Dear parent, When's the last time you really looked at your child? Not just glanced at them on your way out the door really looked. Here's the thing most people don't realize: kids in distress usually aren't hiding it well. We just don't always recognize what we're seeing. A quiet mood. Skipped meals. A door that stays closed more than it used to. It's easy to tell ourselves it's nothing. Last year alone, we trained over 300,000 parents and caregivers in skillful parenting which means more than 300,000 homes where a parent now knows how to build a safe, nurturing space for their kids. That's roughly 4 children per household. Think about that for a second the ripple effect on entire families. Want to start today? Three small things you can do every single day: 💛 Ask about their day and really listen put the phone down 💛 Spend 10 minutes with them, no distractions, just the two of you 💛 Tell them out loud that they can come to you with anything And the impact is real. We're talking about children who are happier. Hopeful. Confident enough to speak their minds without fear. Kids doing better in school simply because they finally feel safe enough to show up fully. We're proud of that. But we can't do it alone this only happens because of key collaborations with our partners, donors, community facilitators, and the families we work with. Join the movement, partner with us through donations / support a family today: icsafrica-sp.org/ #ChildProtection #ENDVAC #Skillfulparenting #onechildisonetoomany #Safespaces #Safechildren #ICSSP #collaborations

Gender equality doesn't start when we're adults. It starts in childhood. Kids learn what it means to be a girl or a boy at home, at school, and in their communities long before they grow up. The way we treat them, what we expect of them, and what we show them shapes how they see equality, respect, and their own worth. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP), we believe you can't fix gender inequality by only looking at the end result. You have to change the norms and relationships that cause it in the first place. Gender inequality limits opportunity. It fuels violence. It holds families and communities back. When girls and boys are both supported equally, families grow stronger and communities become safer. Here's how we work, at every stage of a child's life: 🏠 Parenting — We help parents build homes based on respect, safety, and equality, free from harmful gender stereotypes. 🛡️ Preventing violence — We work with communities to break the silence and stigma that let gender-based violence continue, and connect survivors to real support. 🌟 Supporting girls at risk — We provide education, mentorship, and skills training for girls facing child marriage, teen pregnancy, or child labour helping them build a future on their own terms. 🏫 Safe schools —We help schools become places where girls feel safe, supported, and able to succeed with mentorship, menstrual health support, and safety measures in place. In 2025, we equipped more than 328,000 parents and caregivers with the skills to build safer, more nurturing homes. This represents 328,000 conversations changed. 328,000 homes where girls and boys can grow up without limits. The real question isn't whether we can afford to invest in gender equality. It's what our future looks like if we don't. 👉 Want to help build that future? Donate / Partner with us / Learn more on the link: icsafrica-sp.org/make-a-dona… #BuildingStrongerFamilies #GenderEquality #GenderTransformative #Parenting #GirlsEmpowerment #ChildProtection #SafeSchools #EveryChildThrives

Breastfeeding is one of the best starts a baby can have. But for many mothers, it's not always easy. Poverty, limited access to healthcare, misinformation, unsupportive workplaces, and a lack of community support can make breastfeeding a challenge. This #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2026, we're reminded that breastfeeding isn't a mother's responsibility alone. It takes systems that support her every step of the way. The need for these systems is clear. In Kenya, nearly one in two children (47.7%) grow up facing multidimensional poverty, limiting their health, learning, protection, and well-being from the earliest years. Strengthening support for mothers is one of the ways we can help children get the healthy start they deserve. What kind of support makes a difference? 🤱 Quality maternal and child healthcare before and after birth. 👨‍👩‍👧 Family and community support that encourages and empowers mothers. 💼 Breastfeeding-friendly workplaces with policies that make it possible for mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. 🥗 Nutrition education and parenting support that equips families to give children the healthiest start in life. When we strengthen these systems, we strengthen families, communities, and futures. Partner with US to help build stronger systems that allow every mother and every child to thrive. 💛 #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #WBW2026 #StrengthenWhatWorks #MaternalAndChildHealth

Did you know that 1 in 5 young children in Kenya is not reaching their full developmental potential, while 47.7% of children grow up facing multidimensional poverty? This World Breastfeeding Week, we're reminded that breastfeeding is not just about feeding a baby; it's about the systems that support every mother to give her child the healthiest possible start. From pregnancy and childbirth to breastfeeding and introducing nutritious complementary foods, every step is stronger when mothers have access to the right information, quality healthcare, family support, and enabling communities. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP), we strengthen these systems by equipping parents and caregivers with the skills to create safe, nurturing homes where children can thrive. In 2025, our Skilful Parenting Programme reached more than 328,000 parents and caregivers, strengthening the first circle of protection around children and promoting healthier family environments. But the work is not done. Together, we can build stronger systems for maternal and child health. Partner with Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP) to invest in solutions that help every mother and every child thrive. 💛 #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #WBW2026 #StrengthenWhatWorks #MaternalAndChildHealth

