This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
No time for play: The plight of young carers ¶
On December 6, 2020, an event was held in Nairobi to discuss the plight of children who have to take up home-making roles very early in their lives. The event, which was held at the grounds of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Bahati, Nairobi County, brought together young carers from Kenya and East Africa.
Among the attendees was Ben, an 11-year-old boy who has been taking care of his younger brothers since his mother started working. Ben's responsibilities include doing house chores and taking care of his brothers, who are in Grade Four and Grade One. He is currently a Class Seven pupil at a public school in Dandora, Nairobi County.
Esther Minoo, another young carer, started taking care of her grandmother at a very young age and was forced to drop out of school after Class Eight. She later had a child who is currently four years old and is now the sole provider for her child and her grandmother.
Clint Mbuthia, a young carer who was forced to become a breadwinner for his family following the retrenchment of his father, shared his story at the event. Mr. Mbuthia's father was fired when he was in Standard Six and later turned to alcohol. His mother, who was pregnant and ailing, could not care adequately for her children.
Article 53 of the Constitution provides that all children need to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhumane treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour. However, the laws protecting children are quite limited, and it may be difficult to distinguish between what families consider to be obligatory help and what the law considers exploitative labour.
According to social workers, emotional neglect is the worst challenge for young carers. They cannot access counselling and stress management help either because they do not identify themselves as young carers, they have no time to access help, or they do not know how to access the services.
David Jones, the chair of the British Association of Social Workers, expressed hope that when the Commonwealth heads of state meet in Kigali next year, the plight of young carers will be part of the agenda. He emphasized the importance of recognizing young carers, understanding them, and offering support.
