For children in the justice system, the concept of “home” can often feel like a distant memory or a fractured promise. At the Kisumu Children’s Remand Home, Okiri hosted a session where children worked in groups to design their ideal communities. Using their imagination and the materials available around them, these young people created models of the places they hope to live in one day.
This session focused on giving children a way to express their needs and their hopes for the future. By building these models together, they showed us what a supportive and safe environment looks like through their eyes.
Building Foundations of Safety and Trust
In their designs, the children emphasized the importance of protection. Their models featured homes where families can stay together. For children currently separated from their communities, this activity provided a space to think about belonging and safety.
By working in groups, the children practiced how to cooperate and solve problems together. This teamwork helps develop social skills that are essential for their well-being and their eventual return to their families.
The children’s models highlighted the basic needs that every community requires to thrive. Many groups included spaces for farming and recreational spaces. This focus on nutrition and mental health shows that children understand what is needed for a stable and resilient life.
The Impact of Listening to the Child’s Voice
Giving children the opportunity to design their own “ideal” world is an important part of respecting their rights. Their ideas provide a clear map of what is missing in their lives and what they value most: peace, stability, and opportunity.
When we listen to children in the justice system, we help them see themselves as active participants in their own futures. This session helped them move their focus toward what they can build and achieve. Their creativity shows that they have a strong desire to contribute positively to society.
A Commitment to Every Child’s Future
Okiri remains dedicated to ensuring that children in conflict with the law are not forgotten. We believe that every child deserves to live in a community that looks like the ones they designed, a place where they are safe, fed, and given the chance to learn.