Programmatic Areas
ANPPCAN is currently running programs in over 24 different African countries. In addition to the work being done through our various chapters, we also undertake specific programs at our Head Office in Nairobi.
The Child Protection Programs at ANPPCAN Head Office aim to create an avenue for a long-term joint action program of government departments and non-governmental organizations to deal with the issue of child abuse and neglect in its various forms.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
Rights for Deaf Children Today Program
The project “Working for the Rights of Deaf Children Today!” aims to ensure that deaf children have access to their rights to family life, education and protection through building the capacity of parents and the wider family to communicate with and support their deaf child, to understand their responsibilities regarding their child’s rights and to engage with local decision making processes affecting their deaf child. The programmme is working with the district Education Assessment Resource Centres (EARCs) coordinators from the Ministry of Education, teachers and existing NGOs in Butere-Mumias, Embu, Kajiado and Kitui to build their capacity to identify and support deaf children. The district EARC coordinators will support the establishment of district level parents support groups which will have a peer support and advocacy role. At the national level the project aims to ensure parents and the wider family have the capacity to participate in creating a national movement which influences services provision for deaf children and their families.
Child Participation Program
The Child Participation Program seeks to build the capacity of young persons as advocates for protection of rights of orphans and other vulnerable children in Kenya. It is a direct and practical approach to attaining child rights. By its very nature, children themselves are trained to advocate for their rights as opposed to waiting for the rights to be realized for them by others.
The Child Protection and Response Centre
The Child Protection and Response Centre documents and assesses cases of child abuse and neglect in Nairobi. The project accepts cases, carefully documents the type of abuse that has taken place, and advises clients accordingly to take further action. The Centre works through a network of legal services, police forces, children’s homes, children’s officers, social service providers and health professionals to provide the best care possible.
The Centre also works in collaboration with the child protection units (CPUs) in police stations, children’s courts, hospitals, the Department of Children’s Services, the Probation Department, the Education Office, and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) specifically on professionalizing the response to cases of violence against children. This allows service providers in all communities throughout the region to better respond to situations where a child’s rights are being violated.
Additionally, the Centre financially supports 90 children who are currently enrolled in secondary education. When children are properly educated, they are more aware of their rights and better able to understand and prevent cases of abuse and neglect. Individuals are encouraged to contact the Child Protection and Response Centre immediately if they become aware of or suspect a case of child abuse.
Exchange Program Among ANPPCAN Chapters
This involves exchange of personnel (25 - 35 years old) among ANPPCAN Chapters and the Head Office to learn and share experiences, thus strengthening ANPPCAN as a continental organisation. The ANPPCAN-FK Exchange of Personnel Program takes place among ANPPCAN chapters in Africa and involves staff from a chapter being attached at another to work, learn and share experiences. The overall purpose of the exchange program is to enhance the capacities currently available at all Chapters and provide an opportunity to share experiences while marketing best practices available within ANPPCAN Chapters.
Documentation, Information and Research
The Centre conducts research and documents child rights experiences. Also, the Centre collates, processes, organizes information materials and also provides access to staff, other organizations and the society at large. ANPPCAN Documentation Centre has each year played this role well in particularly to researchers, students of surrounding colleges and other learning institutions. It comprises of journals, books, published and unpublished books, grey literature, periodicals (newsletters and magazine), compacts disks and pamphlets.
End Child Prostitution in Kenya
End Child Prostitution in Kenya (ECPIK) is a national coalition of organizations working together to end child prostitution, sexual exploitation, child pornography and trafficking in Kenya. It carries out awareness raising and training to communities and groups on commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and also lobbies the government and other stakeholders in enacting relevant legislations and policies on CSEC. The network also mobilizes communities to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free and secure from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation.
The network is member of ECPAT International which is a global network of organizations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. It has over 25 members in Kenya
Children increasingly access internet everywhere on personal laptops, game consoles and smart phones. As a result of emerging technological and societal changes, millions of children are at a greater risk of sexual abuse and exploitation. ECPIK is therefore implementing activities aimed to protecting children in the online environment through raising awareness, prevention, education and empowerment, sharing knowledge and experiences on online protection of children. In order to build and foster partnerships on child safety while online.
Fundraising
The aim of the Fundraising department is to develop and implement resource mobilization strategies for ANPPCAN's sustainability. Some of the alternatives strategies on resource mobilisation currently being implemented by the department include social investment, training, running an institute on family studies and corporate partnership.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Child Trafficking Program
This project works to minimize and eventually eliminate child trafficking. It undertakes action-oriented studies on child trafficking, increasing the level of awareness of child trafficking among different groups, builds the capacity of key actors, develops and enhance networks and alliances to effectively contribute to the fight against child trafficking.
Child Labour Program
The program avails appropriate development models for combating child labour in Kenya. The program is currently targeting fourteen districts in Kenya, namely, Bondo, Busia, Homa-Bay, Kericho, Kiambu, Malindi, Makuyu-Maragwa, Mombasa, Muranga, Mumias-Butere, Nairobi, Siaya, Suba and Teso. The program aims at involving communities in prevention of child labour and withdrawing children from work.
Child Violence Program
Promoting the Right of the Child to be protected from Violence contributes to stopping of all forms of violence against children in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya and Somalia. The program works to enhance knowledge and the capacity of various actors in the four countries to respond to and minimize the occurrence of violence against children, and to strengthen their operational capacity for effective advocacy and execution of laws against violence on children.
Foster Care Program
The Foster care program encourages and facilitates foster carers to look after children in need. It identifies vulnerable children and thereafter assesses, trains and supports foster homes to take in the children, treating them as if they were their own by promoting their well-being.
Children and Armed Conflict
This program raises awareness in Africa on the state of children in situations of armed conflict. Also aims at facilitating the enforcement of concrete policy measures to prevent the involvement of children in armed combat and to protect children who are already in situations of armed conflict.
Improving Child Protection Systems
At ANPPCAN we strive to enable to and empower programs already making a difference in the lives of young people. If you would like more information on the activities of ANPPCAN in this matter; please contact us.