Equality and inclusion: A World Children’s Day commentary.
Children deserve an environment where they can live, learn and play free from worry or danger. It is why NALSA(K) is at the forefront of initiating projects that look after their needs to give them an equal chance to pursue prosperity. On the 2022 World Children Day, the theme is equality and inclusion.
The article explores different ways our organisation steps up for children. For purposes of being objective, the methods employed are in line with the millennium development goals;
Clean Water and sanitation
Clean water and sanitation equal good health and dignity for children. Public schools are crowded and operating beyond capacity.NALSA(K) has projects running in four constituencies across the country.
i) In Mbeere South Constituency – The construction of a four-unit lavatory block at St Stephen Ngenge Primary School.
ii) In Mbeere North – an ablution block at Kamugu Primary School is to replace the existing one.
iii) Mathioya Constituency – a new ablution block for teachers of Ruru Primary School after the facilities they were using got washed away by mudslides in January 2022.
iv) Turkana Central Constituency- a project to see dilapidated washrooms rehabilitated in two public primary schools and have additional pit latrines built.
v) The two schools are Loyo Primary and Lodwar Mixed. To absolve the schools from water shortages, NALSA(K) donated water tanks, solar pumps, and hand washing kits to the schools.
Provision of basic needs
The three basic needs: food, shelter, and clothing are the bare minimum a child needs to have human dignity and experience stability growing. For the girl child, sanitary pads are a basic need too.
i) Embakasi West- ‘back to dignity’ programme tailored and distributed school uniforms to students in 10 primary schools.
ii) Kaloleni Constituency – distributing sanitary pads to 3000 girls in 19 schools. The project helps ensure uninterrupted learning for the girls who would otherwise have missed out on classes during their periods.
Improving the learning environment
Public schools often feel pressure on their resources. The learning environment should be conducive enough to make learning an enjoyable experience for the child. It boosts their morale.
i) Westlands Constituency& Dagoretti North – the refurbishment of learning facilities in both Kangemi Primary School and Milimani Primary School.
ii) Sirisia Constituency – eight classrooms, an administration block, and a toilet block in Bukuyabi Primary School.
Good health and well being
Like public schools, public health institutions face pressure on the available resources. Construction and upgrading the existing institutions is significant for babies to be delivered safely and get assurance of medical attention as they grow up.
i) Siaya County- facilitated the installation of a maternity wing with beds at the local dispensary in Mur Malanga.
ii) Fundraising to build a health facility in Got Nyapong village, Bondo Constituency.
Gender equality
Teen mothers are still children: they are not of legal age yet. It would be unfair to let them fend for themselves. The least we could do is to institute measures that would integrate them back into school and offer them a means to provide for their young ones.
Kaloleni Constituency- working to help teen mothers in Kaloleni reintegrate into society while economically empowering them.
Food
Food is a crucial resource. The fuel we need to be healthy and energetic.
i) Westlands Constituency- Old Kihumbuini Primary received a new kitchen.
Persons with disabilities
At Kizurini School in Kaloleni Constituency, they practise integrated learning by having a PWD facility. We were on-site to provide the children with wheelchairs, learning materials and foodstuffs.
Conclusion
We would bury our heads in the sand if we agreed that the above is enough. More efforts and resources are required to be able to reach every child in the corner of the world. Today is the right time to promote awareness of problems children face globally and advocate to improve their welfare. The UN has adopted principles on child rights worldwide would be a good starting point in promoting the rights.
Significantly, today we celebrate the child.
Happy World Children Day.
Post by Anyanzwa Brian.
Photographs by Julia Laval.