Send 24 vulnerable children to school in 2019

BACKGROUND 

Olturoto Children's Village (OCV) provides transitional, family-based, quality, alternative care to orphaned and vulnerable children in need of rescue from abuse, neglect, abandonment and FGM/early marriage.

Child Protection is OCVs core area of focus.

OCV achieves this through the Rescue, Empowerment and Reintegration (RER) methodology. At the heart of our work is the belief that all children belong in a family and as such do not institutionalize children but rather support them effectively in the short term (1 – 3 years) until we can place them back into a safe, stable and sustainable home environment. 

Rescue

OCV identifies children for rescue by working with key stakeholders in a structured process through the following procedure: -

• Step 1: Referral of a child at risk through Children’s office, Police or local administration or other registered homes
• Step 2: Fact-finding to establish genuineness and eligibility of case through assessments and meetings with stakeholders
• Step 3: Case is formulated and presented to Children’s committee for review against set criteria for admission
• Step 4: Admission into OCV as per procedures or referral to a more suitable institution based on the findings of the Children’s committee

OCV’s admission policy is non-discriminatory and inclusive.

Empowerment

Child Empowerment

OCV identifies various interventions for the children based on their individual needs, case histories, particular circumstances or conditions in order to assist them return to an empowered state. These interventions include: - -

1. General care and protection in a family based setting in line with basic requirements and rights of a child whilst ensuring the best interest of the child is always put first
2. Psycho-social empowerment to reinstate the general wellbeing of the child and also address causes of separation and impact on the child
3. Education – Enrollment into local schools to ensure continuation of academic journey and as part of integration into local community
4. Counseling – One-on-one  and group counseling on a continuous basis to address any underlying issues
5. Health Services – Provision of medical interventions as required to restore and maintain a good health status
6. Nutrition – Provision of suitable diet in line with identified nutrition needs on a case by case basis.
7. Life skills – Empowerment with various life-skills to ensure the development of the child into a wholesome member of society
8. Child participation – We have established a robust child participation process at all levels ensuring that the child’s voice is always heard, opportunities for feedback are granted and the decision making structure is always in the best interest of the child. The children can advocate for their own rights and those of other children.
9. Mentorship - Supervised and guided mentorship sessions with members of the OCV Circle of Friends (consistent contributors)

Reintegration

OCV begins the preparation process for reintegration right at the point of admission. Reintegration is a continuous process from the onset as opposed to an event that culminates with the child successfully exiting alternative care and being reunited with their family in a safe, stable and sustainable home environment.  The reintegration process is supported by the family empowerment programme as both are co-dependent.

OCV ensures a successful reintegration process by working to eliminate the cause of initial separation from the family, adequately preparing the child through counselling and other methodologies, empowering the family and establishing or strengthening a sustainable source of livelihood, and conducting a satisfactory placement assessment at the end of the RER programme. Whilst placing a child back into a family, the following options for reintegration are considered: -

1. Family reintegration – where children have been completely separated from their family. The first step is to explore ways of reunifying them with family WHERE POSSIBLE and supporting that family to successfully move forward together with the child. Each case is evaluated and determined based on unique circumstances and case history.  Reintegration is ONLY carried out when it has been fully determined that it is in the best interest of the child in all ways. Where reintegration is not possible, the below options are then sort.
2. Kinship care – where a relative is willing and able to take in a child within a safe and secure environment and option (a) is not feasible
3. Foster care – where a child has no possibility of option (a) or (b) above foster care shall be sort
4. Adoption – where option (a) (b) or (c) are not feasible options, adoptive care shall be sort in line with government requirements

All the above is carried out in line with OCV’s reintegration procedures.

WHAT ROLE DOES EDUCATION PLAY IN THE RER MODEL

Most of the children rescued at OCV will previously have dropped out or of school or attended school inconsistently. 

Universal access to education is one of the key SDGs as education is a key part of the normal growth and development of a child. Education is a means of empowering children to become active participants in the transformation of their societies. Learning also enables children to focus on the values, attitudes and behaviours which enable individuals to make meaningful contributions to their own lives, their families and the community at large.

Helping send and keep these children to school gives them an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and restores dignity to their lives. 

CURRENT STATUS 

We have maintained a 100% rentention rate into schools both during our programme and post reintegration. 

Currently, we have 22 students in Primary School and 2 in high school. We also support 3 university students at KCA Univeristy and JKUAT University in Kenya.