This document summarizes an intervention program in Kenya that provides psychosocial support to orphans and vulnerable children living in the Korogocho slum of Nairobi. It describes the challenges these children face, such as providing for their families or caring for sick parents, and the trauma of losing parents. The intervention includes behavior formation and change programs for children aged 8-18, as well as caregiver training. Activities like art therapy, games, and group discussions help children grieve and develop life skills. Evaluations found the programs helped children process grief and set goals, though transitioning back to the slums was difficult. Recommendations include continued evaluation and cooperation between organizations.

1. FAMILIES IN CRISIS:
ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN NAIROBI
SLUMS- AN INTERVENTION
EDUCATION FOR LIFE -
KENYA
For The 2nd National Conference on PeerFor The 2nd National Conference on Peer
Education, HIV & AIDSEducation, HIV & AIDS
AUTHOR: Saraphina Njoki MwangiAUTHOR: Saraphina Njoki Mwangi
CO-AUTHORS: Wasike, Charles ; Ali Molla,CO-AUTHORS: Wasike, Charles ; Ali Molla,
Alphonce; Otieno Mkado, Chrispine; Olweny, Fred;Alphonce; Otieno Mkado, Chrispine; Olweny, Fred;
Matola,FMatola,F

2. SituationSituation
• There are about 1.7 million orphans inThere are about 1.7 million orphans in
KenyaKenya
• HIV prevalence rate in Nairobi province inHIV prevalence rate in Nairobi province in
2004 was 12%2004 was 12%
• Greater percentage live in the slumsGreater percentage live in the slums
• The number of children made vulnerableThe number of children made vulnerable
by HIV/AIDS is not known.by HIV/AIDS is not known.

3. Who is an orphan and who is aWho is an orphan and who is a
vulnerable child?vulnerable child?
• Orphan-Orphan- any child under 24 years withoutany child under 24 years without
one or both parentsone or both parents
• Vulnerable child-Vulnerable child- any child exposed toany child exposed to
HIV risk due to their environment orHIV risk due to their environment or
circumstances.circumstances.

4. Case Study: Korogocho slumCase Study: Korogocho slum
• There are about 1300There are about 1300
orphans within anorphans within an
area of 1 squarearea of 1 square
kilometer with aboutkilometer with about
89,000 people89,000 people
• The other children inThe other children in
the same area arethe same area are
vulnerable due to thevulnerable due to the
environment they liveenvironment they live
in.in.

5. Korogocho slum is characterizedKorogocho slum is characterized
by:by:
• Poor housing systemPoor housing system
• High insecurityHigh insecurity
• Poor sanitationPoor sanitation
• Only two reasonable dispensariesOnly two reasonable dispensaries
• Lack of recreational facilitiesLack of recreational facilities
• High congestionHigh congestion

6. IssuesIssues
Child- headed families:Child- headed families: How do they come about?How do they come about?
• Due to high rates of unemployment, many people whoDue to high rates of unemployment, many people who
move to the cities live in slums. Often, if there is anmove to the cities live in slums. Often, if there is an
extended family, it is back in the rural area. This lack ofextended family, it is back in the rural area. This lack of
social structure means that double orphans are left withsocial structure means that double orphans are left with
no one to care for them except the older sibling.no one to care for them except the older sibling.
• If grandmothers are there,they are elderly andIf grandmothers are there,they are elderly and
physically weak double orphans. So, the older childrenphysically weak double orphans. So, the older children
must take up the responsibility of a provider, for childrenmust take up the responsibility of a provider, for children
and grandmother.and grandmother.
• Single orphans are often taking care of their onlySingle orphans are often taking care of their only
surviving parent who might be sick with AIDS. Thesurviving parent who might be sick with AIDS. The
eldest child in the family takes the role of the parent.eldest child in the family takes the role of the parent.

7. Difficulties OVCs faceDifficulties OVCs face
Eldest Sibling-Eldest Sibling- is responsibleis responsible
for providing basic needs for thefor providing basic needs for the
other siblings in the family,other siblings in the family,
which is quite difficult.which is quite difficult.
What survival tactics do theyWhat survival tactics do they
adopt?adopt?
A lot of them adoptA lot of them adopt
prostitution; street childrenprostitution; street children
collect garbage at Dandoracollect garbage at Dandora
dumping site for sale; takedumping site for sale; take
drugs; and others becomedrugs; and others become
robbersrobbers

8. Lunch Time At SchoolLunch Time At School
Where do they get food ?Where do they get food ?
Food is very basic. TheyFood is very basic. They
might receive food frommight receive food from
the school feedingthe school feeding
program.program.
But, often they have toBut, often they have to
keep some food forkeep some food for
supper at home.supper at home.

