During this holiday school break (November - January), St. Vincent's rescue center children and scholarship recipients will participate in a camp where they will learn about life skills (e.g., HIV prevention, health promotion, peer pressure, communication skills, etc.) and financial literacy. This two-week program will equip children ages 8-17 years with information and skills needed to make healthy decisions and lead productive and happy lives.
Children in Kibera face difficult conditions that limit their ability to lead safe and healthy lives: high rates of poverty and orphanhood, HIV prevalence estimated at 17% (compared to 4% prevalence in Kenya), and soaring rates of violence against children, including alarming rates of sexual violence. With little information availed in schools and topics of HIV and reproductive health still being taboo, children often lack the knowledge and skills to make healthy and informed life decisions.
St. Vincent's will conduct two holiday camps (one for children ages 8-12 and one for children ages 13-17 years) during the months of December and January. These participatory camps will engage children in learning about different topics and give children the chance to ask questions, talk among their peers and practice skills through activities like role plays and dramas. Participating children will include children from St. Vincent's Rescue Center and Scholarship programs.
This project will result in improved knowledge and skills among children and youth in Kibera around life skills (e.g., HIV prevention, peer pressure, communication skills) and financial literacy topics. Children will be empowered with information on child protection and opportunities to practice difficult communication skills, for example, saying 'no' to sex. Financial literacy sessions will start to prepare children around topics like savings and budgeting to help prepare them for the future.
