The Conference The first International Conference in Africa on Family Based Care for Children will be held on 28-30 September 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya Background According to the UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report (2008) the total number of orphaned children in sub-Sahara Africa in 2007 was 46.6 million. Out of these, 12 million were orphaned by HIV/AIDS. These are the estimated number of children who have lost one or both parents and are at risk of growing up without parental care, being discriminated against, disinherited, trafficked or getting into worst forms of child labour. Orphanhood also subjects children to abject poverty, early school leaving and exposes them to risks of being trafficked and sexually abused and exploited. These children are in need of care and protection but many of them are growing in countries without systems of care and protection which further exposes them to even greater risks. The lack of care and protection for orphaned children is made worse by the fact that the African family has been changing, whereby the extended family has been disintegrating and other forms of family have emerged, ranging from nuclear, single and child headed families. Traditionally, orphans were cared for by the extended family members, and when need arose, community members came together to assist. But poverty, urbanization, low income levels in families have eroded the capacity of families to take up additional children. This has led to many children being placed in institutional care. As a result, orphaned children are often placed unnecessarily and for too long in institutions, where they may be deprived of adequate care and opportunities for emotional and social development. In the institutions, the children also receive less of the stimulation and individual attention needed to grow to their full potential. Often they are vulnerable to exploitation, sexual and physical abuse. In fact, globally there is a shift from lengthy institutionalization of children to alternative family based care, because children develop better within a family structure. But in Africa, children’s institutions have been embraced as an alternative care system for orphaned children, despite the fact that institutions are typically very expensive and as such, many in Africa are under funded and consequently provide mediocre services to children. Some institutions are also known to be started to attract funding and are therefore seen as private businesses which may not be in the best interest of children. Despite this, many options are available for children who have been orphaned and have no parental care in Africa. With so many orphans, countries and communities have come up with their own ways of caring for children who are orphans. Some are taken care of, informally by members of the extended family and some are formally fostered through legal regimes, while others are adopted within and outside countries. Many children are also placed in institutions. These options of taking care of orphaned children have their successes and challenges. Some countries also have developed some models of care to excellence, while others are still struggling for lack of knowledge, information, skills, policies and laws. This situation provides for an excellent opportunity for countries to learn from each other. In some cases some of the care providers have strong beliefs about one model against the other and there is need to open the debate and learn from each other It is the above reasons that led ANPPCAN and Give a Child a Family (GCF) to conceive the idea of holding a Conference on Family Based Care for Children in Africa. The members of the organising committee are:
· Department of Children’s Services · SOS Children’s Villages · Compassion International · Give A Child A Family · African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Regional Office · United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) · Better Care Network (BCN) · Lakarmissionen Participation to the Conference will be drawn from Government ministries and departments, Research Institutions, Universities, Civil Society Organisations, INGOs, NGOs, UN agencies and children themselves. The Conference will take place for three days on 28, 29 and 30 September, 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. Theme The theme of the Conference is: “Promoting Family-Based Care for Children in Africa” Objectives þ To improve knowledge on Family Based Care for Children through sharing information and experiences þ To enhance the legislative and policy environment to support Family Based Care for Children in Africa þ To improve skills of actors in the provision of Family Based Care for Children in Africa Call for Abstracts Papers that address innovative interventions and practices in the area of alternative care for children, networking or collaborative efforts, as well as research studies on the topic, are being invited. All papers will be peer-reviewed by a Scientific Committee and will be expected to address applicability to African children and protective implications. Find abstract format at www.anppcan.org and send to [email protected] with contact information of all presenters. Indicate if you prefer to present at a workshop, panel, or make poster presentation. All abstracts intended for presentation at the Conference should reach the secretariat by 31 July, 2009. All abstracts should be sent to the email address below: Bernard Morara, [email protected], [email protected] Conference registration fee is as follows: Students
1. Local US$ 20 2. International US$ 50 Professionals 1. Kenyans US$ 60 2. Rest of Africa US$ 75 3. International US$ 200 Please Note: The above rates are up to 1st August, 2009. Beyond that, registration increases by USD 40
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KENYA: The First Inernational Conference in Africa on Family Based Care for Children
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