What if every mother had the support she needed to give her child the healthiest possible start? That's the question at the heart of World Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding is more than nutrition it's part of a broader journey of maternal and child health. When mothers receive the support they need during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early years of a child's life, families thrive. We help break cycles of malnutrition and poverty while laying the foundation for healthier, more resilient communities. The encouraging news? Support makes a difference. Over the past decade, global exclusive breastfeeding rates have risen from about 37% to more than 47%. It's a powerful reminder that when mothers have access to the right care, accurate information, and supportive environments, more children get the healthiest possible start. At ICS SP, we know that every stage matters. That's why we work alongside families to promote good maternal nutrition, early and exclusive breastfeeding, and timely, nutritious complementary feeding giving children the opportunity to survive, grow, and thrive. This World Breastfeeding Week, let's continue to strengthen the support systems that empower mothers because every mother deserves support, and every child deserves the best possible start. 💛 #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #WBW2026 #MaternalAndChildHealth #StrengthenWhatWorks #EarlyChildhood #Nutrition #BreastfeedingSupport

Behind every statistic is a story of resilience, hope, and possibility. Every adolescent parent deserves the opportunity to build a brighter future. Every child deserves the best possible start in life. Through the Kuimarisha Project, Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS-SP), in partnership with the Kakamega County Government and other stakeholders, is strengthening government systems, equipping frontline workers, and empowering adolescent parents with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to provide nurturing care. This video shares the voices behind the impact young parents, frontline workers, and communities working together to break intergenerational cycles of vulnerability and create lasting change. Because investing in the right parenting support is an investment in stronger families, healthier children, and more resilient communities. ▶️ Watch their stories. Share their journey. Join us in creating a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive. #Kuimarisha #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #NurturingCare #ResponsiveParenting #AdolescentParents #ChildDevelopment #SystemsStrengthening #PartnershipForImpact #EveryChildThrives

A child's future is shaped today not in the fields, but in the classroom. On the Day of the African Child, we stand with the children of Yapokoi "Alepé" and communities across Côte d'Ivoire to reaffirm a simple truth: every child deserves a safe childhood, quality education, clean water, and the opportunity to dream beyond the boundaries of hazardous labour. In many cocoa-growing communities, poverty continues to rob children of their right to learn. But change is possible. Through the collective efforts of parents, cooperatives, community leaders, government, and partners such as Tony's Chocolonely, we are helping break the cycle and creating brighter futures for children. Because we know that: • Every child belongs in school, not on a farm. • Every parent equipped with positive, skillful parenting is better able to protect and nurture their child. • Every community that stands together safeguards its future. This Day of the African Child, let's recommit to investing in children, protecting their rights, and ensuring every child has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. #DayOfTheAfricanChild #EndChildLabour #ChildProtection #EducationForAll #CotedIvoire #EveryChildCounts

What if we stopped seeing child labour as someone else's problem? Today began with the activation of 'Anyango' the Child Domestic Work Monument in Kisumu. A powerful reminder of the thousands of children whose lives and dreams remain hidden behind closed doors. The conversations around the monument continued into the World Day Against Child Labour commemoration, where ICS-SP joined the County Government of Kisumu, the International Labour Organization (ILO), COTU, civil society organizations, and other partners under the theme: Fair play for children. Decent work for adults. Across every speech, one message stood out: Every child deserves to be a child. Ending child labour isn't simply about reducing numbers. It's about tackling the poverty, inequality, and vulnerabilities that push children into work while ensuring adults have access to decent work and sustainable livelihoods. Because when adults have decent work, children have a better chance at the childhood they deserve. 👁️ #ISeeYou because every child deserves to be seen, heard, protected, and given the opportunity to learn, play, dream, and thrive. Learn more about the Not Invisible Anymore movement and how you can help end child domestic work: freedomfund.org/not-invisibl… #WorldDayAgainstChildLabour #FairPlayForChildren #DecentWorkForAdults #NotInvisibleAnymore #ISeeYou #Anyango #EndChildDomesticWork #ProtectEveryChild @Freedom_Fund @BusaraCenter @childlinekenya @ILO_Childlabour @The_DSD

