ChildFund Kenya working in partnership with various county governments has established Child Friendly Spaces in selected health facilities in Nairobi, Kajiado, Kitui and Machakos counties. The primary objective of the child friendly spaces is to provide children safe and friendly environments within which they can enjoy play, socialize, learn, and express themselves within the health facilities.

ChildFund is committed to supporting the resilience and well‐being of children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. These Child Friendly Spaces equipped with books, toys, a TV set as well as served by seasoned child development specialists will act as a first response to children’s needs and an entry point for working with children within the facilities. The space will also respond to children’s rights to protection, which entails psychosocial well‐being while also caring and protecting children’s mental health especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. ChildFund aims to reach over 100,000 children in the four counties with mental, social, and clinical support within the safe spaces. ChildFund has also been supporting awareness creation efforts on child protection and child mental health issues through messages aired on different media platforms and outlets across the country.

Speaking during the handover of the just-completed Child Friendly Space to the management of Ngaira Dispensary in Nairobi County, ChildFund Country Director Chege Ngugi stated that the organization is keen in ensuring that children grow as active contributors of development in their own communities.

‘‘Child Friendly Spaces are places that can help reduce a range of distressing effects of a crisis such as COVID-19 on children. They also reaffirm the concept that children are capable of positive self-direction and can help children establish a sense of security and build self-esteem. ‘’ said Ngugi of the KES. 2.5 million project. He further added that partnerships like the one with the county governments help reach more vulnerable children with essential services. “We hope that the Child Friendly Spaces will help create or continue familiar and routine activities that will facilitate a supporting environment for children to apply their naturally occurring capacities to be resilient. They will also help children continue some of the basic learning tasks of childhood and learn additional positive coping strategies through socializing activities with psychotherapists and other children.’’

In addition to national and county governments, ChildFund continues to work closely with twelve local implementing partners: Nawiri Children’s Program, Samburu Children’s Program, Childrise Development Program, Pioneer Child Development Program, Ewang’an Child Development Program, Eastern Community Development Program, Lake Region Development Program, Mt. Kilimanjaro Child Development Program, Frontiers Children Development Organization, Emali Dedicated Children’s Agency, Kisumu Development Program and Central Rift Community Development Program.