Kakuma Refugee Camp Holistic Support

This is an interesting and challenging time in Kakuma. As the large Dadaab Camp is closing, new refugees are constantly arriving to Kakuma and there has been an influx of unaccompanied minors from South Sudan. All the while, there is another drought, impacting everyone in Kakuma. The increasing needs are putting a strain on all the organizations as we strive to meet them.

IsraAID's Child Resource Center is serving an average of 250 children each day, with some attending in the mornings and the rest attending in the afternoons. Our Center is a holistic center to meet the needs of the children in Kakuma 4. They attend the center daily, where they can partake in activities that provide a supportive and stable environment. Our center also refers children to needed health, mental health, and social services, as needed. Our center staff have even helped to reunite an unaccompanied minor, who had been separated from his family, with his family. The staff do much more then "babysit" the children, they ensure they are supported and have access to the services they need to stay healthy and safe. 

The Child Resource Center needs new staff: Psycho-Social Support (PSS) Manager and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Facilitator. The PSS Manager will be providing necessary support to counsel the children and families as needed as well as to work with at risk groups and create activities accordingly. The Manager will also oversee the new referral process of especially vulnerable children and take responsibility for ensuring follow up on cases. This means for the first time, there will be a formal system within the partner NGOs to refer a child to access services, and within the system there will be a method to follow up and ensure the appropriate care was provided. Additional facilitators will allow the center to cope with increasing number of children, as well as to focus personalized attention on those especially in need. 

Adding a WASH facilitator will better enable the center to improve the health and hygiene of the children attending the center. The WASH facilitator will also help the center to cope with the drought and its’ implications.  

With your help - IsraAID can hire a WASH Facilitator and a PSS Manager - US$ 50 can buy art material for the center, US$ 1000 can send a PSS or WASH facilitator for one month.  

While there are many challenges in the camp, the staff in the center is highly motivated to meet the needs of the children. The changes within the center will be positive for the children and help us to ensure their wellbeing. 

Thank you for your help and support to IsraAID Kenya - our programs would not be possible without it!