Jace for Children International

05/11/2025

Kenya is greatly honoured to host the 3rd International Conference on Child Protection (ICCP) under the theme Child Protection and Climate Change.

🌍Climate change is not only an environmental issue — it’s a Child Protection issue.

✅Climate change and child protection are deeply interconnected.
Climate impacts such as floods and droughts increase children’s vulnerability to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and family separation. Strengthening child protection systems helps families and communities withstand these shocks and build resilience. Protecting children’s rights is therefore essential to effective climate action and sustainable development.

The Children of Kenya among other key stakeholders have got an opportunity to learn and share their thoughts on this area of concern.Lets Follow!!

THEME: Child Protection and Climate Change

03/09/2025

Tunapotulia na kutafakari, ukweli mmoja unajitokeza wazi: watoto hawakukusudiwa kutembea katika maisha wakiwa peke yao. Kila mtoto anastahili joto la familia, uhakika wa upendo, na uthabiti wa malezi. Lakini mara nyingine, hali za maisha huwanyima haki hii, na kuacha wengine wakiwa yatima au wanyonge.

Katika nyakati k**a hizi, jamii inaitwa kuchukua nafasi si k**a watazamaji wa mbali, bali k**a washiriki hai wa kurejesha kilichopotea. Sote tunashiriki wajibu wa pamoja wa kuwalinda na kuwatunza watoto hawa, tukihakikisha kwamba ndoto zao haziwezi kufutwa na magumu ya maisha.

Hapa ndipo mifumo ya malezi mbadala nchini Kenya inapochukua jukumu muhimu, ikitukumbusha kwamba ingawa mtoto anaweza kupoteza familia moja, hapaswi kamwe kupoteza nafasi ya kupendwa na kuhusishwa

✅ Aina za Mifumo ya Malezi Mbadala Nchini Kenya

1. Malezi ya kifamilia (Kinship Care) – Watoto hulelewa na jamaa zao k**a vile babu, bibi, wajomba, shangazi au ndugu wakubwa. Hii husaidia kudumisha uhusiano wa kifamilia na kuhifadhi utambulisho wa mtoto.

2. Malezi ya Foster (Foster Care) – Familia zilizoidhinishwa hukubali kulea watoto kwa muda mfupi au mrefu pale ambapo hawawezi kukaa na jamaa zao. Hutoa uthabiti wakati wa mpito.

3. Uasili (Adoption) – Ni mchakato wa kisheria unaompa mtoto familia ya kudumu na hisia za kuhusiana maisha yote.

4. Ulezi wa Kisheria (Guardianship) – Mahak**a ya Watoto humteua mlezi wa kisheria kuhakikisha ustawi wa watoto ambao wazazi wao wamefariki au hawawezi kuwalea.

5. Kafaalah – Ni mfumo wa Kiislamu wa malezi ambapo familia humchukua na kumtunza mtoto, kuhakikisha ustawi, elimu na malezi yake, bila kubadili nasaba au kumpa haki za urithi. Unasisitiza malezi, heshima na wajibu wa kijamii.

6. Maisha ya Kujitegemea Yaliyochunguzwa / Malezi Baada ya Huduma (Supervised Independent Living / Aftercare) – Msaada kwa watoto wakubwa wanaoingia utu uzima, ukiwapatia ushauri, makazi, elimu, na ujuzi wa maisha ili waweze kuishi kwa kujitegemea

💭 Tafakari ya Mwisho

Malezi mbadala si kuhusu mifumo na miundo pekee—ni kuhusu upendo, kuhusiana, na uwajibikaji wa pamoja. Kila mmoja wetu—iwe ni familia, wataalamu au wanajamii—ana jukumu la kuhakikisha kwamba hakuna mtoto anayekua bila malezi.

👉 Pamoja, tunaweza kujenga jamii ambako kila mtoto, bila kujali mwanzo wake, anakua akijua kwamba ana thamani na anastahili kuhusiana.

