Many children in Kenya, especially those between the ages of two and five, do not have access to basic education and recreational centres. This problem is more prevalent in the slum areas.
Established in 1997, Slums Information Development and Resource Centres (SIDAREC) firmly believes that community problems necessitate community solutions. This idea has driven the organisation’s groundbreaking work to empower and educate the underprivileged residents of Nairobi’s vast Pumwani and Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums for over ten years.
In collaboration with local administration and youth participants, SIDAREC devised the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme as part of its intervention programme.
The main objective of the programme is to provide a platform from which the holistic development of children can be achieved. SIDAREC strives to nurture the personality, talents, mental and physical abilities of children in their care. Thus encouraging the children to take a responsible role in society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, irrespective of ethnic, national or religious origins.
By going beyond formal education, the ECD centres encourage active and critical thinking in children. This is done through developing a reading culture at the community library, introducing the children to the world of technology, and encouraging participation in theatrical presentations and in radio programmes aired by the organisation's radio station, "Ghetto FM 99.9."
SIDAREC formed a network for all institutions running community radio stations and worked with national and international partners to digitise its extensive community library.
Since the organisation’s establishement, an estimated 5,000 children have directly benefited from the education and recreational centres, 3,000 children have continued their education - with school reports indicating that they are among the top performers - and the total number of street children in the surrounding neighbourhoods has droopped by approximately 40%.
Through its programme, SIDAREC also works to raise the income levels of the slum community members and enhance the overall sustainability of the organisation by recruiting the majority of its staff from the communities in which it operates.
The organisation strives towards its ultimate goal – to build informed, articulate and productive communities - by disseminating accurate and relevant information, establishing forums for learning and debate, and providing key social development services.
These include collaborating with other NGOs, schools, local authorities and government departments. As Vice-Chair of the local District Children Advisory Council, it works to pool resources for critical actions such as immunisation campaigns, and coordinate the efficient delivery of an array of services ranging from legal assistance, to medical care, to temporary shelter.
In recognition for their work, SIDAREC was selected as the recipient of the 2008 STARS Impact Award in the category of Education.
The Awards are given by the STARS Foundation, a London-based charitable foundation which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world. The STARS Impact Awards recognise organisations committed to achieving excellence in the provision of Health, Education and Protection services to disadvantaged children, and encourage the replication of effective approaches and practices. Each Award recipient receives US$100,000 in unrestricted funding as well as tailored consultancy support.
What SIDAREC envisions achieving over the next few years
Part of the funds provided by the STARS Impact Award will be used to renovate and expand the ECD centres. With approximately 300 children attending the centres every year ,the Award will allow SIDAREC to meet the needs of an additional 200 and train 1,000 extra children and youth per year in basic computer skills. In addition to this, SIDAREC will set up another community library and continue to conduct workshops on child rights targeting parents and community members to address the problem of abuse.
The ECD programme is deemed successful because it meets the needs of vulnerable young people by providing them with space to study, play, or relax and a voice within their communities. SIDAREC centres and library areas supply children and youth with free access to books, the internet, video games and television, ensuring a safe and stimulating environment, which contrast heavily with their living spaced. The children’s radio programme and other discussion forums allow youth to interact with other members of the community in a positive and creative way.
By creating a positive reading culture and demystifying computers, SIDAREC encourages young people to have greater expectations for their future and gives them the skills they need to achieve their goals.
The STARS Impact Award will also enhance SIDAREC’s institutional capacity by helping to improve its already impressive levels of efficiency and governance, and by supporting its search for more diverse and sustainable sources of income.
