It’s sometimes said that the global economy is like an iceberg. Most visible is the formal economy but below the surface lies all the unspoken unformalised infrastructure which includes social care. And some of the most invisible carers of all are young people.
Because they care for other family members, young carers are often excluded from personal and social opportunities other young people might enjoy. They are often poverty-stricken, isolated and without appropriate policy support.
What’s in a name?
In Kenya, the term “young carers” itself is not well known; mostly they are referred to as orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), which makes it hard for people to understand who they are, their concerns and their needs. “Despite minimal recognition and the stigma attached to the loss of parents or guardians, young people have stood up as advocates for others who are unable to speak for themselves,” explains Hon. Elizabeth Ongoro, Assistant Minister for Nairobi.
In June/July 2009 Kenyan social workers active in the Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work(COSW), with funding from the Commonwealth
Foundation, held four workshops in and around
Nairobi. Over sixty under-21s from Kenya, Uganda
and Tanzania took part, with the aims of:
- Sharing experiences and good practice
- Establishing networks of support in Kenya and the region
- Drafting proposals for Ministers in the three countries.
This work built on a 2006 meeting organised by the UK government and in 2007 when two young Kenyan carers had met with Beverley Hughes, UK Minister for Children, Young People and Families.
To feel loved
“It feels good to belong to a group where you feel accepted and loved,” said one workshop participant. “Henceforth I will be able to speak out with courage because I know I am not alone.”
Kenya is still recovering from the turmoil of 2008, which has made the work of trying to raise awareness all the more difficult. Also, the violence that broke out gave rise to a number of new young carers.
Established in 1994, COSW is for citizens of the Commonwealth who are interested in supporting social work and social development. Its work includes human settlements, disaster response and promoting the code of ethics of the International Federation of Social Workers.