Amkeni - Separated and Abandoned Children Program

April of 2003 - April 2006
Donor: USAID

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the southeastern city of Lubumbashi has suffered a disproportionate share of economic strife and displaced people, which have broken down the social structures that provided a safety net for vulnerable children. The number of abandoned children is growing at an alarming rate. To combat this problem Pact implemented the Separated and Abandoned Children's Program, known as Amkeni, to reduce and prevent the separation and abandonment of children. Working in partnership with child-centered and community-based organizations, Pact enlisted full community involvement in developing indigenous, sustainable systems for prevention and response to these vulnerable children.

A new approach was used that focused on protecting children's rights by increasing community awareness, expanding successful models of long-term care, and providing information on children's needs. Activities included:

• Building sustainable partnerships among child-focused groups, business and governments entities, and faith-based organizations.
• Providing technical and managerial capacity building training to strategically selected local NGOs and community-based organizations to implement community responses and create linkages among community members in support of vulnerable children.
• Forming solidarity groups involving the most vulnerable families in targeted districts.
• Investing in common economic activities designed to address the economic constraints faced by these vulnerable families.
• Developing a peer-counseling model designed to preserve family unity and minimize risk of child abandonment by helping families find appropriate solutions to conflicts.
• Developing a neighborhood child protection network designed to identify and respond to at-risk households, care for and help reunite children with families, and promote positive educational messages.
• Sharing effective techniques and promoting information exchanges.

Interim results

• Reunified over 200 abandoned street children with their families
• During the Amkeni program, no more cases of child abandonment were reported.
• Child protection networks identified 7739 vulnerable children and provided 1441 cases of assistance, including medical care, food, and tuition.
• Over 230 children who were out of school are now enrolled.
• Organized 172 advocacy campaigns with local authorities, International NGOs, and Humanitarian Organizations to provide assistance to vulnerable children.
• 634 families addressed problems impacting their children.
• 70% of parents use new entrepreneurial skills to improve their quality of employment.
• 60% of beneficiaries involved program activities were women.