Protection Services for 100 Rural Kenyan Children

Week Two of Nafasi program was powerful, interactive, and deeply transformative for the children. We began the week with a recap of the previous topics, ensuring the children carried forward the key lessons from Week One. Our group counseling focus early in the week was on understanding stress and trauma; what stress is, its sources, and how it affects emotional and academic wellbeing. Children openly shared their experiences, and every afternoon, we conducted individual counseling sessions while others engaged in games, giving each child a safe space for one-on-one support.

Mid-week, the children explored the topic of peer pressure. They reflected on their role models, identified personal values, and discussed real examples of positive and negative peer pressure within school, home, and friendships. This session strengthened their confidence, decision-making, and understanding of the importance of choosing values over approval.

We then shifted to conflict resolution, a topic the children engaged in enthusiastically. They defined conflict in their own words and learned practical skills like active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, negotiation, and problem-solving. Through group activities such as analyzing a “conflict tree,” they explored the root causes and effects of conflicts. The following day, they continued with approaches to resolving conflict, the benefits of peace-building, understanding the conflict cycle, and the role of effective communication. We closed the week with an introduction to goal-setting, encouraging each child to write short-term and long-term goals as a step toward personal growth.

The final day was a joyful celebration. We wrapped up the week with sports activities; football, volleyball, relays and ended with a ceremony where both the children and volunteers received certificates of participation and appreciation. It was a meaningful and uplifting close to a week of learning and empowerment.