Kenya

Combatting Human Trafficking

Partner | Loreto Eastern Africa Province

Location | Kangemi, Kenya

Overview 

Kenya is a high-risk country for human trafficking, largely due to the extreme poverty levels of those living in the many slums and informal settlements scattered across the country. Children in these areas are particularly vulnerable as traffickers know their victims do not have a safe place to turn for justice.

This project is aimed at combatting the rising levels of human trafficking in Kangemi, one of the oldest informal settlements in Nairobi. This will be achieved by creating a network of support services led by local volunteers trained to deliver human trafficking outreach awareness programs.

With more than 100,000 residents, Kangemi is home to many migrants and refugees from other countries, including Congo and Rwanda. Sanitation is poor, water and electricity supplies are unreliable, and other social amenities are lacking. With poor living conditions, high crime and congestion, Kangemi is a fertile ground for human trafficking. Those in search of employment for a better life and with little or no awareness of trafficking often find themselves at the mercy of human traffickers.

Challenges

Human trafficking is a dynamic field, and those engaged in trafficking are constantly evolving their methods. Poverty levels like those seen in Kangemi also mean that people will be easily lured with false promises of a brighter future.

Sadly, family members are often engaged in trafficking, making it very difficult to combat, as the victim may have absolute trust in their trafficker.

Human trafficking can only be fully addressed when viable alternative livelihoods are available, and in a context like Kangemi, this may never become a reality.

Impact

Through outreach awareness programs, the community will understand their human rights, be alert to the warning signs of potential trafficking, and know how to seek help when human trafficking occurs. School children in Kangemi will also become aware of the possibility of being taken by traffickers.

With assistance from the local network, victims or potential victims of human trafficking will be identified, rescued and referred for support.

Anti-trafficking knowledge will become embedded into the community by engaging local health workers, law enforcement, legal experts, teachers, and other community leaders. This strong network plays a critical role in the success and sustainability of the project.

Activities

• Identify 30 volunteers from the local community to become experts on human trafficking.
• Deliver a 6-day human trafficking workshop to the volunteers.
• With the volunteers, design outreach awareness programs for the general community.

The trained volunteers will then:

• Deliver human trafficking awareness programs to the community and schools.
• Receive information from the community on trafficking, report incidences to the relevant authorities, and with local government leaders, rescue victims and refer them for support.
• Provide holistic support to victims/survivors of human trafficking.

Sustainability for the Mary Ward Retreat Centre – Water Access

Partner | Loreto Eastern Africa Province

Location | Nairobi, Kenya

Overview 

This project builds on the success of previous missions München supported sustainability work conducted at the Mary Ward Retreat Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

However, drought and water scarcity remain very real issues in Kenya. With the support of missioMünchen once again, the construction of an underground tank to collect precious rainwater has been identified by the centre as an effective way to reduce the impact of these issues. Better access to water will also increase food production and income generated from the centre’s farm.

The purpose of the Mary Ward Retreat Centre is to facilitate the psychological and leadership development of people in Kenya and throughout the world. This project will enable the centre to focus on its core mission rather than channelling its energies and limited finance into securing food resources and funds for the centre’s ever-growing utility costs.

Challenges

Water scarcity is ever present in the day-to-day lives of people in Kenya. The solarised borehole pump installed in 2021 has strengthened the centre’s ability to access sufficient water supply, however, during dry periods there is always a risk of it being overworked and breaking down.

Without better access to water, it is difficult to maintain the retreat centre’s grounds and farm, both very important aspects of the centre’s viability.

Impact

It is anticipated that the construction of an underground water tank, pump and guttering system to collect and store rainwater at the Mary Ward Retreat Centre will create an alternative and reliable supply of water and thereby reduce the effect of drought and water scarcity.

An underground water tank will help maintain the retreat centre’s grounds and farm, and the water collection will minimise the risk of overworking the borehole pump, particularly as the centre begins to operate at full capacity.

The project will enable the Mary Ward Retreat Centre to reduce its overhead costs, while simultaneously increasing food production on the farm. The profits accrued from the sale of excess farm produce will increase the income of the centre and make it more self-reliant and financially sustainable.

The project will also empower local young people, particularly women, by providing employment opportunities, a source of income and fresh produce. The positive impact of this employment will also be felt by the families of these young people whose income will contribute to family expenses.

Activities

This project will focus on the following activities:

• Construction of an underground water tank, pump and guttering system to collect and store rainwater at the Mary Ward Retreat Centre and its farm to create an alternative and reliable supply of water.
• Continuing to supply the retreat centre with fresh quality produce.
• Selling farm produce not used by the retreat centre itself to people from neighbouring communities, guests, agri-business firms and local business people, generating income to cover some of the overhead expenses of the centre.
• Training and employing farm workers in sustainable farming.

Mary Ward International Australia thanks Missio München for their generous support of this project.