Creating the Space for Children to Speak

Children are not only the objects of protection. They have views, and those views matter.

They understand their own lives in ways that adults often do not, and they can describe what is happening to them, what they need, and what they would change if they were asked. Our work on child participation and empowerment creates the space for children to speak about what affects them, and supports them to do so with confidence. When children are heard, the decisions that adults make are more likely to fit the realities that children are living in.

Participation is not a single activity. It is a way of working that runs through everything we do. It means that when we plan a programme, we ask the children it is meant to serve what they think of it. When we run a session in a school, we make sure that children have the opportunity to speak, not just to listen. When we engage with local authorities about the protection of children, we make sure that children's own views are part of what we present. Participation is not a favour that adults extend to children. It is a recognition that children have something to say, and that what they say should shape the work.

Our Approach

Creating safe spaces for children to speak freely

Creating Safe Spaces to Speak Freely

How it works:

  • We create safe spaces where children can speak freely. A child who is afraid of being punished for what she says will not speak honestly. A child who believes that what she says will be repeated to her parents or her teachers will not speak at all.
  • We work to make sure that the spaces we create are genuinely safe — that children understand what will happen with what they tell us, that their confidentiality is respected, and that no child is pressured to speak about anything she does not want to speak about.
  • The sessions are led by adults who have been trained to work with children, who know how to listen without leading, and who understand that the child's account is not evidence to be interrogated but a perspective to be respected.

The work of empowerment is not a luxury that comes after the basics of protection are in place. It is one of the ways that protection becomes possible.

Our commitment

Children are not only the objects of protection. They have views, and those views matter — participation is a recognition that children have something to say, and that what they say should shape the work.

Join us in empowering children

Help us create the space for children to speak, to be heard, and to shape the decisions that affect their lives. Support our campaign, volunteer your time, or partner with us to strengthen child participation across Kenya.

Every action counts—only a willingness to act is required.

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Children participating in a session on their rights

Creating space for children to speak

Children are not only the objects of protection. They have views, and those views matter.