Balance Between Policy and Societal Values Key in Child Safeguarding: Kenyan Catholic Nun

Guided by the theme, “Inspiring Faith Action for Care Reform: Reflections from Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)’s demonstration work,”, the conference was organized in collaboration with   Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and KCCB.

The conference which had delegates in child safeguarding from Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, who deliberated on several issues including factors that push children into care institutions, away from their families.

The delegates also discussed child care reforms including the need to address breakdown of families.

In the September 24 interview, Sr. Mary noted that children benefit significantly from being raised in family environments rather than in institutions.

“Research has shown that a family setup is very beneficial for children’s psychological development as it allows them to receive the necessary care from family members,” she said.

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Sr. Mary decried the weakening of the community-based child care, saying, “In the past, a child could be cared for and disciplined by anyone in the community.”

She described the shift towards individualism in child care as a key concern, noting, “People are more individualistic, and many believe that only they have the right to correct or care for their children.”

In the September 24 interview, Sr. Mary also spoke about the importance of supporting families in integration exercises.

She observed that families struggling with poverty often find it difficult to provide adequate care for their children. “Support must be provided, whether financial, social, psychological, or through counseling, to enable the family to care for the child effectively,” she said.

Sr. Mary noted that while child care reforms are vital, they must be implemented carefully, learning from past experiences to avoid repeating mistakes. "Care reform helps reintegrate children into society and their families, but it must be done cautiously,” she said.