Teachers in Nyando sub-county, Kisumu have received training on how to handle child abuse and cases of violence against children, which have been on the rise in the area.
The training, by Beacon Teachers Africa, focused on equipping the tutors with tools to manage discipline constructively while considering the child’s welfare and safety.
“We are here to train teachers on positive approaches and to brainstorm on emerging issues such as child abuse and violence against children,” said the organization founder and CEO, Dr. Joan Mwende.
She revealed that many children were being abandoned, citing cases of neglect even in affluent families.
“It’s shocking to find that even children from well-off families are being neglected, leaving them in impoverished conditions,” she said.
Dr. Mwende said that caring for children is a collective responsibility and communities should be aware that neglecting them is harming the future of the country.
“We are committed to ensuring that every child grows in a nurturing environment, that’s why we hold programmes where we educate parents on positive parenting and tackle mental health issues affecting teachers,” she said.
The CEO said that some teachers are struggling with trauma, which in turn impacts their interaction with students.
“We recognize that many teachers may be struggling with their own mental health issues. By addressing teachers’ mental health, we can create a more empathetic learning environment,” she added.
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Dr. Mwende said that in collaboration with the Kenya Counseling and Psychological Association, they are holding forums countrywide to assess teachers’ mental health and supporting them.
Speaking at the event, Gitau Viellinah, Project Coordinator for Save the Children emphasized the need to protect vulnerable children and empower teachers to recognize and report cases of abuse.
“Many children suffer in silence, unaware of where to report abuse, we want to empower teachers and learners alike to address this,” she said.
By Fredrick Odiero
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