03/09/2025

When we pause to reflect, one truth stands out clearly: children are never meant to walk through life alone. Every child deserves the warmth of a family, the assurance of love, and the stability of care. Yet, life’s circumstances sometimes deny them this right, leaving them orphaned or vulnerable.

In such moments, society is called to step in—not as distant observers, but as active participants in restoring what has been lost. We all share a collective responsibility to safeguard and nurture these children, ensuring that their dreams are not extinguished by hardship.

This is where alternative care systems in Kenya play a vital role, reminding us that while a child may lose one form of family, they should never lose the chance to belong.

✅ Types of Alternative Care Systems in Kenya

1. Kinship Care – Children are raised by relatives such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, or older siblings. It keeps family ties alive and preserves identity.

2. Foster Care – Approved families step in to provide temporary or long-term care when children cannot stay with their relatives. It offers stability in times of transition.

3. Adoption – A legal process that gives a child a permanent family and a lifelong sense of belonging.

4. Guardianship – The Children’s Court appoints a guardian to ensure the welfare of children whose parents are deceased or unable to care for them.

5. Kafaalah – An Islamic model of alternative care where a family takes in and provides for a child, ensuring their well-being, education, and upbringing, without transferring lineage or inheritance rights. It emphasizes care, dignity, and community responsibility.

6. Supervised Independent Living / Aftercare – Support for older children transitioning into adulthood, providing mentorship, housing, and life skills for independent living.

💭 Final Reflection

Alternative care is more than systems and structures—it is about love, belonging, and shared responsibility. Each of us—whether as families, professionals, or community members—has a role to play in ensuring no child grows up without care.

👉 Together, we can build a society where every child, regardless of their beginnings, grows up knowing they matter and that they belong.

02/09/2025

Reuniting Children with Their Families: Safeguarding Bonds for the Future

Every child deserves to grow up in the love and security of a family. While separation may occur due to poverty, neglect, or vulnerability, the best interest of the child is always served within a safe and nurturing family environment.

Reuniting children with their families is more than a placement—it is a deliberate process that requires:
✅ Careful assessment of family readiness
✅ Strengthening families through psychosocial, economic, and parenting support
✅ Gradual transition to rebuild trust and attachment
✅ Continuous follow-up to safeguard reintegration

But reunification alone is not enough. To prevent future separation, we must do better by:
🔹 Strengthening community child protection systems
🔹 Promoting social protection programs that cushion families against poverty
🔹 Encouraging positive parenting practices
🔹 Building strong networks of support around families

Sustainable reunification is not the end—it is the beginning of preserving family bonds. Together—governments, civil society, communities, and individuals—we can ensure that children are not only reunited but also protected, nurtured, and empowered to thrive.

30/08/2025

👏 Congratulations to the amazing team and fellow participants of the first cohort Training of Trainers on Transitioning Child Care Systems at Meru Slopes Hotel, Meru County!

It was an honor to learn, share, and grow alongside such dedicated professionals. This milestone is a big step forward in advancing care reforms and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive in a family and community-based environment.

29/08/2025

We're delighted to be part of a milestone in Child Welfare Reforms!

This week, Jace for Children International was honored to participate in the first cohort Training of Trainers (ToTs) on the Transitioning of Child Care Systems, held at Meru Slopes Hotel, Meru County.

The training, organized by the National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS) in collaboration with the Department of Children’s Services, Legatum Foundation, and other local partners, marked a key step in strengthening the transition from institutional care to family- and community-based care for children.

Key focus areas included:
✅ Transitioning from institutional care to family and community-based care
✅ Addressing drivers of institutionalization through effective gatekeeping
✅ Aligning child welfare programmes with national guidelines and registration requirements
✅ Strengthening coordination and legal frameworks to safeguard children’s rights

This initiative is vital in ensuring harmonized tools, standardized materials, and a shared understanding in implementing child protection reforms nationwide. The model will further create a ripple effect by empowering trainers who will cascade this knowledge to others, embedding reforms both at county and national levels.

