Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children (KAACR)

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF KAACR

Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children (KAACR) started in 1988, as a National NGO Liaison Committee on the rights of the child. The goal of the committee was to popularize the draft Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and to lobby the government to adopt and ratify the UNCRC after it came into force.

The committee organized regional seminars that brought together children and youth, NGOs and government officials to discuss the draft UNCRC. These seminars culminated into a National Conference on the Promotion and Implementation of the CRC in December 1989 attended by 400 participants from Government, National and International NGOs and youth from all over Kenya.

The conference resolved to establish a national body to be known as the “National Alliance for Advocacy on Children Rights.” The primary duty of the body was “to monitor and evaluate the implementation and non-observance of the principles and provisions of the CRC in Kenya.” This name later changed to Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children )KAACR).

KAACR’s MISSION

To promote the realization of children’s rights, both girls and boys, in Kenya.

KAACR’s VISION

That girls and boys shall live in a society which provides them with the right to survive, develop and participate in decision making and enjoy special protection against all forms of discrimination, neglect, cruelty and exploitation.

KAACR’s VALUES

KAACR believes that:-

·    Children are equal partners in all actions concerning their well-being and development.

·    Children grow in an environment that guarantees them their full fright to survival, development and participation.

·    Families are the basic unit of care and nurturing for a child, but NGO’s, civil society and government must support them in this task.

·    Every child is entitled to equity and justice irrespective of sex, age, colour, creed, religion, ability or disability.

·    It is the duty of the government to provide an enabling environment and an institutional framework for the full realization of children’s right in Kenya.

KAACR’s PROGRAMMES

1. Monitoring implementation of Kenyan laws and policies relevant to children rights and domestication of UNCRC and other international children’s treaties.
2. Promoting and conducting research including networking among organizations working for and with girls and boys in Kenya. KAACR undertakes research on specific issues affecting children, documenting lessons learnt from programme interventions and disseminating information on children’s issues through internet, videos and publications.
3. Enhancing understanding of children’s rights and facilitating empowerment of children, partners and communities to take appropriate actions through working with schools, law enforcement officers, the judiciary, teachers and other NGO’s impacting on children’s rights.
4. Enhancing the capacity of partners and members to implement rights-based programming by training NGO/CBO managers on Child Rights-based approach, good governance and developing indicators for monitoring and evaluation of best practices in order to share with all children NGO’s/CBO’s.
5. Enhancing our fundraising capacity and providing technical services to members and CBO’s in development and operationalization of children activities.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

KAACR’s highest decision making body is the Annual General Assembly (AGA) which elects an Executive Board to give the policy direction of the organization. The Secretariat implements the policies and programmes and ensures day to day running of the alliance.

KAACR MEMBERSHIP

KAACR has three types of membership:-

Full Members – These are National and International registered NGOs working with children.

Associate Members – These include Child Rights Clubs, CBOs and Youth groups.

Individual Members – These are people who have distinguished themselves in the Children Rights Movement as determined by KAACR Executive Board.

KAACR’s membership is open to all agencies which subscribe to the principles of the CRC. Full and Individual Members pay a annual subscription fee of Kshs. 200 and have voting rights while Associate Members do not pay membership and only participate in AGM but do not vote.

FOUNDER MEMBERS OF KAACR

• Action Aid Kenya
• African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) – Kenya Chapter
• Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK)
• Child Hope Kenya
• Child Welfare Society of Kenya
• Christian Children’s Fund (CCF)
• Christian Health Association of Kenya (AHAK)
• Homa Hills Development Organization
• Islamic Foundation
• Kenya National Council of Social Services
• Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped (KAMH)
• Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (KMYWO)
• Save the Children – Canada
• Undugu Society of Kenya
• Young Men Christian Association (YMCA)
• Young Muslim Association (YMA)
• Young Women Christian Association (YWCA)

If you would like to become a member of KAACR, contact: -

Executive Director
Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children (KAACR)
P.O. Box 73637, 00200 Nairobi - Kenya
Tel: 4450256/7. Fax: 4450092
Email: kaacr@kaacr.com or infor@kaacr.com