Catholic Humanitarian Foundation Reuniting Children in Kenya with Families, away from Institutional Care

“The primary objective of the program is to reform child care systems, with a focus on reintegrating children into families and communities, rather than placing them in institutions,” Mr. Mgeni told ACI Africa in the Tuesday, September 24 interview.

“The care reform in Kenya addresses the situation of children living in charitable children’s institutions or orphanages,” he said, adding that more than 100 such institutions exist in Kenya where they are supported by various organizations, including the Church.

Mr. Mgeni emphasized that while institutions provide essential services to vulnerable children, including orphans, institutional care should be applicable only when necessary. 

“Children often miss the familial and community bonds that are crucial for their development,” he said, adding that the goal is to ensure children live within family settings, whether with parents or caregivers.

Credit: ACI Africa

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The CRS official said that since 2018, the entity has worked alongside the Kenyan government to strengthen families and to facilitate the reintegration of children from CCIs into their homes.

“We began by collaborating with county governments and the central government, successfully influencing several key policies,” Mr. Mgeni told ACI Africa on the sidelines of the event that AMECEA organized in Collaboration with CRS and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).

Acknowledging the fact that children are nurtured better in family environments than in institutional care, the CRS official said that the humanitarian entity’s focus is not just on reuniting children with their families but also addressing the root causes of separation.

In his keynote address on September 24, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri cited the breakdown of families and poverty as some of the circumstances that are forcing children  to find ways to cope

Archbishop Muheria noted that the rise in domestic violence is also driving children into what he described as “survival mode.” He explained that the survival mode many children are forced into cannot be fully understood without spending time in impoverished areas, such as the slums.

In the September 24 interview on the sideline of the event organized under the theme, “Inspiring Faith Action for Care Reform: Reflections from KCCB’s demonstration work”, Mr. Mgeni said that addressing factors that render children into survival mode is crucial before reintegrating them into their families.

Citing poverty as a significant challenge, the CRS official in Kenya said “Even when children are reunited with their families, the lack of resources in these households can lead them back to institutions.”

He said the entity is collaborating with the government to enact key policies, including cash transfers to vulnerable families, to reduce reliance on institutional care.

In addition to government support, he said the Church should come up with strategies to promote family unity and dignity, especially for children. 

Credit: ACI Africa

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Stressing the importance of the Church’s role in care for children, Mgeni said, “The Church must continue working closely with the government and other faith-based organizations to assess when children can safely be reintegrated into families.”

In the African context, the CRS official said that caring for children is seen as a shared responsibility. “Religion is central to community life, whether Christian, Muslim, or Hindu,” he noted.

“Communities must come together to support children, whether by reuniting them with their families or ensuring they are well cared for if no family support is available,” Mr. Mgeni told ACI Africa in the September 24 interview.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.