Meet Anyango. She is not a real child, but she represents the lives of approximately 350,000 children in Kenya engaged in child domestic work children whose dreams are too often replaced by long hours of labour, whose voices go unheard, and whose childhoods are taken away behind closed doors. Today, Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS-SP), through the Not Invisible Anymore (NIA) Programme, activated the Anyango Child Domestic Work Monument at Kisumu Stage. More than a work of art, Anyango is a powerful reminder that child domestic work is happening in our communities. She stands for every child who deserves the chance to learn, play, dream, and grow up in a safe and loving environment. The activation brought together members of the public to reflect, share their perspectives, and engage in conversations about ending child domestic work. Every discussion, every shared story, and every commitment to speak up brings us one step closer to a future where no child is hidden behind exploitation. Child domestic work should never be invisible. Together, we can protect children by recognizing the signs, speaking out, and taking action. 📞 If you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or exploitation, call the Child Helpline on 116. One call could change a child's life. 💙 Let's make the invisible visible. Let's protect every child. @Freedom_Fund @moureen1990 @UNICEF #Anyango #NotInvisibleAnymore #EndChildDomesticWork #ProtectEveryChild #ChildProtection #Kisumu #EveryChildMatters

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. This proverb reminds us that sustainable change is built through partnership, shared purpose, and collective action. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP) (Investing in Children and their Societies), we believe that meaningful and lasting change for children is only possible through collaboration. When government, communities, development partners, and civil society work together, we create stronger systems that protect every child's right to thrive. This commitment was evident during the stakeholder inception meeting for the MAMEB Project Mobilizing Action for Meaningful, Empowered Beginnings for Children. Facilitated by our team, Moureen Ochieng (M.Sc.) Naomi Wamaitha Njoroge and Celestine Atieno officially introduced the three-year initiative at the meeting, under the theme: "Building Safer Futures for Children Through Protection, Participation, and Strong Systems." The project will be implemented across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Turkana Counties. We were privileged to host representatives from the State Department for Children Services William Omondi Ochieng, Mary Awour, and Martha Njuguna alongside government agencies, development partners, and county stakeholders. Together, we explored collaborative, evidence-driven approaches to strengthening child protection systems, including enhancing the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) and methods to improve coordination, data use, and timely response for children. The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to building stronger, more responsive child protection systems. Because when we work together, we create safer environments where every child is protected, heard, empowered, and allowed to reach their full potential. Moving together is how we build safer futures for every child. #ICSSP #MAMEB #ChildProtection #SystemsStrengthening #Collaboration #Partnerships #EveryChildMatters

How do we build communities where every person feels safe, heard, and protected? It begins with a commitment to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse before it occurs. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is about creating environments where dignity is upheld, power is never misused, and every individual especially children and vulnerable populations, is protected from harm. It is a shared responsibility that calls on organizations, institutions, and individuals to promote accountability, speak up, and act with integrity. This shared commitment brought together UN agencies and partner organizations, including ICS SP, for the 1st Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Network Meeting for 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration, review collective priorities for the year ahead, reflect on lessons from 2025, and reaffirm our commitment to coordinated action that puts safeguarding at the centre of our work. Protecting people is not the responsibility of one organization alone it is a collective promise we make to every child, every family, and every community we serve. Let us all be #PSEA Champions. Learn what Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse means, speak up against misconduct, and help create safe, respectful spaces where everyone can live, learn, and thrive. #PreventionOfSexualExploitationAndAbuse #PSEA #Safeguarding #ChildProtection #Accountability #ICSSP #ProtectingCommunities

❌ Myth: "Good parents never make mistakes." ✅ Truth: Good parenting isn't about being perfect; it's about being present, learning, and growing alongside your child. Every parent has moments they wish they had handled differently. What matters most is how you respond afterwards. Saying, "I'm sorry," listening to your child, and choosing a better approach next time teaches accountability, empathy, and resilience. Remember, your child doesn't need a perfect parent. They need a loving, responsive, and willing-to-learn caregiver. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP), we believe that parenting is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. Through evidence-based parenting programmes, caregiver support, and partnerships with communities and governments, we equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to create safe, nurturing environments where every child can thrive and reach their full developmental potential. 💬 Let's learn together: What's one parenting myth you once believed but have since let go? Share your experience in the comments you might encourage another parent or caregiver on their journey. Together, we can build a community that supports positive parenting and helps every child thrive. #MondayParentingMyth #PositiveParenting #ParentingSkills #ChildDevelopment #MaleziMema #InvestingInChildren #EveryChildThrives

