Child Empowerment
The lives of people have been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, causing disruptions in their daily routines culturally, socially, and economically. Job losses and the closure or virtualization of schools have had a particularly challenging impact, especially on children living in informal settlements like Kibera Slums. These children often lack supervision while their parents or guardians are at work, making them susceptible to negative influences such as peer pressure, misuse of the internet, and substance abuse. To tackle these problems, ETCO organizes empowerment programs for children on Saturdays. These programs involve local facilitators who provide health and safety education, as well as support to the children in the community. Moreover, ETCO ensures that every child who participates in the program receives a meal, as many families are facing food insecurity. ETCO's Saturday programs cater to a minimum of 350 children, aiming to empower them by addressing the vulnerabilities they face during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, including peer pressure, internet misuse, and substance abuse.