Change the Lives of Child Abuse Victims in Kenya

Our motto as Childline Kenya staff is “One Call, One Life”. This reminds us to respond to ALL the calls that come into the Call Centre with professionalism, warmth, and respect. I have been working at the Childline Kenya since 2008 where I started out as a volunteer counselor before joining the rescue and reintegration team as a Social Worker and I’m very passionate about protecting children in Kenya.

Working at the Childline is both satisfying and challenging. Satisfactory when the best interests of the child are upheld; and he/she is able to resume a healthy life after the ordeal. Challenging because every day we have to intervene in horrendous situations where innocent children are harmed by the same people that should protect them.

Every day is a learning process as we encounter different types of abuse cases. My work entails rescue of children in distress and placing them in a safe environment for care and protection. I accompany them to the hospital for medical care, prepare them to testify in court and later reintegrate them back to their families.

This process is not without its challenges some of which include; the police not arresting the perpetrators and arraigning them in court or the case investigation getting compromised due to corruption or cultural traditions. The courts also take too long to hear children cases, sitting magistrates may not be child friendly and the courts have no witness protection box for children thus exposing the children to perpetrators. This almost always affects them negatively when giving their testimonies. Some rescues take place in hostile communities manned by armed gangs and reaching the child becomes dangerous to the child and to the rescuer.

However, no challenge is without success. I have been able to thoroughly investigate cases and follow them through to court where the perpetrators were sentenced to life imprisonment or jailed for several years. As an organization we have exposed the crimes of some people in authority for example teachers and had them fired and jailed. This gives me a lot joy because the best interests of children are upheld and they get the justice they deserve.

Although it is not easy, I cannot give up because as a Child Protection Officer, I am a voice to the voiceless. My colleagues and I have had to put in extra hours beyond our shifts because of one child who needs our assistance. There is no amount of money that can sufficiently pay us for the work we do but I believe that God will reward us.

As Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”. Every individual has a responsibility to ensure children are safe and Childline Kenya cannot accomplish this alone. We need you to join hands with us and support our work....Give abused children in Kenya a voice: Childline Kenya

I am the Hope, the Ear, and the Voice of the Child….. Are you?