Building safe families in Embu

observatorioumofc
1 day ago
4 min read

By Elisabeth Ngami - Kenya

Community Manager and Ambassador of WWO

On 23rd October 2025, the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Embu was filled with songs of joy, color, and celebration as 268 parents graduated after completing a 14-week journey under the project titled “Strengthening Families through a Positive Parenting Approach to Prevent Violence Against Children and Women in Embu County”.

The celebration was presided over by Rt. Rev. Peter Kimani, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Embu, and attended by Rev. Fr. Amedeus Mugendi (Pastoral Coordinator), Rev. Fr. Emilio Mbogo (Catholic Women Association Chaplain), Sr. Catherine Muli (CWA Coordinator), Ms. Monica Wambui (CWA Chairperson), and Ms. Elizabeth Ngami, Program Officer from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – National Family Life Office (NFLO). Also present were representatives from the Lumos Foundation.

The 14-week programme was implemented across 11 parishes within the Diocese of Embu, as well as at Salvation Army Mwea, with overall support from the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) – World Women Observatory (WWO) through The Hilton Foundation. The project was implemented with support from the Lumos Foundation.

Building Loving, Safe, and Thriving Families

The KCCB National Family Life Office (NFLO) participated in the development and implementation of the National Positive Parenting Programme (NPPP), spearheaded by the Directorate for Social Development, UNICEF, and other key partners.

As part of its mandate, the KCCB National Family Life Office continues to implement this programme as a commitment to strengthening and sustaining the family as the fundamental unit of society. This aligns with the Charter of the Rights of the Family (Article 5), which affirms parents’ primary and inalienable right and duty to educate and nurture their children in accordance with moral and religious values.

The National Positive Parenting Programme envisions loving, safe, and thriving families where children are nurtured to realize their full potential. It promotes core positive parenting behaviors that build strong emotional bonds, encourage mutual respect, and support holistic well-being within families. Throughout the 14 weeks, parents engaged in 14 interactive and experiential sessions, covering:

Introduction to Positive Parenting Programme
Family Relationships
The Role of a Parent or Caregiver in Child Development
Strong and Secure Attachments
Caring for Yourself and Caring for Others
Positive Communication
Positive Play and Preparing to Learn
Values and Positive Discipline
Positive Male Involvement in Parenting
Creating Peaceful Homes Together
Keeping Children and Families Safe
Positive and Protective Communities
Positive Family Health and Nutrition
Family Financial Planning
Graduation

Each session built upon the last, equipping parents with practical skills to foster peace, understanding, and love within their homes, a critical step in addressing violence against children and women.

Transformation Through Testimony

The graduation ceremony was not only a celebration but a showcase of powerful stories of change, evidence that positive parenting is transforming lives and families in the Catholic Diocese of Embu.

One male participant shared:

“Through the National Positive Parenting Programme, I have learned that in solving conflict, the man does not always have to dominate. It should be a dialogue that calls for management of emotions”.

Another man, a businessman, testified:

“Before, I used to make all financial decisions alone. Now, I can sit down with my wife and we plan together, what to spend and even what to save for the future”.

A mother expressed deep gratitude for the transformation in her home:

“My husband never used to support the family. He would spend all his money on alcohol. Now he pays the children’s school fees and asks that we plan for our family finances together”.

And a single mother shared her journey of empowerment:

“I used to feel isolated and inadequate in raising my children responsibly. Having gone through the programme, I feel empowered to carry out the role with confidence. When my children come to me, I listen and can have dialogue with them and guide them. Having learned about safeguarding of children, I no longer dismiss them.”

A Bishop’s Call to Renewal and Light

During the Holy Mass that opened the celebration, drawn from the day’s Gospel (Luke 12), Bishop Peter Kimani delivered a stirring message to the parents.

He challenged them to “add flavor” to their parenting roles. “Just like Jesus cast fire upon the earth, go and be the light, let it shine upon the lives of your children,” he said. “Share yourselves with your spouses and children. Go and empower your children to become better people".

Bishop Kimani called it a new baptism of renewal, a call to burn away evil through the teachings acquired from the programme.

“Like fire purifies gold, let this formation help you do away with bad characters and model values with love and patience,” he urged. “You parents who have gone through this programme are different from others in the community who have not learned. Let your light shine!”

He encouraged parents to look up to Mother Mary for strength and inspiration. “Ask for her intercession, for she too faced challenges in raising Jesus Christ. May you be strengthened. May God bless you.”

Lighting the Path Forward

The day concluded with singing, cake cutting and sharing of a meal. Parents received their certificates with joy, carrying not just the lessons of the past 14 weeks, but a renewed commitment to nurture their families in love, faith, and unity.

From 22 trained facilitators to 268 empowered parents across 11 parishes and Salvation Army Mwea, this project stands as a testament to how faith, family, and community partnerships can work together to prevent violence and promote family well-being.

As one participant aptly summed it up: