In a bid to ensure crisis-affected children benefit from proper care and positive parenting, Plan International Kenya, APAD and the County Government of Turkana have rolled out a joint program designed to equip parents with parenting skills under pressure.
The program targets 1,320 parents using a 17-module curriculum covering positive caregiver-child relationships, parenting-related stress and how to create a safe and supportive environment for children.
The first cohort of 728 parents have already completed the training while the second cohort of 592 parents are expected to begin their sessions in the coming weeks.
Speaking after attending a session at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, Deputy Governor Dr John Erus praised the initiative, saying well-nurtured children would contribute to the goals of both KISEDP and the Shirika Plan when they came of age.
"I am particularly impressed that the program includes parents with disabilities and also offers unconditional cash transfers. In this way, vulnerability has been turned into something positive for refugees facing the pressure of raising children as parents in Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement scheme," he said.
Dr Erus further commended Plan International for working with the Agency for Cross-Border Pastoralists (APAD) as its local implementing partner, saying such partnerships build the capacity of local institutions to sustain the project beyond its implementation period.
Plan International Country Director George Otim said the choice of Kakuma was informed not just by data on the refugee crisis but also by advice from the County Government and UNHCR.
He clarified that Parenting Under Pressure (PUP) is part of the three-year (2024-2027) Nurturing Futures initiative supported by Danmarks Indsamling.
"Plan International works with children and girls in crisis particularly in Arid and Semi arid (ASAL) counties such as Turkana, we also support underserved communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settings. as well as Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settings," he said.
Betty Kinyonge, an officer implementing the Nurturing Futures Project, said there is huge potential for refugees to face severe pressure in parenting, making the targeted intervention hugely beneficial.
"Kakuma Refugee Camp is not easy for parents; there are a lot of things they are going through. What we are trying to do with Parenting Under Pressure (PUP) is to equip parents with knowledge to face stress and understand how to bring up their children in a healthy and positive way," she said.
Nelly Mukucha and Kamariza Aisha, refugee parents who completed the 17-module curriculum and benefited from unconditional cash transfers under the program, said the intervention has improved opportunities for children to grow without unnecessary violence and poor parenting support.
"As parents, we are now fully aware of the needs of children in different categories from age 0-8. While we implement the teachings in our homes, we also share the same with other parents we interact with on a daily basis," Mukucha said.
Aisha, one of the parents who benefitted from the cash transfer intervention said the total cash disbursement amounting to Sh 28,530 over three instalments of Sh9510 per month enabled her to start a business that now feeds her six children as she implements the lessons at home.
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