Kenya: programs & priorities

ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Kenya has been working in the country since 1960. Programs include health, nutrition, sanitation, micro-enterprise, education and early childhood development programs. Access to water is an ongoing priority, and ChildFund in Kenya's water rig has been extremely successful in drilling new wells in just three days.

In an initiative aimed at increasing school attendance, the Kenyan government implemented free primary education for all children, resulting in the enrollment of 1.5 million children who previously did not attend school. However, many schools are now facing congestion in classrooms, with a lack of sufficiently trained teachers, and inadequate learning materials.

ChildFund in Kenya is supporting education by assisting with physical facilities and providing recommended school books, desks and supplies to schools with the greatest needs. Additionally, for children who are unable to attend regular schools because they have to work to help support their families, ChildFund in Kenya provides non-formal education alternatives such as literacy and education programs after the traditional school day, especially in pastoral communities.

Other development programs include girl-focused education initiatives to encourage girls to stay at school and peace schools in areas of tribal conflict.

Development in progress

In Kenya, the widespread cutting of trees is a leading cause of environmental degradation. The practice is a major contributor to poverty, drought and famine.

ChildFund in Kenya has launched a tree-planting program; where the goal is to have one million trees planted within the first year. This will prevent erosion and maintain a healthy environment through bio-diversity. The trees will also have other benefits - providing food for families, improving family income, and allowing girls to spend less time collecting harvested wood.

In consultation with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, several varieties of trees, including fruit, exotic and indigenous types, were identified as ideal for the communities. Families are planting trees in places of strategic environmental importance, such as steep slopes, riverbeds and areas prone to landslides.

This tree-planting program is especially important for girls who are often assigned the task of gathering firewood. They may spend hours searching for and collecting firewood for the family. Having wood as a harvestable crop, close at hand, will free up their time for school.