Over 66 teachers in Kisumu from Nyando area sensitized on positive discipline strategies amidst rising concerns about child abuse and violence across.
The training By Beacon Teachers Africa focused on equipping educators with tools to manage discipline constructively while addressing both child welfare and teachers' mental health.
"We are here to train teachers on positive approaches and to brainstorm on emerging issues such as child abuse and violence against children ", said the organization founder and CEO Dr. Joan Mwende.
Mwende said this training will give educators the tools they need to manage discipline constructively, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children.
The training comes at a critical time, with increasing reports of child abuse in unexpected environments.
She revealed that cases of neglect have been discovered in affluent families, with children being abandoned.
"It's shocking to find that even children from well-off families are being neglected and left to live in impoverished conditions".
She said the are children who should be thriving yet they are being subjected to violence and neglect.
"We need Kenyans to understand that children are our collective responsibility and By neglecting them, we are harming the future of our nation".
Dr Mwende further expressed concerns that many children are suffering due to neglect at home.
"We are committed to ensuring that every child grows and thrives in a nurturing environment that is why yesterday we had a program where we were educating parents too on positive parenting, providing them with skills to care for their children.
In addition to addressing child discipline, the training also focused on tackling issues related to teachers' mental health.
Dr. Mwende raised concerns that some teachers are struggling with trauma which in turn impacts their interactions with students.
"We recognize that many teachers may be struggling with their mental health issues, which can impact their ability to effectively interact with children," she explained.
She added, "By addressing teacher's mental health we can create a more supposed empathetic learning environment ".
The CEO noted that's why they are holding forums to assess teachers' mental health and partnering with the Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association to offer support.
She added that they have intentions to reach as many teachers as possible across if they have enough resources.
Gitau Viellinah, project coordinator for Save the Children, who spoke at the event emphasized the need to protect vulnerable children and empower teachers to recognize and report cases of abuse.
"Many children suffer in silence, unaware of where to report abuse, we want to empower teachers and learners alike to address this".