Humanitarian intervention in the world – children’s rights in the first place
ST. CAMILLUS DALA KIYE CHILDREN WELFARE HOME, MAY 7th 2019
introduction
Tragically, millions of children around the world have been orphaned for various reasons: war, famine, displacement, disease or poverty.
At Dala Kiye, most of the children we work with have been orphaned because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
To make sure they are not completely forgotten, there is a day dedicated to them: the World Day of Orphans, which we remember on May 7 each year.
This day is special because it draws attention to the difficult situation of orphans. On this day people are encouraged to actively participate in the outreach, support and funding of all these motherless and fatherless children around the world.
Society has learned to care for orphans since the first orphanage built by the Romans. Jewish law required that orphans be cared for until the age of 18. Today, the Kenyan constitution insists that anyone under the age of 18, being a child, should be treated. We also adopted the act of placing orphans under public protection. But although all these interventions have been carried out, over the years the number of orphans has grown at a very alarming rate.
Most orphans live in a violent environment, and the cruel difficulties they face in some orphanages still require more vigorous real interventions.
This year’s theme was “Humanitarian intervention in the world – children’s rights in the first place”.
Of all humanitarian organizations’ interventions in improving the welfare of children, the main focus should be on their rights.
Celebration
This year’s event started a bit behind schedule due to the rains, but a good number of attendees including school children, tutors, teachers and other invited guests gathered in St. Camillus Dala Kiye already in the morning, ready to celebrate.
An opening prayer was made by P. John Kariuki, administrator of the Dala Kiye, who after praying said some words of support to the orphaned children present. He encouraged children to work hard at school and realize their dreams, reminded them that despite being orphans there are people around them who care about their well-being and take care of them. He concluded by saying that disability is not incapacity. That all children are special and all children living with any form of disability are created in the image of God and are loved by those who help them.
The coordinator of Dala Kiye, George Anyanga , then took the podium to welcome those present. He gave a brief overview of the interventions that Dala Kiye is involved in and its main donor We World Kenya Foundation. He then informed the participants about the day’s program and other logistical aspects. Through his speech, George stressed the importance of celebrating World Orphans Day, one of which is to address the challenges experienced by orphans in the community and the need for stakeholders to formulate common strategies to address the plight of the orphans. orphans and vulnerable children. This said it would only be possible if all children had access to adequate education, care and support opportunities. Finally, he encouraged the children to learn to live responsibly and to work hard at school.
The skilled master of ceremony coordinated the entertainment with speeches for most of the morning hours. There was a play presented by the boys of St. Mary’s Kiranda that moved the audience. The children demonstrated the difficulties that orphans face in the hands of those who are supposed to be their guardians. More often than not, these children are mistreated and denied basic care and access to primary education. Other performances presented by the children were songs, modern dance, acrobatics, choral verses and skits. The tutors also presented songs and performances based on the theme of the day.
Traditionally, when it was lunchtime, children were given soft drinks and bread while tutors and invited guests gathered in the dining room.
In the afternoon, the tradition of football matches began with the girls of B.L.Tezza and Rabuor who opened the game. B.L.Tezza took home the win by scoring 2-0 against the powerful Rabuor girls. Then it was the turn of the boys of Rabuor and B.L.Tezza who ended up with the victory of B.L.Tezza in a score of 1-2. This was a victorious day for students at B.L.Tezza.
As the end of the day draws near, everyone who emerged victorious in games and performances received a token of appreciation in terms of soaps, shoe polish, notebooks, folders for documents and balls.
Christine Vera of B.L.Tezza Complex Secondary , who is also vice president of the Nyatike Sub-County Children’s Assembly, capped the day’s event with a powerful speech. Vera, who joined other children at BOMAS Kenya for a leadership conference in 2019, talked about all the problems that orphans face and that are often overlooked by those who are supposed to help them. She bitterly condemned the act of mistreating children solely on the basis of lack of parents and asked guardians to always do good in caring for these children. To finish her talk, Vera encouraged all pupils and students to explore their talents as much as they are in formal education. The day was closed by a word of prayer from a student of B.L.Tezza and the participants stayed as long as they liked.
Angwanga Sharon
Social Worker
