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1st January 2021
Completed
31st December 2022
The Building a Future (BAF) project spanned twenty-one months and was implemented along the coast of Kenya by Kesho Kenya in partnership with Terre des Hommes Netherlands. Its primary objective was to combat child trafficking and child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Kilifi (Malindi, Watamu, and Mtwapa) and Kwale (Lunga Lunga and Msambweni) counties. The project focused on enhancing access to inclusive, quality education and sustainable livelihoods for child survivors and those vulnerable to sex trafficking. Prevention efforts were bolstered within communities and schools. Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons through the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS), the BAF project successfully protected 210 child sex trafficking victims, comprising 130 younger and 80 older survivors. Additionally, it prevented 1,800 children at risk of sex trafficking. The project facilitated the return and retention of 130 young sex trafficking survivors (aged 9-15) in school, while providing vocational skills training to 80 older survivors (aged 16-18) to enhance their employability and income prospects. Efforts to prevent sexual exploitation included empowering children through participation in child rights clubs (600 child participants) and engaging them in peer-to-peer activities (1,200 children). Moreover, community child protection committees were strengthened through dialogues and community engagements, reinforcing prevention structures within local communities.