CREATING A SAFE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN

Presentation on Digital Environment for kids

The digital era provides children with platforms to exercise their rights through learning, producing digital content, making online friends, acquiring new skills and expressing themselves. Unfortunately, many children in Africa do not have access to these digital technologies hence lag behind when compared to children from other continents. For those who access, there is a greater risk of them being preyed online by cyber bullies, accessing inappropriate content or being lured into online scams and gangs. This calls for concerted efforts to sensitize children, parents, government and other stakeholders on the need to provide access to safe digital environments for the African Child.

It’s against this backdrop that Saint Martin’s Community Programme for Children in Need in collaboration with other Charitable Children Institutions, the Directorate of Children Services, the Ministry of Education and 21 public primary schools from Salama and Igwamiti Zones in Nyahururu Sub County marked the day in pomp and color. To ensure child participation in the celebrations, children through their children government leaders with guidance from their teacher patrons and matrons were involved in the planning and execution of the celebrations. Using songs, skits, placards, processions, speeches and dances, children sensitized each other about the uses of technology, the risks posed by technologies and how they can stay safe.

“We are grateful today to have celebrated the Day of the African Child for the first time in Salama Zone. We have danced a lot and learnt about how to stay safe online and how we can use digital technologies safely.” Deputy Chairperson, Salama Zone Children Government.

Let’s strive to create a safe digital environment for our children. Online safety begins with us.

: Created: 21 June 2023

What we do

Capacity Building

capacity building

The programme trains the following stakeholders as follows;

Community volunteers – They are trained on basic mental health information and community mobilization so that they may be able to identify and refer people with mental illness to appropriate support system.
People affected by mental illness and addiction – As the people directly affected by mental illness and addiction, they are trained on various topics to enable them gain greater insight into their lives, adhere to treatment and take charge of their lives.
Significant others of the beneficiaries – These are the close relatives of the beneficiaries who are trained to build their capacity to effectively support the recovery of their kin affected by mental illness and addiction.
Other stakeholders including chiefs, institutions, village elders among others who play a role in addressing mental health concerns in the community.

Advocacate for Child Protection

advocacy

The programme works with different stakeholders involved in child protection matters to advocate for child protection and resolve issues of violated children in a timely and child-inclusive manner in line with their best interests. The programme undertakes the following activities;

Educating the public through radio shows and awareness creation on matters of children
Collaborating with the government agencies and civil societies on activities that enhance the promotion of child rights
Working with local and national networks in the field of child protection.
Empowerment of direct beneficiaries by providing information on the existing initiatives by government and organization that provides for their rights.

Jaza Kikapu - Fill the Basket

jaza kikapu

In 2020, we launched Jaza Kikapu (fill a basket) concept to mobilise resources to support poor women headed households. Jaza Kikapu goal is to enhance and promote the unique role played by women on the family, community and societal level by empowering them and creating an enabling environment for their full participation in the development agenda. Women play an indispensable role in community development as weavers of the social fabric and caregivers. It is broadly designed to uplift poor households through the potential of women and hereby enable them to fully participate in the development of the communities.

Psychosocial support

psychosocial

People affected by drug abuse and mental illness struggle with various life challenges that puts pressure on the mental wellbeing. This is not limited only to those who are directly affected but also the significant others and other members of the family. The programme therefore adopted a household approach in offering counseling services including family therapy to ensure psychological wellness of the entire family. These services are offered under the auspices of the community counseling centre where the programme mobilizes counselors from the community who in turn offer free services to clients using St. Martin facilities.

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