the church as a child protection system in africa jennifer kaberi, daystar university, kenya
DESCRIPTION
Childhood is under threat ! Well known risks, HIV and thank God Ebola is gone, Poverty, Retrogressive cultural and abuse (1 BILLION CHILDREN ARE VICTIMS) Emerging risks- Non communicable disease 2.9M deaths per years, Terrorism (^ 309%), Negative use of technology, Climate change WHERE WE ARE……..TRANSCRIPT
The Church as a Child Protection System in Africa
Jennifer Kaberi, Daystar University, Kenya
This paper highlights findings of a research done on the role of the church in protecting children in Nairobi Kenya, a case of Evangelical Churches.
Childhood is under threat ! Well known risks, HIV and thank God Ebola is gone, Poverty,
Retrogressive cultural and abuse (1 BILLION CHILDREN ARE VICTIMS)
Emerging risks-Non communicable disease 2.9M deaths per years,
Terrorism (^ 309%), Negative use of technology, Climate change
WHERE WE ARE……..
The UNCRC (1989) (Quarter Life crisis)The ACRWC (2000) (Hormonal imbalances)Constitutions and Children
Acts (Growing up troubles)
The need to rethink on child protection
CHILD PROTECTION
FOR CHILDREN
THE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM
32 % of the world population and Over 50% of people living in sub Saharan Africa are practicing Christians,
60% of this are regular church attendants.Church supports orphaned children.Church leaders are most respected in
AfricaChurches become safe haven during crisis
and emergenciesMost charities in Africa are church based.
CHURCH AND CHILD PROTECTION IN AFRICA
Still abuse happens within and without
the church!
Descriptive study exploring the church as a child protection system in AfricaA mixed methodology :
Questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant
Participants: 140 adult church members, 60 children 20 church leaders.
METHODOLOGY
FINDINGS
Opinion on whether children are safe in churchThis shows that most participants viewed the church as safe
Churc
h lea
dershi
p com
mitment
Age a
pprop
riate
teachi
ng m
ateria
ls
Adeq
uate
space
for ch
ildren
Budg
et to
the ch
ildren
mini
stry.
The ch
urch h
as qu
alified
child
ren work
ers
Recru
itmen
t proc
edure
monito
ring s
ystem
works w
ith ot
her c
hurche
s/orga
nizati
on
adequa
te nu
mber o
f child
ren work
ers
report
ing m
echan
ism fo
r chil
d abus
e
works w
ith ot
her o
rganiz
ation
s
child
partic
ipate
in de
cision
mak
ing
child
protec
tion p
olicy
care f
or chi
ldren
with di
sabilit
y?0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
StrongestStrongModerateWeakWeakest
CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Weakness70% rated the existence of a child protection
policy as not strong60% of the respondent believed that church
partnership with other organizations was weak
74% rated child participation not strongMonitoring system was rated weak by 59% of
the participants.71% of children workers not trained
FINDINGS
Strength60% of the participants rated leadership
commitment to children issues to be very strong.
60% rated children Budget allocation strong.Works well with government
FINDINGS
The findings concluded although majority of the respondent indicated the church as safe for children. The church has a weak child protection systemWeak legal systemWeak Monitoring and accountabilityPoor child participationWeak capacityLack of partnership with other organizations
However the church leadership is committed to child protection this can be seen in the budget allocation
CONCLUSIONS
LIGHT
RECCOMENDATIONS
System Strengthening
ADVOCATE
LEGALISING/ laws, policies and procedures
TRAINING
RECOMMENDATIONS
CommunityLEADING
INITIATE
GUARD
HOUSING
TREATING
NationalLOBBYING
INFLUENCE
GUIDE
HOLDING HANDS
TESTING
RECOMMENDATIONS
What are you doing to be salt and light
