This strategic priority / thematic area focuses on addressing child/OVC challenging issues of Integrated Early Childhood Development, Legal Protection Interventions, Health, and Nutrition; Teenage pregnancy/un-intended second pregnancies/ child marriages, Menstrual Hygiene and school retention. This strategic priority area is guided by its main strategic objective; “To protect and promote the rights of 30,000 children through prevention of all forms of abuse, advocacy, nutrition, education/ psychosocial support, health and economic empowerment”

In order to achieve the above strategic objective, specific objectives are designed to guide in priority area implementation:

1.    Prevention and protection of children against all forms of abuse.

As CCAYEF this is sought through; Engagement with partners to influence enforcement of policies and laws that protect rights of children, provision of legal support to abused children, community sensitization on the use of SAUTI toll free lines to report cases of child abuses and production and distribution IEC materials to the community

2.     To advocate and promote the Right to health among children

This is done through: Carrying out prevention of mother to child HIV transmission activities, monitoring adherence to HIV treatment and viral load suppression as well as Establishment and supportingIntegrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) centers.

3.    To promote WASH in schools and OVC communities

This is fulfilled through; Education on Menstrual Hygiene Management to in and out of school Adolescents, Training of pre-menstrual and menstrual age girls and boys in making Reusable Sanitary Pads, Promoting personal hygiene and sanitation to OVC communities and schools as well as advocating for Gender friendly Menstrual Hygiene Management facilities and structures in both schools and communities

4.     To promote food security and improve nutritional intake

This is realized through; Educating OVCs and care takers on backyard farming methodology and food preparation, Psychosocial support to OVCs through BCC and providing food aid to critically malnourished and sick children

5.  Prevention of child marriages , early pregnancies and second unwanted pregnancies for AGYW

This is achieved through; community mobilization against child marriages and early pregnancies, Male led campaigns against child marriages, Establishment and facilitation of child protection committees at parish level, Conducting risk reduction sessions for pregnant girls and child mothers  and Promoting of Family Planning strategies among child mothers into formal and informal education , Promotion of safe motherhood among child mothers, as well as Provision of livelihoods fro very vulnerable child mothers and Advocacy

6.  To promote economic empowerment and self reliance of the OVCs and OVC house holds

This objective is attained through training OVCs and their households in VSLA methodology and engaging them in purposive saving, Educational support to OVCs and Supporting OVCs living with disabilities with alternative coping strategies