Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Provide for your families- the Karambi neighborhood assembly Resolution



A girl Narrating violence in families children face


“But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8,  
These were the opening words by Rev. Barnabas Kathembo  parish vicar Karambi COU to the parents gathered in Karambi for  a meeting on prevention of violence against children. The neighborhood assembly held on 22nd march 2017 was attended by over 100 parents, the Sub County Chief Karambi, the OC police, the sub county councilor Karambi and the SMC and PTA members of primary schools in Karambi. The key objective was to sensitize citizens/ parents on community prevention mechanism on violence against children in the sub county.
john Silco addressing parents and citizens at Karambi


The Neighborhood Assembly is a platform that gives the local community opportunity to interact with the Sub County Children Protection Committee, child rights activists, political leaders, police and civil servants.They discuss prevention mechanism on violence against children in schools and families. The specific focus was on ways of supporting adolescent girl children with menstruation hygiene and materials to use during this time to ensure proper hygiene . also discussed: proper nutrition to avoid stunted growth, ways end to violence against children in families.
The sub county chief of Karambi Ms. Ruth Masika, Rev. Barnabas and John Silco from RIC-NET highlighted the common case of violence against children as poor parenting practices, child labour, poor meals,lack of basic needs, corporal punishment and use of abusive language to children at school and home.
The children performed drama and songs that depicted how parents mistreat them, substituting school time to go to the markets or cotton farms or carry heavy luggage or even baby sit their siblings as their mothers engage in business.

Karambi P Sch Children Dramatize Violence Against Children
The parents acknowledged their mistreatment and resolved to support schools efforts to provide sanitary material to girl children, to put mechanism for lunch meals or porridge in schools and put bye laws to control children absenteeism from schools. Over 60 parents were enrolled as farmers to pilot good nutrition practices and grow specific nutritious crops.