9. More Problems of OVCsMore Problems of OVCs
• Caring for ailing parents before going toCaring for ailing parents before going to
school.school.
• Abuse and violations of children's rightsAbuse and violations of children's rights
• Facing stigma in school, from theFacing stigma in school, from the
community and even their caregivers.community and even their caregivers.
• They are neglected by the other familyThey are neglected by the other family
members.members.
• Lack of EducationLack of Education

10. Comparing Orphans in school inComparing Orphans in school in
two areas in Kariobangitwo areas in Kariobangi
Orphans in Schools
65%
35%
Huruma
Karogocho

11. AssumptionsAssumptions
• The number of orphans is taken from theThe number of orphans is taken from the
schools. There is a possibility that a lot ofschools. There is a possibility that a lot of
orphans do not attend school.orphans do not attend school.
• Korogocho area is smaller compared toKorogocho area is smaller compared to
Huruma and has the smallest population-Huruma and has the smallest population-
compared to the other areas in Kariobangicompared to the other areas in Kariobangi
so the number of orphans is still large.so the number of orphans is still large.

12. Grieving:Grieving:
The OVCs who head families experienceThe OVCs who head families experience
trauma and stress, as a result of:trauma and stress, as a result of:
• Taking care of their sick parentsTaking care of their sick parents
• Death of their parentsDeath of their parents
• Caring for the rest of the siblingsCaring for the rest of the siblings
• Stigma from other community membersStigma from other community members

13. EFL Kenya’s OVC
INTERVENTIONS
• Behaviour Formation Programme (BFP) 8-13
years
• Behaviour Change Programme (BCP) 14-18
years
• Care Givers Programme
• All Programmes offer Psycho social support and
HIV preventive approaches.

14. Behaviour FormationBehaviour Formation
Programme (BFP)Programme (BFP)
BFP OBJECTIVE: To offer psycho-social support and
value based life skills training for survival into adulthood.
BFP Helps them in:
-Grieving process
-Setting goals in life
-Identifying desirable values and good role
models
-Making informed choices
-HIV/ AIDS awareness
-Sexual awareness and changes in life

15. Art Therapy Helps OVC’s GrieveArt Therapy Helps OVC’s Grieve

16. Behaviour ChangeBehaviour Change
ProgrammeProgramme
• BCP OBJECTIVE:
Re-orient OVC to a
different lifestyle
through supportive
BCP.
• Uses Gerald Egan’s
Model of helping
skills.

17. GERALD EGAN’S MODEL OF HELPING SKILLS.

18. Care Givers ProgrammeCare Givers Programme
• OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE: Help them grieve and train: Help them grieve and train
them to be role models and improve thethem to be role models and improve the
OVC quality of life.OVC quality of life.
• We use Gerald Egan’s Model of HelpingWe use Gerald Egan’s Model of Helping
SkillsSkills
• Caregivers are mostly social workers,Caregivers are mostly social workers,
elderly grandparentselderly grandparents
• some of them are PLWA’Ssome of them are PLWA’S

19. Why PsychosocialWhy Psychosocial
Support?Support?
• Many Programmes for OVC have focused
on physical needs.
• Need for holistic Programmes- that are
aimed at meeting the psychosocial and
physical needs
• Need for grieving- stress and burnout
hampers human development not dealt
with appropriately

20. METHODOLOGY
• Art therapy- drawing
• Indoor and outdoor games
• Storytelling
• Music
• Writing
• Drama/ skits
• Group work discussion
• Demonstrations
• Spiritual Rituals and prayer

21. LESSONS LEARNTLESSONS LEARNT
• Well structured, children friendly BFP and BCPWell structured, children friendly BFP and BCP
in a different environment from the slums helpsin a different environment from the slums helps
OVC’s grieve and set meaningful goals in lifeOVC’s grieve and set meaningful goals in life
• We question whether bringing OVC’s to aWe question whether bringing OVC’s to a
different environment makes it difficult for themdifferent environment makes it difficult for them
to readjust to the slums’ challengesto readjust to the slums’ challenges
• Caregivers need a chance to grieve and dealCaregivers need a chance to grieve and deal
with stress and burnout resulting from carewith stress and burnout resulting from care
givinggiving

22. RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS
• EFLEFL- Proper follow-up programmes should be- Proper follow-up programmes should be
done to assess the impact of OVC- BFP & OVC-done to assess the impact of OVC- BFP & OVC-
BCP programmesBCP programmes
• CSO’sCSO’s- Co-operation Vs Competition.- Co-operation Vs Competition.
• Church leaders-Church leaders- Prophetic role Vs PreachingProphetic role Vs Preaching
• PoliticiansPoliticians- Action an Accountability Vs- Action an Accountability Vs
AvoidanceAvoidance

23. **END****END**
Thank YouThank You
Education For Life KenyaEducation For Life Kenya