@ppcheti
Learners in Kakamega county have now been accorded a platform to voice issues affecting them in confidence through the use of talk boxes.
The talk box is a system where learners get to voice or report issues they feel are relevant, whether personal or educational, anonymously by simply writing them on pieces of paper and dropping them in a special box put in a secure location in their school compound or their classroom.
The system was introduced by the International Committee for Development of People-CISP.
The programme manager Esther Waduu said the objective is to impact and positively change the behaviour of learners by first seeking to understand what issues affect them mentally, physically or at any given level of their lives, whether personal or not.
She said the system equally gives education stakeholders a better understanding and interpretation of child rights and freedoms.
“It’s a safe space where the learners get to comfortably speak out about anything bothering them without fearing reprisal or victimisation as the messages are anonymous. We want them to know its okay to seek help this way if they fear going public," Waduu said.
Under the Talk-box plan, a committee consisting of a parent representative, a teacher, a child protection officer and a counsellor will open the boxes at the end of each month, go through the issues raised and refer to respective departments for action.
She however said learners are however encouraged to approach their teachers on issues that require urgent action as putting such in the boxes will take longer to access and address.
She noted many times, the rights of children in learning institutions are infringed but the learners are not equipped to know how they can go about reporting the same and end up suffering in silence.
She said the organisation also encourages the formation of helpful clubs by learners to enable them exchange ideas through peer talk-sessions.
“The essence is to build the confidence of these children to enable and encourage them to speak up whenever they feel their rights have been infringed,” Waduu said.
In 2019, CISP rolled out a programme on Safe Communities for safe children and adolescents in Kenya with a focus on behaviour change and adoption of best practices in child protection.
The major objectives of the organisation are prevention of child abuse, child participation and empowerment, response to cases and participatory research and advocacy.
“So far the feedback we are getting from schools under the programme is positive. We have been able to help learners in various ways, some on educational support while others have been helped to access alternative justice systems. We are making progress," Waduu said.
-Edited by SKanyara