead!  Our goal is to continue in these efforts through our various programs, and if possible, to hold a similar conference every two years. 

If you would like to support us in this effort, please contact us directly or visit our how you can help page.  Thank you.