What is Catholic Care for Children Kenya?
Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya Catholic Care for Children in Kenya (AOSK-CCCK) was established in May 2018. This initiative arose when AOSK recognized that their human development efforts were creating meaningful change and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With this perspective, the Association, through its CCCK Programs, aims to provide holistic family and community-based care for vulnerable children.
The overall goal of CCCK is to strengthen congregations of Catholic women and men religious to live their charism of care, and to do so in ways that help children grow up in safe, nurturing family or family-like environments.
There are now 47 Religious Congregations (74% are Institutes of Women Religious) engaged in the CCCK programme and a total of 146 childcare institutions and programmes. These include:
- 8 babies’ homes and
- 40 children’s homes
- 30 rehabilitation centres for children connected to streets
- 19 rehabilitation centres for children with disabilities
- 1 rehabilitation centre for children in conflict with the law
- 20 small homes
- 11 rescue centres
- 17 community-based programmes
1. Winning Hearts and Minds:
Raising awareness and sensitizing superiors and sisters about care reform.
Supporting Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in educating parents, children, communities, duty bearers, and staff across various apostolates about care reform and child protection.
2. Capacity Development:
Collaborating with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa to develop a one-year university certificate course: SCRIPPIC (Sustainable Child Rights, Protection, and Post-Institutionalized Care).
Providing scholarships for sisters to pursue degrees, diplomas, and certificates in Social Work and Psycho-Spiritual Counselling.
Conducting training programs in areas such as Child Protection and Safeguarding, Care Reform, Case Management, Positive Parenting, Care of Children with Disabilities, Record Keeping/Database Management, Psycho-social Support, Resource Mobilization, Repurposing of CCIs, and Communication for religious and CCI staff.
3. Guidance and Ongoing Support:
Assisting in the development and implementation of Child Protection Policies.
Supporting the implementation of Case Management systems.
Providing guidance on Record Keeping and Data Entry.
Offering expertise in Resource Mobilization strategies.
4. Ongoing Accompaniment and Mentorship:
Conducting regular support visits to CCIs.
Ensuring CCCK remains accessible and ready to provide continuous support and mentorship as needed."
AOSK CCCK
Catholic Care for Children is a sister-led, charism-driven movement to ensure children grow up in safe, loving families.
Through the International Union of Superiors General, national associations of religious, and other appropriate groups, CCC is building capacity to express a charism of care for children in today’s world, to reduce recourse to institutional care, and to encourage family- and community-based care for children. Catholic Care for Children is animated by the charism of care expressed by religious women and men whose leadership and service have often embodied the best of the Christian mandate to care for those in need.
Aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
The child’s right to a family and guidelines for alternative care of children who are separated from their families.Grounded in these pillars, Catholic Care for Children is committed to a continuum of care pertaining to the best interests of the child:
Informed by social sciences
Importance of nurturing family bonds for wholistic, healthy development across life span and Risks associated with separation from family care, especially in institutional settings
Rooted in touchness of Catholic faith
Biblical mandates to care for children and other vulnerable persons and principles of Catholic social teaching, especially those emphasizing the dignity of each person, a preferential option for the poor, and the right of each person to participate fully in family and community
AOSK Program Manager Sr. Hedwig ,delivering her speech during the orientation of Students at Subiako-Karen
Students pausing for a group photo at Subiako-Karen
Students pausing for a group photo at Subiako-Karen
AOSK Executive Secretary, Sr. Pasilisa, delivering her speech during the launch of the CCCK Phase II Program."
Students pausing for a group photo at Subiako-Karen
AOSK-CCCK team enjoying a piece of cake during the launch of the CCCK Phase II Program
AOSK CCCK Administrators attentively listening to the training session during the startup meeting of the AOSK-CCCK Phase II Program."
AOSK-CCCK Case Manager addressing the CCCK Administrators during the launch of the AOSK-CCCK Program in February 2025."
Commissioning of AOSK-CCCK Administrators at Dimesse, Karen, in February 2025.
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Sr.Hedwig Muse, LSMIG
AOSK-CCCK
Program Manager
