Missing in Africa
Description
In this episode, Maryana and Damon shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked crisis of missing children in Uganda and Kenya. They delve into the complex realities behind the disappearances, exploring factors such as human trafficking, poverty, weak law enforcement response, and systemic corruption. With a blend of local insights, and advocacy perspectives, Maryana and Damon uncover the scale of the issue and the devastating impact it has on families and communities. They also highlight the critical need for awareness, accountability, and increased grassroots efforts to protect vulnerable children.
Guests
Maryana Munyendo is the Founder and CEO of Missing Child Kenya, a nonprofit community led initiative that uses technology and crowd sourcing for the search, trace and reunification of missing, displaced, lost & found children. Her organization operates the only toll free help line in Kenya 0800 22 33 44 dedicated to respond to the emergency needs of missing children but also provide links to support services at no cost to the affected families.
As Kenya’s first champion for missing children’s rights, she continues to work hard so as to create national and international partnerships the issue of missing children to amend laws, enhance data sharing, and timely reporting of the missing.
Maryana’s vision is to co-create a model framework of operations for missing children in Kenya to create a community of practice for Africa.
Damon is currently serving as the Executive Director of Uganda Child Rights NGO Network. UCRNN works with over 200 Child rights Organisations that work with over 13 million Children in Uganda and beyond.
Prior to this served as the Country Director for Dwelling Places, a Non-Governmental Organization that works in Uganda with street connected children and children from high-risk families.
Damon sits on the National Taskforce on Prevention of Trafficking in Persons and the Inter Ministerial Child Wellbeing Committee where Damon represented the voices of the children and Civil Society. He also serves as Vice Chairperson of the Uganda Collation Against Trafficking In persons (UCATIP), a collation of more than 30 Civil Society Organisations working around preventing and curbing human trafficking.
Damon also serves on various boards in different capacities. He is also the Chairperson of the Board of Directors ofthe CSO FORUM to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and welfare of Children, a member of the CSO National Reference group on the UN Spotlight Initiative, Executive member of the advisory board to Baylor college Kampala, Executive member of African partnership to end Violence against Children and a member of the Global CSO Forum on Ending Violence Against Children.
He is also the recipient of the US Department of Labour 2020 Iqbal-Masih-award on elimination of worst Forms of Child Labour and a nominee for the 2020 European Union Human Rights Award.