Many parents and caregivers in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya have minimal chances for participating in income-generating activities since most of the households in the camp rely on humanitarian support to access basic needs.
This support is not enough for many households. The situation has been exacerbated by the current global inflation, cost-of-living crisis, and drought situation in Turkana County which has pushed parents and caregivers to stress, thus they direct their frustration to children at the household level.
Male participation in parenting activities has remained low within Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Culturally, fathers and male caregivers are perceived as providers for their families, while the community perceives women as primary caregivers.
In some dysfunctional families, caregivers are forced to leave their children at home unattended to or in care of their young siblings as parents seek alternative means of survival. This has exposed many children to child protection-related risks.
Joining Forces for Africa project introduced Parenting Without Violence in Kakuma Refugee Camp to build strong relationships between children and their parents and caregivers, enabling them to resolve problems together and prevent children from experiencing physical and humiliating punishment at home.
JOFA project has been working with parents and caregivers, communities, and children to transform gender norms, power dynamics, and accepted practices that drive violence in the home, as well as strengthening government systems that increase children’s protection. Despite these efforts, male participation in positive parenting training within Kakuma Refugee Camp has been very minimal.
“Our parenting sessions had more female caregivers as participants with minimal participation of male caregivers because of their perceived gender roles as providers for the family”, a facilitator notes.
To increase male participation during the parenting without violence training, JOFA project identified and engaged 45 active male participants who had undergone all 8 PwV sessions as male champions including; Family dreams and positive parenting goals, Caring for children with emotional warmth and structure, Understanding stress and importance of self-care, The Right to be safe, Understanding child development (Younger children 0-5), Understanding child development (school-aged children 6-9), Understanding child development (older children 10-17), and Problem solving and conclusion.
The project facilitated the 45 male PwV champions and bloc leaders and male co-facilitators living within the camp to conduct home visits and share experiences with their networks on Parenting without Violence.
“Many men in my community have a belief that parental responsibility is for women, but as a PwV champion, I am helping to change this notion. I believe fathers play a big role in the life of their children.”
These PwV male champions shared practical experiences of how they are using the knowledge gained during PwV trainings to transform harmful gender norms, power dynamics and other culturally accepted practices that drive violence against children in families.
Consequently, 319male participants have been identified and mobilized to join Parenting without Violence sessions. Their children have also been engaged in life skills training and child participation activities through child rights clubs in schools and peer network groups within the community.
“In my community, children are expected to obey, to be seen, and not to be heard, but through the training, this perception is gradually shifting. Parents now appreciate children as rights holders with their own opinions, thoughts, and feelings, and understand the importance of child participation on matters affecting them”, a PwV Champion notes.
As a result of community outreaches conducted by the male PwV champions, transformation especially on male parents and caregivers is being felt in the camp. These male caregivers who were using violent means of discipline have now embraced alternative discipline.
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This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union.
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.