| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to examine Child Friendly Spaces as a tool for Child Protection in Emergencies: A case study of Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County. The study targeted 10-16 years old children attending the five child friendly spaces in camp 4.The study specifically sought to establish whether the child friendly structures, interventions contributes to protection of children in emergencies. Relevant literature to the research objectives was synthetically reviewed; a theoretical foundation upon which the research is based was build, social learning theory, social exchange theory and systems theory. The study adopted a case study design. Target population was estimated to be 7680 which is considered the number of children attending child friendly spaces. Systematic random sampling procedures were applied to come up with sub-strata and later the Kth element was used to randomly pick the 75 respondents for interviews. Descriptive statistics was used in the analysis aided by statistical package for social scientist (SPSS).The available data was then presented in terms of tables. Description of the interplay between the independent and dependent variables was carefully explained in chapter five leading to drawing of conclusions and recommendations. Based on the findings it was found that there was shortage of teachers in child friendly spaces. The recommended minimum staff to child is that of 1:25 for children under 12 years and 1:40 for children over 12 years unlike that found of 1:100.This is an indication that children are not given the necessary attention required and might lead to abuse of children.
The study also found out that there is a high rate of child abuse cases in the camp especially by children not attending the child friendly spaces, the abuse are that of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and indication that the level of community awareness on child protection is still low. It also established that children are involved in setting up of child friendly spaces and in choosing of activities that they think will be beneficial to them. Also based on the Key Informant Interview, there’s no minimum qualification or training for a child friendly spaces employee and neither is there a background check on them.
Finally on challenges faced in the spaces, discrimination, over emphasis on girl child rights, lateness, less playing materials, lack of enough teachers, lack of enough space for playing, broken down facilities are of concern to children. Children tend to shy away from places that make them uncomfortable and it puts them at risk of exploitation and abuse.
Overall the study found the child friendly spaces to be an effective tool for child protection despite the few gaps witnessed. Children in the camp have been protected from all forms of
abuse, neglect and violence that are witnessed by children in the camp who do not attend the child friendly spaces. Children are also enjoying the activities in the child friendly spaces. The study also established that children receive adequate psychosocial support from the spaces which is the core mandate of child friendly spaces in emergency set up | en_US |
