Marching for Children's Rights We Belong to Each Other Lihanda Did Not Leave It at That
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KOINON IA NEWS Volume 1, Issue 2 December 2010 KOINONIA Marching for Children's Rights We belong to each other Lihanda did not leave it at that. H e s u g g e s t e d s o m e Inside this issue interventions that were to be implemented as follows; there be Marching for a sensitization programme on Children's Rights 1 children's rights at school level, Letter from kizito 1 organizing forums with media Homeward Bound 2 and the community, analyzing Aiming to Excel 3 the challenges and problems of Nuba Wrestling drug and alcohol sale and use, In Nairobi 4 developing family life orientation The Koinonia Children programmes and embracing a Team Tour in Italy 4 conducive learning environment Taking Lead in Rehabilitating for all regardless of the Street Children 5 background and disability. From the Low Streets to High Fashion 6 The march came hot on the heels 15 Boys from Tone la Maji . of an intensive six months Graduate in Computer Studies 7 process of creating awareness New Sport Shoes for on the state of children's rights in Tone la Maji Football Team 7 December 11 marked a unique entry puppeteers led the way to the our local communities. It was To South Africa By Matatu 7 of marching for children's rights at terminus, attracting huge crowd on the a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h Children the heart of Kibera slums in Nairobi road side in addition to putting at Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Kenya. The peaceful procession w o r k s h o p s / t r a i n i n g s a n d Learn from Danish Artistes 8 business on a standstill. was organised by Koinonia Action meetings targeting people in the Free Physiotherapy Provides south of Nairobi. A major Hope to Disabled Destitute 9 for Peace (KAP) in collaboration Entertainment of all categories was conference was also held in with youth united for peace in Kenya staged at the arena, as children and Nairobi on December 4 that ( Y U P K ) . public took a back seat to enjoy the deliberated on the Children's Koinonia Newsletter 2010. rest of the day. Quite a few short The day began on a chilly morning rights issues. Published by the Koinonia speeches sprinkled here and there as Media Centre. with thousands of enthusiastic the day got warmer. children, civil rights activists, KAP is a new initiative of Koinonia launched mid this year. parents and the public adjusting to Children's representative Victor Its mission is to promote start off the short journey aimed at Lihanda said in his speech,” In Kenya, Koinonia is a lay Christian sustainable peace in informal Community with a proclaiming the rights of children. most of us are exploited and lured into s e t t l e m e n t s a n d l o c a l commitment to the plight of The mood of the day could be read forced labour under poor conditions. communities in Kenya. The marginalized members of the from the majority, who proudly came Some of us live in deplorable initiative was conceived with the society, especially street in white t-shirts and blue caps conditions, with little or no water and children, women and young aim of reducing levels of conflict carrying banners with a catchy food, with no sanitary service people from deprived in the marginalized areas of the message: “All rights for all children”. whatsoever. Many are denied the backgrounds. country caused by socio- The march kicked off at Nairobi's rights to an education, just to mention Our initiatives are found in economic, political and cultural Kibera, Kamukunji grounds, ending but a few.” . Kenya, Zambia and the Nuba at Kibera DC grounds. Bands and barriers. Mountains of Sudan. Koinonia Community Letter from Fr. Kizito Shalom House It is the end of a year that was still difficult for us in Nairobi, but marked by hope and the resumption of St Daniel Comboni Road, normal life in our homes, together with the boys and girls with whom we have chosen to share a part of P. O. Box 21255, 00505 our life journey. It was a big step forward from the very difficult moments of 2009. Nairobi, Kenya. www.koinoniakenya.org I want to thank all those who have remained close to us and supported us with their friendship. Finally, after more than a year of investigation, the Kenya Attorney General has instructed the Police to close the file because not a shred of evidence has been found to support any of the accusations. Your friendship has been for me and for all boys and girls of Koinonia, a source of strength. The Baby Jesus that we are getting ready to receive in our hearts will bind us together even more, And renew our determination to always stay close to Him. Have a nice Christmas, Fr. Renato Kizito Sesana,mccj. Homeward Bound This new approach was adopted The small house was a new approach was a success in its female neighbour, who gave her after the Koinonia social workers beehive of activity, unusual first year. shelter for the night and brought for a Sunday afternoon in realized that almost every child her to Ndugu Mdogo Rescue roaming the streets of Nairobi has Kibera. A group of adults and “We were able to reintegrate 27 out Centre the following morning. a parent, an aunt, a grandmother children bustled about in the of the 30 children we admitted a year . or guardian somewhere. In most kitchen, preparing steamed ago,” Jack said. “Only three children cases, they have simply adopted rice, beef stew and cabbage could not be reintegrated.” “We usually admit only boys, but sauté. A short while later they the drifter's lifestyle as a recourse we felt we had to address her from an unbearable home sat down to share lunch in the Jack said the three children came case too,” Matika said . environment. living room, chatting and from families with deep-seated sipping soda as they enjoyed problems that would certainly The social workers were Previously, a child would go their platefuls. impede their reintegration, mostly fortunate enough to find her through a one-year preparatory issues around extreme deprivation, mother in another part of Kibera. phase at the Rescue Centre This simple meal was the violence and abuse of alcohol. The The girl moved into her mother's before being transferred to one of centre point of a small three will be referred to Koinonia's tiny shack and began attending the main Koinonia children's celebration. The children main children's homes. counselling sessions at the homes for more comprehensive were all former street boys Rescue Centre. Her formation f o r m a t i o n . rescued from the streets of Back at the Rescue Centre, a few was also successful and she is Nairobi last year, and on this parents shed tears as they regarded The rehabilitation process now now a Grade Six pupil at a local day, their parents and their little boys, little angels who had starts right on streets. The social s c h o o l . guardians had come to take previously vanished into the streets, workers identify the children and them home after one year of now seated calmly in their brand create friendship with them. They Jack and his fellow social rehabilitation at the Ndugu new uniforms, ready to accompany engage the children in sporting workers will continue to follow the Mdogo Rescue Centre. Each them home and resume their activities and welcome them to progress of the children after boy was equipped with a schooling. Three Muslim boys made drop by the Rescue Centre, schoolbag, schoolbooks and their parents very proud; they had their reintegration. Ever y whenever they can, for a hot meal uniforms, and the Centre had faithfully progressed through their Saturday they will all assemble at and a bath. already arranged for their Madrasa (religious classes) at the the Rescue Centre to share their placement in local schools. local mosque without prodding from experiences. The social workers With time, the children open up, anyone. will pay regular visits to each and the social workers get a This group of children was child's home and school to chance to understand the the first to graduate from a There was one girl among the 27 ensure everything is going well, situation that drove them take to n e w a c c e l e r a t e d children, a unique case. The girl, the streets. This information helps a n d t h e y h a v e a l r e a d y r e h a b i l i t a t i o n m e t h o d aged about 11, was not rescued from the social workers trace each discussed the temptation to run adopted at the Centre. The the streets. She was brought to the child's closest relative or away from home and back to new approach aims to take Centre by a neighbour to protect her guardian, with whose approval the freewheeling streets. children off the streets and from her father. The girl's mother had they admit the child into the reunite them with their abandoned the family, leaving her Rescue Centre. The next step is “We have tried our best to impart parents or immediate under the care of the father.