Cyberstreet
Contributions of Civil Society Organisations to the Well-Being of Families
Development Education Services for Community Empowerment (DESECE)
Adress:
P.O. BOX 29 - 50207, MISIKHU, KENYA, East Africa
Contact person:
Sophie E. Kibuywa
Contact e-mail:
desece2006@africaonline.co.ke
Telephone:
+254 733 401231 or +254 722 420723
Homepage:
www.deseceorganization.org
Content:
DESECE ORGANIZATION
The Government of Kenya 2010 constitution in Article 45 describes a family as the natural and fundamental unit of the society and necessary basis of social order. The state has the obligation to recognize and protect it. Therefore, DESECE as NGO has to follow and adhere to the constitution.
In the spirit of the constitution DESECE undertakes activities on a daily basis aiming at social order in the community. We target families in our daily work as our immediate beneficiaries. This is so because DESECE conducted baseline survey and found out that development begins with individual member in the family. What that person contributes will either bring or hinder development.
Field officers conduct family visitations to identify the felt needs in order to provide necessary services. Some of these needs include but not limited to, family farm planning, family budget, and food security options which require participation and contribution of each family member for sustainability.
DESECE conducts gender, HIV and Aids and development trainings to create awareness on how the gender roles are related to HIV and Aids and development. These way family members take initiatives that will help family resources to be utilized amicably. These include family labour.
Another area of intervention is on the human rights. There are violations in the family which are not reported and leave the victims affected for years. Therefore, awareness creation on human rights violations in the community awakens family members to respect and protect the rights of each member in that family. This is done through open forums, in chiefs’ Barazas, schools, churches etc. After realizing the existing gaps the community members break their silence and report these cases to DESECE organisation office initial was at Misikhu but now in Mukuyuni. The Human rights officer offers to them counseling which leads to reconciliation. This is only where domestic violence has occurred. On children’s rights we create awareness on parental responsibilities whereby, the two parents have equal responsibilities towards upkeep of their children.
Property ownership is another area where patriarchal families intend to sideline certain gender in accessing and controlling of the family property. Chapter five of the constitution calls for equitable, efficient and sustainable use of land. Awareness creation on land and property ownership helps families to use and manage their family property without discrimination.
The organization collaborates with other relevant stakeholders in this area of work, which are other civil societies and governmental departments.
In order to meet sustainable development family unit must be protected and individual rights in the family promoted.
Compiled by
Mengo Kay
Programme Officer
DESECE ORG.
Email: desece2006@africaonline.co.ke or mengokay@gmail.com