💭 Thoughtful Thursday | Protecting Childhood Starts with Strengthening Families. What if one of the most effective child protection interventions isn't only about protecting children but about strengthening the economic resilience of their families? Poverty is more than a lack of income. It can increase stress, deepen inequality, and reduce a family's ability to provide the care, protection, and opportunities every child deserves. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP) Tanzania, we believe that strengthening household economic resilience is one of the most powerful ways to protect children and build stronger communities. We do this by: 🔹 Strengthening Village Savings and Loans (VSLs) so women and vulnerable families can save, access credit, invest in livelihoods, and withstand financial shocks. 🔹 Empowering adolescent girls and young women (15–24) with financial literacy, employability and entrepreneurship skills, mentorship, and business start-up support alongside access to essential services that help them build safe, independent, and sustainable futures. 🔹 Connecting families to social protection systems, including child grants, education bursaries, disability funds, health insurance, and other essential services, while working with partners to strengthen the systems that ensure support reaches those who need it most. In 2025, 1,000+ households have been empowered to move beyond short-term assistance toward lasting economic resilience creating safer, more nurturing environments where children can grow, learn, and reach their full potential. When families thrive, children flourish. 💬 What role do you think economic empowerment plays in protecting children and breaking the cycle of poverty? Share your thoughts below. 🤝 If you believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe and nurturing family, follow our work, share this message, or partner with us to expand sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable families across Tanzania. #ThoughtfulThursday #EconomicResilience #ChildProtection #WomenEmpowerment #SocialProtection #VillageSavings #Livelihoods #Tanzania #ICS #FamiliesThriveChildrenFlourish @GPI_Parenting @PAN_Tanzania @WomenFund_TZ

What happens when the whispers we ignore become the crisis we can no longer avoid? Across our schools, too many children and young people face challenges that remain hidden behind silence, fear, stigma, and inaction. The conversations we avoid today often become the crises we confront tomorrow. Join us for a timely virtual conversation on: 📢 The Whispers We Ignore: The Crisis in Our School 🗓️ 18th June 2026 ⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EAT 💻 Virtual (Google Meet) Our Executive Director, Beatrice Nyakwaka Ogutu , will be among the panelists sharing insights on creating safer, more inclusive, and responsive learning environments for children and young people. Together with fellow speakers, the discussion will explore the realities facing learners, the importance of speaking out, and the collective responsibility of schools, families, communities, and policymakers in safeguarding children. 🔗 Ready to join the conversation? Simply scan the QR code on the poster to register to join. Let's listen, learn, and act for safer learning environments. #TheWhispersWeIgnore #GPENDE #SafeSchools #ChildProtection #EducationForAll #SpeakOut #EndViolenceAgainstChildren

Is there is a child working in your home cooking, cleaning, fetching water, caring for your children? Many households in Kenya employ young domestic workers without fully realising what that choice costs a child. But this Friday, 12 June, is the World Day Against Child Labour and it is a moment to pause and ask an honest question: How old is the person working in your home? In Kenya, 300,000 children are working instead of learning. A significant number of them are behind the closed doors of private homes doing work that keeps them out of classrooms, away from childhoods they will never get back. "Child domestic work is not just a poverty issue. It is a child protection and human rights crisis one we can end, together." This year's theme says it clearly: "Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults." Fair play means adults doing adult work with fair wages, dignity, and contracts. It means children going to school, not replacing adult labour because it is cheaper or more convenient. You have the power to be part of the solution: ✅ Employ adults and pay them a fair, living wage ✅ If a child is already in your home, support them back into school ✅ If you know of a child at risk, call our toll-free line: 0800 721 402 ✅ If you lead a business or corporate partner with us to make workplaces and supply chains child-labour free Change does not always start with governments or policies. Sometimes it starts with a decision made inside a home or a boardroom. This Friday, show the red card. 🟥 ICS-SP — Investing in Children and their Societies since 1994. 🔗 icsafrica-sp.org #WorldDayAgainstChildLabour #RedCardToChildLabour #NotInvisibleAnymore #ICSSP #EndChildLabour #ChildDomesticWork #FairPlay #Kenya

