Social Programmes | Children and Youth Programme |
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Street children rehabilitation, which is at the core of USK’s existence, is the responsibility of the Children and Youth Programme. Being a pioneer in this area, the programme has over the years spearheaded a number of approaches in an effort to find a lasting solution to the problem. Experiences range from institution to community–based rehabilitation with each of the approaches providing useful lessons that continue to inform the organization’s current and future strategies for street children and the streetism transformation project. This transformation project was initially on a pilot basis in Nairobi, but has prospects for expansion in other selected urban centers in the country. The project seeks to transform existing groups of street children and youth from gangs into responsible and reproductive associations. The transformation entails leadership and group dynamics training, peer to peer rehabilitation as well as counseling. The project is also engaging the groups in activities aimed at enabling them to deal with drugs and substance abuse, criminal tendencies, self–image and positive attitudes towards the public. They also have a chance to pursue skills training for self reliance. In the long–term, the programme plans to link them to job opportunities and other income generating initiatives. Besides their own transformation, the groups also facilitate the identification of young and new children on the street who require immediate rescue and reintegration as well as school placement. Such children and youth either pass through USK's temporary place of safety (the Kitengela Centre) or referred to other institutions providing rehabilitation services, in the event that it is not possible to reintegrate them with their families immediately.
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