Change the Lives of Child Abuse Victims in Kenya

One of our Helpline counselors had this to say about her experience of working at the Helpline and assisting children in need.

When I started working at the child helpline, I expected that this would be like any other job I’ve had before. Little did I know that my experience here would uncover within me a deep commitment to fight for the protection of children from abuse and aid in the healing of those who have been victims of tragic and traumatizing experiences. With time, it dawned on me that this was no feat for the weak or faint hearted. As I answered each call, I heard the desperate need from the children and parents on the other side as they feel they have found THE person who can somehow bring sanity into their lives.

As a counselor, I realized that my voice and my words held such immense power in how the life of a child may be from that day on. The callers always hang by my every word as their ultimate source of hope, direction, refuge and the truth. It is based on this that I made the choice to keenly listen and assist each and every client to the best of my abilities. Given the thousands of children and adults who call the helpline everyday who are in dire need for help, the work can get overwhelming but the realization that for a vast majority of these people the 116 helpline is their last resort is a great driving force for me and fellow counselors at the Helpline. 

This need for hope is clear in the voices of the callers and more often than not I have been left wishing there was more I could do. There is disbelief in their voices is clear once they hear a person’s voice talk to them. Some are desperate, disoriented and even frightened for their lives. Having a listening ear, even though far away and unknown is what most of these callers need.

Kenya’s very own Nobel Laureate, Professor Wangari Maathai said, “We could all make a difference in the world through the little things that we do”....... Her little thing was planting trees..... My little thing is giving children a listening ear.... What is your little thing?

This festive season, find it in your heart to support a child who while others are celebrating and having fun is suffering unimaginable torture in the hands of those who are supposed to protect and provide for him or her. 

Support Childline Kenya in ending child abuse in Kenya!

http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/projects/change-the-lives-of-child-abuse-victims-in-kenya/

Thank you for your continued support! 

Here at Childline Kenya we purpose to walk with children who have suffered abuse from the point of reporting till they are healed both physically and emotionally and reintegrated back with the family. We believe that the family is the best place to facilitate total healing for a child except in the cases where the family is responsible for harming the child.

Take for the example the case of *Joy, a 14 year old girl who was trafficked from Uganda by her aunt with the pretense of enrolling her to school in Kenya.

On arrival in Kenya, *Joy’s Aunt gave her away as a house girl to one of her friends whose daughter had a child below two years. Her duties included but were not limited to babysitting, cleaning utensils, washing clothes and cooking. While working as a domestic servant she was denied education, mistreated, deprived of a healthy family environment and forced to work for many hours without wages. The employer was giving Joy’s aunt Kshs 1,000 (USD 12) on a monthly basis for joy’s services.

This went on for several months until a concerned neighbor called the Child Helpline and reported the abuse. The Helpline team worked with support from Government Children Officers to rescue Joy and placed her in temporary safe shelter. The case was presented in court where a repatriation order was given requiring Joy to be reunited with her family back in Uganda through the Helpline. Childline Kenya worked jointly with the Ugandan organization that runs the Child Helpline in Uganda (Uganda Child Rights NGO Network) and together they took the child back to her family where she was warmly received.

Joy belongs to a family of 13 siblings five of which don’t go to school and one of them is a street child. The family is financially challenged. The Uganda Child Rights NGO Network took over Joy’s case and that of her whole family to ensure that all children go to school. 

*Joy’s story is an example of many cases that are received at the Helpline. Childline Kenya’s journey with child ends when the child’s life is back on track and if we can’t do it by our self we’ll work with our trusted partners to ensure that the rescue takes place and follow up to provide the necessary support.

* Names have been changed to protect the identity of the child*