The organization was created by a group of dedicated Kenyan women who used their resources to initiate community response to challenges facing rural communities at a time when there was no structured response at the national or community levels. WEMIHS uses a rights based approach to ensure that children’s rights, health and development needs are met, especially for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) and adolescent girls.
Where they operate
Headquarters Location
Garissa rd, Kwaheri Junction, Gatuanyaga, Thika
Kenya
Organization Type
Main Areas of Work
What They Do
WEMIHS improves the ecology of care and support for vulnerable children by building capacity in the community and developing support systems to support the needs of children and their caregivers. WEMIHS works to:
- Raise awareness on the psychosocial needs of OVCs and the violence and abuse experienced by vulnerable children and adolescents
- Support caregivers to meet the needs of OVCs in nutrition and food security, prevention of childhood illnesses and child protection
- Support elderly caregivers (‘grannies’) of OVCs to better support their families while receiving psychosocial care
- Establish training facilities for early childhood development needs for children aged 0-8 living in vulnerable female-headed households
- Partner with government agents, judiciary, schools, community associations and community child protection networks to identify vulnerable youth, provide appropriate care and support services and protect the rights of children and adolescents against
abuse - Raise awareness on sexuality and reproductive health, behaviour change and life-skill mentorship for vulnerable adolescent girls
- Influence positive policy and legislative change to support child protection rights
Their approach to care and protection of children is based on a family and community strengthening model to deliver comprehensive care and support to vulnerable children. They aim to keep children in families through enabling vulnerable households and communities to better cope with the negative impact of poverty and disease and provide protection for children.