By Martha Sunda | Executive Director, Childline Kenya
Imagine this:
A frightened 14 year old girl sits huddled in the corner of a small, dim room. She’s already survived horrific abuse at home, and now she’s in a place that was supposed to offer refuge—a rescue centre meant to shield her from further harm. But the nightmare continues. The adults tasked with protecting her have turned into her new abusers. She’s subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from the very people she thought she could trust. Alone, scared, and helpless, she’s trapped in a system that has failed her.
A Call for Rescue, a Call for Action
This is not an isolated story. It is one of many.
Earlier this year, Childline Kenya received an anonymous report through the 116 helpline. The call revealed that children in a rescue centre—survivors of severe abuse—were facing further violations by staff members entrusted with their care. These children were supposed to be safe, but instead, they were enduring even more pain at the hands of those meant to protect them.
Thanks to the swift response from the helpline, Childline Kenya engaged with critical government institutions and law enforcement for the safeguarding of the said children. Investigations began into the failures of the rescue centre and strong recommendations made in the best interest of the children.
But that was just the beginning of the battle. These children needed much more than rescue. They desperately needed to heal through trauma-informed counseling, medical care, safe shelter to rebuild their lives, and ongoing legal aid to ensure justice is served.
Your Support is the Difference Between Despair and Hope
The road to recovery for these children might be long and challenging. This is why every stakeholder’s support is so critical for the children to have access to the resources required for efficient and effective mental health and psychosocial support to make a profound and meaningful difference in their lives.
But more needs to be done. Each month, Childline Kenya receives over 1500 calls, and there are many more children who are still trapped in similar situations, silently waiting for someone to help them.
Together, We Can Help More Children
Childline Kenya’s goal is to increase its capacity to respond to at least 300 children each month. We want to make sure that every child who calls us is rescued, receives high-quality care, and is given the support they need to rebuild their lives. But we cannot do it alone.
Every child’s voice deserves to be heard. And with your continued generosity, we can ensure that no child’s plea for help goes unanswered. The resources required to offer complete support—legal aid, continuous counseling, medical treatment, safe accommodation—are substantial.
The Time for Action is Now
These children cannot afford to wait. Their lives hang in the balance, and each day they remain in abusive situations deepens their trauma. By supporting Childline Kenya, you’re not just offering temporary relief—you’re changing lives permanently. You’re helping these children heal, find safety, and reclaim their futures.
The urgency is real. The stakes are high. But with your donations, we can reach more children, faster, and provide them with the lifeline they so desperately need.
Be the Change a Child Needs Today
Imagine being that terrified child, dialing 116 and hoping, against all odds, that someone will answer. Imagine the relief of knowing that help is on the way—that the nightmare will finally end.
Now, imagine being the person who made that possible.
Your donations are not just numbers on a page—they’re the reason we can answer these calls, rescue these children, and give them the care and support they need to rebuild their lives. You are the difference between suffering and safety, between despair and hope.
Please consider increasing your support today. Every additional gift allows us to rescue more children, provide more care, and ultimately change more lives.
Thank you for being the lifeline these children so desperately need. Together, we can protect, heal, and empower Kenya’s most vulnerable.
By Martha Sunda | Executive Director, Childline Kenya
By Martha Sunda | Executive Director, Childline Kenya
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