CARA Projects

Cara Projects (CARA) is an Irish founded internationally registered Non-Governmental Organisation that works in Kenya with a targeted focus upon Child Protection, through the operation of the Cara Girls Rescue Centre (CGRC) and through the promotion of Healthcare, Education, Gender Equality, Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Development. We are a non-denominational and non-political organisation. CARA is a registered charity in both Ireland (CHY18652) and Kenya ... The main aim of the organization is to provide support to disadvantaged mothers and children and enable them to contribute to the development of their own communities and to the country as a whole.

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At our rescue centre, we are committed to protecting and improving the lives of vulnerable children across Kenya. In July 2022, a major milestone was achieved with the introduction of the Children Act 2022, a progressive law that strengthens the rights, protection, and overall welfare of every child in the country.This law replaced the earlier Children Act of 2001 and aligns Kenya’s child protection system with the Constitution and international standards on children’s rights.

What the Children Act 2022 Means

The Children Act 2022 ensures that:

Every child (below 18 years) is fully protected under the law.
The best interests of the child are the top priority in all decisions.
Children are safeguarded from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harmful practices.
All children have access to basic needs such as education, healthcare, and safe shelter.

This law provides a stronger and more modern framework to respond to challenges affecting children today, including violence, trafficking, and online abuse.

Our Role as a Rescue Centre

Under the Children Act 2022, rescue centres like ours could play a critical role in child protection by:

Providing safe, temporary shelter for children in danger.
Offering immediate care and protection for abused, abandoned, or neglected children.
Working closely with children officers, courts, and law enforcement.
Supporting children through counselling, healthcare, and education services.

We hope to act as a place of safety—ensuring that every child who comes through our doors is protected, valued, and given hope.

A Shift Towards Family-Based Care

One of the key changes brought by the Children Act 2022 is a move away from long-term institutional care:

Reuniting children with their families where safe.
Placing children in foster care, kinship care, or adoption.
Supporting stable, family-based environments for long-term care.

At our centre, our goal is to work within the confines of this Children's act and to get the necessary registrations outlined in the act - not just to care for children but to help them return to a loving and secure family setting.

Meeting National Standards

As required by the Children Act 2022, our rescue centre should operate under strict standards to ensure the highest level of care:

Fully registered and regulated by the relevant authorities.
Providing safe, clean, and child-friendly facilities.
Employing trained and vetted staff.
Maintaining strong child protection and safeguarding policies.
Supporting every child’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

We are committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Our Commitment

We embrace the Children Act 2022 as a powerful tool that reinforces our mission:

To protect, to nurture, to empower - every child deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive - and we would be proud to play our part in making that a reality.

Let's hope we can achieve what is required, but in the interim, our annual volunteer programs will be structured to include working with families in the local community and to provide additional supports to them.

Empowering Lives Through Compassionate Action

We are an Irish NGO dedicated to transforming lives in Kenya, focusing on the welfare of girls through our rescue center and community outreach programs. Join us in making a difference.

CARA believes that as an NGO working for vulnerable children’s rights, we have an absolute duty to protect this already vulnerable group from abuse, mistreatment, and exploitation from within organizations intended for their benefit.

Our mission is to actively involve people in learning about and then tackling social, political, environmental and economic challenges through an educational process in local and global communities.