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<strong>UNICEF</strong> <strong>Ireland</strong>’s Kieran<br />
reports back from Kenya<br />
Kibera in Kenya, the world’s largest urban slum, is home to<br />
over 1 million people. The area is surrounded by narrow dirt<br />
tracks and the stench of sewage is unbearable. From our<br />
car, the view out of our window is tiny shack after tiny shack<br />
with people crammed in. Some appear to be shops, some<br />
are packed just with children, some look like homes - but<br />
they all look grim.<br />
I travelled to Kenya with <strong>UNICEF</strong> supporters from Topaz to visit families who are<br />
benefiting from the <strong>UNICEF</strong> programmes there, and to see the impact of the aid, and<br />
funding from <strong>Ireland</strong> and to establish if it is working.<br />
Jackson is 17 years of age and lives with Damaris his 13 year old sister. Until recently<br />
Jackson also cared for his five-year-old brother but he sadly died of an AIDS related<br />
illness, following the death of their mother three years ago. We have waded through open<br />
sewers to find the place that Jackson calls ‘the place he belongs’.<br />
Jackson has never left Kibera. He has spent all his life in an urban slum. He goes to<br />
school in the slum, lives here, plays football here and cared for his siblings in this slum,<br />
although now that’s only Damaris. This is his life. He dreams to be a football player.<br />
<strong>UNICEF</strong> in conjunction with the Kenyan Government run a cash transfer. The concept is<br />
simple. Give people money. Families who are most in need are selected by the<br />
community to receive cash transfers. Community liaison officers are then appointed to<br />
administer the service and report how the funds are being spent or saved. It can be used<br />
to pay school-fees, provide welfare or generate income – whatever the family choose.<br />
Along with one-hundred-thousand other Kenyan families, Jackson receives a monthly<br />
allowance of 2,500 Kenyan shillings, €23. This pays the rent, brings in some food and<br />
pays for Damaris’s school fees, she wants to be a nurse. The programme aims to give<br />
families, such as Jackson and Damaris, more opportunities to break the poverty cycle<br />
through education and progress.<br />
As we were preparing to leave I asked Jackson how the cash transfer programme had<br />
improved his situation and he replied simply ‘I feel safe here now’. These words have<br />
stayed with me. If a small cash transfer can result in Jackson and Damaris feeling safe<br />
and having hopes and dreams - then it is working.<br />
<strong>UNICEF</strong> <strong>Ireland</strong> with the support of Topaz are providing funding to Kenya each<br />
year. For more about this programme or any other <strong>UNICEF</strong> development<br />
programme please visit www.unicef.ie or call 01 8783000.<br />
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