Eerste Pleegzorg conferentie in Kenia op 16 en 17 februari 2009 in Nairobi

The National Conference Committee on Foster Care in Kenya
will, on 16 - 17 February 2009, host the first National Conference on Foster Care in Nairobi, Kenya.

The theme of the Conference is ‘promoting foster care as an alternative protection system for children orphaned by HIV/aids’

ANPPCAN Regional Office has been working with communities on a range issues. They include child labour, education, armed conflicts, violence and protection systems among others. During these efforts, it was realized that there are many children orphaned by HIV/Aids who are facing all forms of abuse and neglect. To respond to HIV/Aids related orphans, many countries have opted for institutional care since the traditional concept of communal child care has been disintegrating. While many of these institutions are providing services to children, it is apparent that abuse also takes place in some of these institutions.

With many complaints received regarding institutional care in the midst of increasing orphans in Korogocho where ANPPCAN had its activities, the organization initiated a Foster Care project in Kasarani Division, Nairobi. The program aims at discouraging institutional care and promoting Foster Care as a viable alternative child care approach.
This intervention, however, revealed a number of challenges. For example, majority of individuals providing care to orphans in Korogocho have very large families, are poor and foster children informally. Some of the children get trafficked into child labour because of the burden of taking care of large families under extreme economic challenges. Many of the relatives prefer the children to go into institutions despite the abuse they face.

ANPPCAN saw it fit to bring together stakeholders at a National Conference on Foster Care in Kenya with the aim of sharing experiences and information amongst stakeholders on the same.

Participation to the Conference is drawn from civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kenya involved in child care and working with OVCs, the Department of Children Services and Child Welfare Society of Kenya and International Agencies such as the United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The forum targets key stakeholders working with OVC’s or in the area of foster care in Kenya.

The objectives of the Conference are to provide a forum to share experiences on Foster Care as an alternative child care system in Kenya; and to advocate for policy and legislative framework on Foster Care in Kenya

The venue of the Conference will be Nairobi Safari Club, Lillian Towers.

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