This project will provide safe shelter, food, clothing, counselling and medical care for 30 child abuse victims every month in Kenya.
Childline Kenya provides a 24-hour toll free helpline service for children to report abuse and receive counseling. Part of the support provided by the Helpline is to rescue children from abusive/ violence situations and temporarily placing them in safe shelters. In a month, the Helpline rescues 5 to 10 children from across the country. There are however, very few places of safety for child survivors of abuse in Kenya and this has been a challenge for the Helpline.
Childline Kenya has set up a temporary safe house for girls and boys sexually or physically abused and rescued from child trafficking. The children will be provided with the needed support i.e. medical care, education, legal and psychosocial support then reintegrated back to the family/community. The safe house is set to be launched in October 2012.
A truly successful intervention for victims of child abuse requires a safe haven away from the abusive environment to allow time for physical and psychological healing before reintegrated back to the community.