RLO Education Incubation Fund (Kakuma)
Project Name: Empowering Communities on Child Rights and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) – SCA
Objective:
The project aims to strengthen child protection and emotional well-being among vulnerable children and families in Kakuma through the promotion of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and child rights awareness. It seeks to build emotionally resilient children, empower caregivers, and foster inclusive, supportive communities.
Key Activities:
From January to March 2025, the project formed a parenting group focused on SEL, conducted daily after-school SEL sessions for children, and held regular home visits and monthly parent meet-ups. A total of 502 individuals—including children, parents, teachers, and community leaders—were engaged through 166 sessions across six blocks in Kakuma 2, Zone 2. Children were guided through self-awareness, empathy, and conflict resolution activities, while parents were equipped with positive parenting and communication skills. The first SEL cohort of children completed their sessions, and community feedback highlighted improved parent-child interaction and inclusive participation.
Between January and March 2025, the SCA project made significant strides in promoting child rights and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Kakuma 2, Zone 2. A major highlight was the successful formation of a parenting group that met regularly for SEL-based discussions and training. Parents were visited at least three times a week, with monthly meet-ups helping them adopt positive parenting strategies. Simultaneously, daily after-school SEL sessions were held for children, focusing on emotional awareness, empathy, conflict resolution, and unity in diversity.
In total, the project reached 502 beneficiaries:
346 children (201 boys, 145 girls)
96 parents/guardians (90 women, 6 men)
30 teachers and 30 community leaders
The first cohort of SEL children completed the program, showing improved emotional expression and social behavior. Parental engagement with schools increased, and children began communicating more openly at home and participating confidently in group activities.
Several key lessons emerged from the implementation of the SEL and child rights awareness project. First, consistent community engagement is critical. Regular home visits (at least three times a week) and monthly parenting meet-ups built strong trust between SCA staff and caregivers, making it easier to influence parenting practices and promote emotional support for children.
Another lesson is the power of routine and safe spaces for children. Daily after-school SEL sessions offered a predictable, inclusive environment where children could learn, express themselves, and grow socially—regardless of their background.
A major insight was that empowering parents directly impacts children’s behavior. Parents who participated in SEL groups became more involved in their children’s lives, resulting in improved communication and discipline at home.
Key best practices include:
Integrating practical, culturally relevant parenting lessons into SEL training.
Conducting child-friendly, play-based learning to keep children engaged.
Ensuring diversity and inclusion, as sessions were open to children of all races, religions, and genders.
Gathering continuous feedback to adapt and improve activities.
Finally, linking emotional learning to academic and social development strengthened the argument for expanding SEL to more children and schools across the camp.
