KOINONIA COMMUNITY REGISTERED TRUSTEES
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Mission Statement
Koinonia is a lay organization promoting integral human development and community life. It strives to counteract the economic and social evils bred by individualism, and to foster a culture of peace and solidarity. It gives preference to the ‘little ones’ in difficult circumstances, the marginalized and the oppressed. Through its human development programmes, Koinonia embraces people of all backgrounds, finding in their diversity unique aspects of humanity. It serves African children and youth in Kenya, Zambia and the Nuba Mountains area in Sudan.
About This Cause
CHILD PROTECTION:- In it's mission of assisting vulnerable children and youth from the streets and communities in Kenya, Koinonia Community follows the Alternative Family and Community based Care Model that entails: Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Sustainability. Prevention:- Koinonia Community promotes interventions aimed at reducing threats to the well-being of children within families and the wider community. This is done using early interventions to prevent child maltreatment and to change behaviors and strengthen parenting skills while networking with schools, faith-based institutions, sup port groups and community volunteers. Rescue and rehabilitation:- Vulnerable children from the streets and difficult family environments are identified by our social workers, the government or community members and are referred after assessment to our Child Protection Centers located in Nairobi and Kajiado Counties. Some children are reunited directly with their families and assisted to join formal school, always accompanied by Koinonia social workers. Those who need more care and cannot be rein tegrated directly to the family, are rescued and referred for temporary shelter either to Ndugu Mdogo (started in 2006 in Kibera), Tone la Maji (started in 2005 in On gata Rongai), Anita’s Home (started in 1999 in Ngong) or Kivuli (started in 1997, in Riruta). The protection cen ters offer a safe and child friendly environment for the reconciliation of the children with their family relations. Through a participatory rehabilitation process involving the families and community, our centres facilitate the provision of loving care and all the basic needs in addi tion to education, medical and psycho-social support. Guided by individual care plans, the children are also of fered opportunities to develop their self-esteem, talents and alternative areas of interest. Riruta Health Project operates a dispensary located in Kivuli for the health needs of the children and the surrounding community, while Paolo’s Home in Kibera offers physiotherapy, re habilitation and inclusive education services for children living with disabilities. Inclusive reintegration:- Koinonia Community affirms the role that families and communities play in the life and formation of an individu al and hence believes that the best place for a child is in the family. It therefore aims at reintegrating a child/youth from the time it establishes contact with him/her through a participatory process focusing on the family and the community. This is facilitated by the Families to Fami lies (F2F) program that accompanies beneficiaries in a gradual process of discovering and developing resourc es to uplift themselves and their families. In addition to improving family livelihoods, the youths are encouraged to establish independent and self-sustaining enterprises. Sustainability:- Through the involvement of parents, children, teachers, community members, as well as government departments, the family reintegration results are sustained through an outreach program. This allows for emergency interven tions to be addressed by our child protection centreswhenever challenges emerge. The follow-ups focus on monitoring the family welfare and educational achieve ment of the children, evaluating alternative care arrange ments and promoting advocacy for children rights. EDUCATION:- In its quest to serve children, youth and the wider society, Koinonia Community endeavors to empower them with necessary skills for social transformation. Informal and primary education:- Koinonia promotes inclusive education at all levels of learning. This starts by providing informal education to out-of-school children in the streets which becomes the start of an educational journey. The children are then enrolled into public primary schools through our child protection centres with the involvement of their families. Secondary education and vocational training:- On conclusion of primary education, some children are offered scholarship opportunities to pursue secondary school education while others access vocational train ing. Boys can continue their education at Domus Mariae School, a modern private secondary school started in 2008 at Kerarapon (Ngong). Koinonia also offers opportunities for girls through public secondary schools. On the other hand, Koinonia collaborates with different vocational training institutions to provide learning oppor tunities for youths in their specific areas of identified po tential and interest. Tertiary education:- The youth who have completed secondary school under Koinonia sponsorship are offered scholarships to join Universities and Colleges according to their talents and academic achievements. Among other possibilities, they can access Diakonia Institute, established by Koinonia in 2010 and registered by the Ministry of Higher Education, to gain certificates and diplomas in Social work, Business Managements, Accountancy, Hospitality Catering, Infor mation Technology, Education and other fields. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT:- After reintegration the youth are encouraged to join KOBWA (Koinonia Old Beneficiaries Welfare Association) which provides a platform to foster mutual assistance and entrepreneurial initiatives. With the objective of disseminating information and cre ating civic awareness, Koinonia in 2014 established two community radios: Mtaani Radio at Kivuli Centre, and Domus Mariae FM Karen Village. The two radios are very important in developing close links between the projects and the local community. ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY:- Koinonia community promotes small business for people to become self-supporting. Watoto wa Simba and Malbes are small farms located in the Ongata Rongai area producing vegetable, eggs, meat and Moringa, a very important natural nutritional supplement, while promoting best farming practices. In Kivuli Koinonia supports Kivuli Fair Trade, a group of wood carvers and producers of traditional crafts. Information Technology and innovation are supported through Shalom IT Services based in Shalom House. Shalom House is a strategic Koinonia social enterprise, operating in the hospitality and catering fields. It pro vides accommodation for up to 70 guests, two restaurants,external catering and regularly hosts workshops and conferences. and conferences. Networking:- Koinonia is partnering with different organizations for the promotion of innovative ideas: With KESCA (Kenya Society of Care-leavers) it organiz es conferences for children and youth; With SLCO (Social Life Coordinating Organization) supports activities for the mental health of young persons, and with Nafsi Africa organizes training of young acrobats and performers.In more than thirty years of life Koinonia has promoted several initiatives that have become autonomous.NAREC (Nairobi Recyclers) was registered as local NGO in 2007 and it deals with environmental conservation and waste management SYDI (Sports and Youth Development Initiatives), NGO registered in 2008, promotes all kinds of sports activities, including Shalom Yassets Football Club and Shalom Athletics. Several institutions and NGOs have chosen Shalom House and Kivuli for their local offices.