There was a time when play was simply part of growing up. Children climbed trees, invented games in dusty courtyards, told stories under moonlight, and made sense of the world through imagination. Communities intuitively understood that a child at play was thriving. Then the world changed. Urbanization. Conflict. Poverty. Pressure to grow up faster. The spaces for play quietly shrank and with them, a piece of childhood itself. "Play is a sign that children feel safe and nurtured and loved. They feel somewhat that they can be children even in the midst of great difficulty." — Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director The world observes the International Day of Play, first marked on 11 June 2024 as a significant milestone in global efforts to preserve, promote, and prioritize play for all people, especially children. Because play is far more than recreation. It is a universal language, spoken across every culture, every border, every socioeconomic divide. And for children in particular, it is essential: 🧠 It builds cognitive, creative, and problem-solving skills 💛 It fosters resilience and emotional regulation 🤝 It strengthens relationships and social bonds 🌱 It helps children overcome trauma and reclaim joy 📚 In the classroom, play-based learning makes knowledge stick Restricting play is not a neutral act it directly impedes a child's well-being and development. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP), our Early Childhood Development work is built on the conviction that play is not a reward. It is a right. We work with parents, caregivers, schools, and communities to integrate play into everyday life because children who are given the freedom to play grow into resilient, creative, and capable adults. This Friday, we invite you to celebrate with us. Let a child play without a schedule. Share this post. And stand with every child's right to be a child. 🌍 ICS-SP Investing in Children and their Societies since 1994. 🔗 lnkd.in/d7HpQHFe #InternationalDayOfPlay #EveryChildDeservesToPlay #ICSSP #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #PlayBasedLearning #ChildRights #LetChildrenPla

Five years ago, we started with community parenting sessions. Today, we've helped rewrite what family life looks like for thousands of Tanzanians. When a parent is equipped, supported, and treated as a partner in their child's development, everything changes. Children grow up safer. Fathers show up differently. Communities begin to protect their own. Over the past five years, ICS SP Tanzania has reached some of the country's most vulnerable communities not just with programmes, but with a conviction that lasting change begins at home. 📊 43,000+ parents & caregivers reached 📊 11,685 fathers engaged 📊 10 regions under government-led delivery What makes this different? This isn't just programme delivery. It's national architecture embedded into Tanzania's own government systems, validated through the National Parenting Package, and built to outlast any single intervention. We integrated livelihoods support, mental health awareness, and financial literacy alongside parenting because a family cannot thrive on good intentions alone. 74,376+ people reached in 2024 alone. And this is only the beginning.🌍 We'd love to hear from partners, governments, and changemakers who believe in the power of family-centred development. Let's connect. #FamilyStrengthening #ChildProtection #GenderTransformative #Tanzania #SocialDevelopment #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment

It is often said, If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP), this is more than a quote it’s the foundation of everything we do. We believe that no child thrives in isolation. That is why our work is built on Childcare Systems Strengthening- lasting, collaborative change. We invest in the people who care for children every day: teachers, health workers, social workers, parents, and community leaders. We train them. We equip them. We walk alongside them. We also recognize that strong families need strong systems. That is why we work hand-in-hand with governments, like our recent visit with the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in Kisumu and Busia to ensure that quality childcare, early learning, health, nutrition, and child protection are not separate efforts, but one seamless, integrated service. Together, we are: ✅ Building the capacity of caregivers and educators ✅ Advocating for policies that support parents and protect children ✅ Strengthening community-based care that is accessible, culturally rooted, and fair ✅ Pushing for recognition, fair wages, and investment in care work Every day we continue to witness what happens when partners co-create instead of compete. When we all sit at the same table for the same child. Because a child’s future is not built by one hand. It is built by many. 🗣️“Elimu ni sasa, kwa kila mtoto Education now, for every child. We cannot do this alone. If you are a partner, a policymaker, a parent, or an organization that believes in the power of collaboration – let's walk this journey together. 👉 Reach out to us. Let's talk about how we can co-create solutions that strengthen systems, empower families, and give every child a fair chance. ✅ Follow our page to stay updated on our work. ✅ Share this post if you believe in going far together. #PartnershipsForImpact #ElimuNiSasa #Cocreation #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #SystemsStrengthening #ICS_SP

Have you ever witnessed something that didn't feel right in your community but didn't know who to call or where to Report? At Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP), we pride ourselves in creating safe spaces for children and communities and this past Friday, we took time to renew that commitment through a PSEA refresher session. #PSEA stands for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. These sessions help us stay alert, keep our values front and centre, and make sure every person we work with is treated with respect and dignity. You can call us if you have seen, heard, or experienced any of the following: — Someone being hurt, threatened, or taken advantage of — Inappropriate behaviour by a staff member or volunteer — A child being mistreated in any way And here is what we want you to know: ✔ The call is completely free ✔ What you share stays private your name is never revealed ✔ You will not get into trouble for speaking up No concern is too small. If something does not feel right, trust that feeling and reach out. 📞 +254 800 721 402 #Safeguarding #PSEA #ChildProtection #Communities #ICSSP