FPFK Linda Mtoto Project
FPFK
Linda Mtoto Project
FPFK Linda Mtoto Project is a five-year project of Free Pentecos- tal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) funded by Norwegian Pentecostal Mission (NPM). The project is designed to strengthen communi- ty members along the Kenya-Uganda border on safety of their children by preventing and protecting them from all forms of child rights violations.
In its initial stage of implementation in Kenya-Uganda border, the project significant progress was introducing project objectives to the County Commissioner, which has seen the project obtain an introduction letter to operate in three Sub – Counties.
Involvement of County Commissioner as guest of honour during project launch is a sign of partnering with the state actors. The project through Directorate of Children services was linked to 32 County Children Advisory Committee (CCAC), Sub – County advisory committees (SCACs) and the Civil Societies Organization (CSOs). Project introduction to 109 National Government Administrator Officers (NGAO) and non-state actors, has yield acceptance in the community and good coordination. Therefore, the project goal of “FPFK working in partnership to see the communities are strength- ened to prevent and address child rights violations along the Kenya/Uganda borders” is progressing well as stated below
Outcome level contributions:
In the year 2024, the following results were achieved based on the stated outcomes;
Outcome 1
Children are safe, valued and involved in addressing different forms of child right violations. The project in partnership with state and non – state actors ampli- fied children’s voices in two activities, this is “The children service month” by feeding 250 children and 300 children on “The Day of African child.” Children were empowered to create awareness on child rights violations to communities and families. The project contributed in this activity by providing snacks to over 500 children. In this period, the project sensitized 80 faith leaders and Sunday School teachers on child rights violations, enabled formation of over 8 faith clubs containing 240 children within faith institutions and mosques. Children have space to express their issues and learn about their rights. Through this, government emergency line of 116 in reporting any form of abuse that require quick response have been shared out to them.
Outcome 2
: Functional child protection/prevention systems and decent livelihood for vulnerable families. The project achieved this by strengthening child protection report- ing system, the ICT -enabled “Early Warning System.” The system focused on community-based protection whereby families, communities and child rights advocates using the system anony- mously.
The project identified community society organizations and trained 60 leaders on child rights violations, on types of abuse and referral pathways. The leaders are serving as project monitors on Early Warning System (EWS).
A case of a 16-year-old boy, truancy, school dropout, undergo- ing child labour of sand harvesting had lost Compassion’s sponsorship due to this character. The teenager’s’ mother shared his story to one of the monitors unknowingly, who reported the matter to the system and conducted project volunteer on the same. The project volunteer offered support- ive service to the boy through counselling, reconciled the boy and the mother, linked him up to the sponsoring project which yielded fruit, currently the boy is undertaking welding course in Nairobi.”
“A breastfeeding mother of three months old baby was planning to leave her baby with step daughter to go and work as a house help in Nairobi, so that she could build a house to her old mother in the village, this was reported both in the system and phone call to the volunteer, who informed the local administrator and the case was attended to within two hours.
Outcome 3
FPFK and relevant actors working towards enabling policy framework supportive of child rights protection. The project sensitized faith leaders and Sunday school teachers on child rights laws and equipped them with skills on how to advocate for policy review at County or National level. After the workshop, the participants were able to form faith clubs within their institutions. Faith leaders are incorporating child rights violations messages in their sermons to sensitize the congrega- tion, faith leaders are reporting cases of violations to relevant authorities within their reach. A lady pastor in Matayo’s sub – county confession after sensitization workshop.
“In my church, it is true that I have never valued Sunday school ministry this much but from today, with a lot of passion, I am going to support the teacher to see that child rights club formed are very active and meeting all the threshold. I am very grateful for this opportunity that has made me learn new ideas.”
Through Digni plus initiative on child protection models, the state and non – state actor’s knowledge on existing child protection models is being strengthened hence promoting community ownership on child protection matters even after the project will have phased out.