Sexual abuse and exploitation of Children in Kenya. |
It is currently estimated that there are between 10,000 to 30,000 child prostitutes in Kenya, although experts claim that the figure is much higher. There are an increasing number of young children entering prostitution as a means of survival, particularly in slum areas.
Poverty stricken families send their children to towns for employment, but since many are illiterate, they are unable to secure jobs, which in turn leads to a high incidence of sexual abuse and exploitation.
From our own work in the Kasarani slum in Elburgon, Kenya we have witnessed the tragic stories of young boys and girls feeling an obligation to earn money through sex to help feed themselves, dying parents and younger siblings.
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| New Children’s homes to rescue the most vulnerable |
As funds are released from Eagles Wings supporters and other charitable trusts, we will start building new homes for smaller ‘family’ groupings on the land.
The advantage of building in Kenya is that you can ‘pay as you go’ and it is important that full accountability is given for UK funds with proper management and oversight both in Kenya locally and from our own trustees.
Work can start immediately. We would target 50-100 of the most vulnerable girls and boys. |
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Typical Costs
- One stone built home for 5-6 people about £8000
- One stone built home for 20 about £25000
- Drainage and sanitation £5000
- One water bore hole, piping, pump and storage, filters etc £18000 (Elburgon is on granite in the Rift Valley !!)
- Educational/communal building £10000
- Food, clothing, health care per child per month = £20-30.
- Matron and social workers salary £95 per month each.
- Security guards x 2 at £25 per month each.
- Caretaker for grounds and home £25 per month
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Project Management
Eagles Wings has developed considerable expertise working in Kenya, Uganda, Russia and India. We are continually learning from similar work with children and other building projects in these financially challenging regions. Our partners are based locally and have been known to us for some years. We have good evidence that our funds are being used wisely and with integrity. Each project is personally overseen by one of our own charity trustees. |
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| Kasarani slum, Elburgon. |
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This is home to over 10,000 with little employment and an air of hopeless desperation. Having been built on the cutting of trees and local sawmills for employment, jobs became scarce when environmental pressure forced closure of the forests for cutting, and many sawmills went bust. Most people are living in communal wooden shacks with shared toilets and no clean water, and live on a day to day basis as best they can. There is little or no healthcare in a region hit hard by HIV/Aids.
Food is in short supply and many young girls have found that selling themselves for sex for just a few Kenyan shillings (about 20 pence) can be enough to feed a starving family who may not have eaten for a few days. Girls aged around 13 seem the most vulnerable and our initial work targeted this age group. Younger girls and boys are also sexually abused within extended families as many are forced to sleep in communal homes with their elder siblings and relatives.
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Eagles Wings Girls Home, Elburgon. |
We initially targeted 40 of the most vulnerable girls form the Kasarani region who were considered to be at risk. Recommendations were made by the local village elders, community leaders and social workers and we began our first building project to house, care for, feed, clothe and educate 40 girls.
The first phase was completed at the end of 2006 with total expenditure of about £50,000. This includes a water bore hole (£10,000) for fresh water and the actual home with furniture and fittings costing £40,000.
There is a resident matron and a local board of reference who manage the affairs of the home. Ongoing funding from within Kenya and from Eagles Wings, UK has kept the girls fed, cared for and has provided uniforms and books which enables them to attend school. |
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Self sufficiency
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Ongoing support from Eagles Wings has targeted simple projects to make the home self sufficient. This includes the purchase of goats, two cows and chickens. By selling surplus milk and selling clean water from the deep bore hole, it all helps cover costs. A treddle sewing machine was bought to help train the girls and also to generate a small income.
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Purchase of land for farming and new homes.
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It became clear that only further investment would cover the actual staff salaries, medical bills, food, clothing, school uniforms and educational needs of our initial 40 girls. Eagles Wings purchased 5 acres of farmland locally in Elburgon in January 2007 to grow maize and vegetables that could be used in the home and the surplus sold. By using the available labour of volunteers and with free local expertise, we would help cover costs and make the home fully sustainable.
With relatively little investment we will then manage a simple dry storehouse to grow and store crops for sale in times of shortage and at better prices. This is scheduled for completion by September 2007.
In the future we will be able to drill for water, build homes, communal facilities, educational blocks and have space for the development of crafts and skills on one site.
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New Children’s homes to rescue the most vulnerable
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As funds are released from Eagles Wings supporters and other charitable trusts, we will start building new homes for smaller ‘family’ groupings on the land. The advantage of building in Kenya is that you can ‘pay as you go’ and it is important that full accountability is given for UK funds with proper management and oversight both in Kenya locally and from our own trustees.Work can start immediately. We would target 50-100 of the most vulnerable girls and boys. |
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