Kenya

In Kenya, the prevalence of violence of children remains high, affecting nearly half of females and more than half of males. Kenya is also a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking. One-third of all trafficking victims is a child, mostly trafficked for sexual exploitation. The primary focus of Terre des Hommes Netherlands in Kenya is on curbing sexual exploitation of children, child labour, child trafficking and unsafe migration. We do this by working with communities, government, private sector, civil society organisations and children themselves, at the centre, to address systematic and structural drivers that expose children to exploitation. We collaborate with other actors to influence the strengthening of the legal and policy environment for better promotion and protection of children's rights.

Child from Time to Play Project holding a ball

Children in Kenya

Kenya is a lower middle-income country with a total population of 56.2 million people and over 37 million children population. With its high population and poverty rates, Kenya faces challenges in the provision of services and access to social amenities including access to good health, quality education, food and other basics.

Children living in poverty are vulnerable to sexual exploitation, child labour and child trafficking, forced marriage, abuse as well as other forms of exploitation.

Donate

Child holding a drawing with a tip on online safety

Our approach: Children at the centre

Children are at the centre of everything we do. We support them to get access to education and other skills development so they can eventually find jobs to earn better incomes to enhance their opportunities to live a decent and dignified life. We build their resilience and facilitate their empowerment. And we help them amplify their voice, opening opportunities to speak up to those with the power to realise systemic change.

Strengthening child protection

We educate parents and communities. We build the capacity of local structures to effectively prevent, detect, report and respond to child exploitation. We collaborate with other actors to influence strengthening of the legal and policy environment for better promotion and protection of children’s rights.

"I am a strong believer of sustainable development. Child exploitation is both a cause and consequence of poverty, reinforcing social inequality and discrimination. Elimination of exploitation of children starts with everyone, but primarilywith our leaders and governments. It calls for coordinated effort amongst actors in tackling the root causes of exploitation of children while ensuring that children are at the centre of all actions."

Magdalene Wanza

Country Director, Kenya, Terre des Hommes Netherlands

Our work in Kenya

We work with communities, government, private sectors, civil society organisations and children themselves, at the centre, to address systematic and structural drivers that expose children to exploitation. Our work focuses on curbing sexual exploitation of children, child labour and child exploitation in humanitarian settings.

Sexual Exploitation of Children

Child Labour

Humanitarian Action

Gender Equality

Our projects in Kenya

Our projects are spread across various regions of Kenya including Nairobi, Central (Kiambu), Rift Valley (Nakuru, Kajiado), Eastern (Machakos), Coastal (Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale), Western (Busia), Nyanza (Kisumu, Homabay) and Northern (Marsabit) regions.

We also work at national level to lobby and influence for policies/laws, structures and systems that provide long-term impact for children. Our local and national advocacy within initiatives within the country are linked to regional and international processes and vice versa, for enhanced accountability by duty bearers (government )in protecting children from child exploitation.

Our programmes

Completed

Building a Future project (Kenya)

The Building a Future project is a twenty one months project implemented in coastal Kenya by Terre des Hommes…

Ongoing

She Leads

The She Leads programme fights for the rights, leadership and agency of girls and young women (GYW). It is an…

Completed

Girls Advocacy Alliance

The Girls Advocacy Alliance is committed to fighting violence against girls and young women and increasing the…

Completed

We will continue to ensure that children can enjoy their rights in a protective environment.

Protecting refugee children in Kenya

In the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya at the border to Somalia, Tdh wants to ensure that children at risk of…

Learn about our programmes

Our partners in Kenya

Terre des Hommes Netherlands is part of the Joining Forces for Children, an alliance of the six largest child-focused international NGOs; and She Leads, a five-year strategic partnership between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and four consortium organisations- Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Plan Netherlands, DCI-ECPAT Netherlands and the African Women´s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).

In our work, we closely collaborate with the Government of Kenya’s key ministries/departments, UN agencies and with other CSOs. We collaborate closely with local organisations namely:

African Gender and Media Initiative Trust (GEM Trust)

Childline Kenya

Visit the website of Childline Kenya

KNOTE

Visit the website of KNOTE

The Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa (NAYA)

Visit the website of NAYA

Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS-SP)

Visit the website of ICS-SP

Action for Children in Conflict (AfCiC)

Visit the website of Action for Children in Conflict (AfCiC)

Jitegemee Children Program