As Jace for Children International, we remain committed to championing child welfare reforms and supporting initiatives that promote family-based care, child protection, and the safeguarding of children’s rights.

Special thanks to the NCCS facilitators;Mr Kennedy and Madam Janet and all the Local Implementing Partners(LIPs) for their leadership and collaboration in making this milestone possible.

22/07/2025

Kenya inashuhudia mabadiliko makubwa katika mfumo wa ulinzi wa watoto—kutoka kwa malezi ya watoto katika taasisi hadi malezi ya familia na jamii. Ingawa kuna sera na sheria nzuri zinazounga mkono malezi ya kifamilia, bado kuna haja ya mabadiliko ya mtazamo hasa kwa waanzilishi na wasimamizi wa taasisi za watoto. Wengi wao wanaamini kuwa kulea watoto katika taasisi ni “mwito kutoka kwa Mungu,” jambo linalofanya mabadiliko haya kuwa magumu kihisia na kiitikadi.

Licha ya upinzani wa awali—wakati mwingine hata watendaji wa mabadiliko ya malezi wakituhumiwa kuwa “mawakala wa uovu”—ni kweli kwamba kwa mazungumzo ya kina na ya muda mrefu, waanzilishi na wasimamizi hawa huanza kuelewa, kukubali mabadiliko haya, na hatimaye kuwa mabalozi wake.

Kuna mwito kwa watendaji wa mabadiliko ya malezi ya watoto: kufanya juhudi zaidi kuwatambua na kuwaangazia wahisani na taasisi ambazo tayari zimekumbatia mabadiliko haya, ili ziwe mifano ya matumaini na uongozi katika muktadha mgumu wa marekebisho ya malezi ya watoto nchini Kenya na barani Afrika kwa ujumla

Kwa Jace for Children International, tunaunga mkono kikamilifu mwelekeo mpya wa serikali wa kuhamia kwenye malezi ya familia na jamii, badala ya malezi ya taasisi. Kila mtoto anastahili upendo, utulivu, na utambulisho ambao hupatikana tu ndani ya familia na jamii yenye mshik**ano.

Mabadiliko haya ya sera si suala la kuhamisha watoto tu — bali ni kurejesha utu wao. Ni uwekezaji katika mifumo ya kuwalinda, kuwaunga mkono na kuziunganisha familia, huku tukijenga mitandao imara ya usaidizi kwa watoto walio hatarini.

Tukiwa sehemu ya safari hii, tumejitolea kuendeleza usimamizi wa kesi, utafutaji wa familia, urejeshaji wa watoto katika familia, na uwezeshaji wa jamii. Tushirikiane kwa pamoja kuhakikisha kila mtoto anapata mahali pa kweli pa kuitwa nyumbani — nyumbani kwao.

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22/07/2025

Hello friends!
Let's make a child smile by spreading the news and sending them to Cure Children's hospital.

14/07/2025

A national conversation has begun on the critical role of the judiciary in protecting children placed in alternative care — including charitable institutions, foster families, and guardianships.

Under the leadership of the National Council for the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), new guidelines are being developed to:
✅ Ensure court supervision of children in care
✅ Establish court-annexed psychosocial support
✅ Provide for regular court reviews of children’s welfare

This initiative responds to the reality that 70% of children in Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) lack proper court committals — raising serious concerns about accountability and child protection.

The big question is:
Does the role of the court end after committal? Or should it include continuous oversight for the best interest of the child?

At Jace for Children International, we support these efforts to strengthen judicial oversight and uphold the rights of every child.

14/07/2025

And as Jace for Children International, we're those heroes 🥳🥳
Happy New and Blessed week ahead!!

08/07/2025

📢All children need a voice until they can speak for themselves.That's what advocacy is.It is speaking from a place of love,and demanding rights be met.It is standing up for a child in need and especially our own.

✅ Policy advocacy and engagement is one of our major assignments as ,as we collaborate with key stakeholders to push for policies that promote child protection.