Koinonia Children Celebrate Day of the African child

Over a hundred children drawn from different schools in Kajiado township including Koinonia’s Ndugu Mdogo and Anita Homes staged various spectacular performances at this year’s 2011 International Day of the African Child celebrations. The celebration was held on Thursday 16 June at Beacon of Hope grounds in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado District located west in the outskirts of Nairobi.

This year, the events of the day focused on the plight of the 30 million street children estimated across the continent under the theme: "All Together for Urgent Actions in Favour of Street Children". 

The day, set by the Organization of African Unity - the precursor of the African Union, insists that African governments should take stock of their rehabilitation programmes targeting street families.

While the definition of a "street child" is much debated, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has suggested that the term applies to children who live in urban areas; have family ties that are weak or non-existent, are forced to develop survival strategies, rely on the street as their main place of stay and for whom the street has replaced the family as a place for socialization and face specific major risks. Street children are among the most vulnerable children on earth and are often subject to violence, abuse and exploitation.

 The 2011 observance of this Day seeks to contribute to widespread awareness of the dangers street children face, promote the taking of urgent steps to protect them and determine strategies for providing effective child protection and care. As it is the tradition, the Koinonia children stole the show like they have in the previous years. This was possible through their unique blend of native African folk tradition with elements of Kenya’s emergent urban youth culture, succeeding to appeal to all the diverse ages and backgrounds in the audience. Their art of using the drums left all those present in awe and called for more performances by the enchanted young boys. The Ndugu Mdogo children exited the open air podium with similar spectacle; a number of them somersaulted their way out as the crowd wowed with modest awe. Various other schools and juvenile groups from Kajiado district presented poems, songs and dances. Two major banks in attendance, the Kenya Commercial bank and the Bank of Africa.

It’s a sad fact that there are many street children in Kenya. Although you might not see many of them as you walk through the main streets of the CBD in Nairobi, they are there on the outskirts. Travel to a town like Thika and you can’t walk from one end of the main stage to the other without seeing a few, often with a bottle hidden up their sleeve to “hide” the fact that they are sniffing glue. There are a number of great organisations trying to help street children in Kenya. Often these children need a lot of rehabilitation and many find it hard adjusting to a life with rules and authority figures having been fending for themselves for months or even years.

The Children’s officer said in her closing remarks “As we celebrate the Day of the African Child today, take time to reflect on the plight of the less fortunate among us - the most vulnerable being the street kids. All they need is a little help from you to actualize their true potential”

A 2004 report from The Cradle and Undugu Society - two local NGOs working among children and youth and present during the ceremony - said they earn as little as Sh10 or Sh20 for each client. "It is easy to forget children; they won't raise a militia, they won't vote you out of office," says Florence Kinyua, a child rights and gender advisor at Plan International-Kenya.

In Kibera- the event which was co-sponsored by Koinonia Community and the government was marked with a jubilant march to raise awareness on the plight faced by street children, who were the main concern of this year’s event. The walk which was staged along the Kibera Drive way from “42” bus terminus point to the “DC grounds” where the event was being marked drew more than 200 children from the attending schools. The Kibera Salvation Army Band graced the procession serenade  popular tunes that kept participants marching. The Koinonia community was represented by boys from Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Centre in Kibera who were jubilant of the day’s event. On assembling at the DC grounds where the main event was scheduled, the program kicked off with prayers from two of Ndugu Mdogo boys, giving the leeway for the other day’s event.

Many performances including poems, short skits, football matches and songs were performed by the over 20 schools, children homes and self-help groups which attended. The Ndugu Mdogo boys presented three poems; on street children, education and good parenting.

The Kibera Area Advisory Council officer Naomi Omari gave an encouraging speech on children rights and protecting them, calling on parents to rise up to their responsibilities in bringing up children. Later the District Children Officer Omar Benje highlighted on reported cases of child abuses at their district administration offices.  Benje later on his address to the event said the government will work hand-in-hand with all involved parties like the Koinonia Community to see that children’s rights are protected and all measures are instilled to ensure every child is taken care of.

The keynote address came from the guest of honor of the day, Boniface Okada, a representative of Koinonia community. He reminded the stake holders to always stand up and protect children. He said the partnership between the government and Koinonia Community in rescue of the street children will help provide refuge to those underprivileged and ensure that street life to these children becomes a thing of the past. Later the event came to a close in the afternoon where children were provided with refreshments.

The International Day of the African Child is an annual event that commemorates the June 16,1976 ‘Soweto Uprising’, when hundreds of black South African students were shot and killed by Apartheid police in Johannesburg as they protested against the imposition of Afrikaans – the language of the country’s oppressive Boer minority - as the medium of instruction in their schools. The event has been celebrated every year since 1991, when the then Organization of African Union (now the African Union) declared it an annual pan-African event focusing on the wellbeing of Africa’s children.