Child Ambassadors
"Every time I heard the word ambassador, I thought it was for great men, politicians, and adults. After being trained, I realised even children can take up this responsibility. I cannot wait to learn more, especially on the issues affecting children—for example, bullying, defilement and early marriage— so that I can represent them better."
These words were from Gweth, an 11-year-old boy who lives in Kisumu, Kenya. He lives with his mother, a single parent, who has had significant long-term health challenges for some time. She is an active member of her local church, a place where she and Gweth receive pastoral support, and, despite her ill health, she also serves as a leader in the children's ministry: "We must do what we can for others." Gweth, as a member of the Child Ambassador programme overseen by Together for Children, Viva’s partner network in Kenya, is doing exactly that - helping others.
Update, October 2025: We heard the tragic news that Gweth’s mum passed away. We send our condolences to all those who mourn, and pray for comfort for Gweth as he adjusts to life without his mother - trusting that he remains aware of how proud she was of him.
Child rights and education
The Child Ambassador Programme teaches children about their rights, with the aim of encouraging them to share their knowledge with other children – and adults – in their community. Based on an idea from a partner network in Latin America, this programme that teaches children their rights and gives them opportunities to serve as peer leaders has been developed predominantly by CRANE, the Children at Risk Action Network, in Uganda, with various input from Viva staff, volunteers and other parties over the years. Child ambassadors were a core element of the successful UKAid-funded Girls’ Education Challenge that ran for eleven years, impacting over 10,000 girls in their education journey.
Photographs courtesy of CRANE, the Children at Risk Action Network, Uganda.
Gweth is multiplying impact
Due to funding that Viva sourced, CRANE in Uganda and two other partner networks in Africa, Together for Children in Kenya and Mwanza Children Action Network (MCAN) in Tanzania, have been jointly running a funded Child Ambassador programme. This is one way Viva supports its partner networks - by providing them access to successful resources from other partner networks and helping them use them in their local context.
Gweth was selected as one of only two children from his church to join the programme and is so enthusiastic about the new things he is learning. Gweth's mum mentioned that because people are seeing the impact he is already making, many more children would wish to join and also become child ambassadors like him.
Gweth says, "Now I feel proud. I was surprised when one of the parents also engaged me in a conversation on child rights. This is giving me a sense of responsibility and pride. I feel like an important person. Before, it was not easy to talk to older people freely, but now I see a possibility and a hope."
As Viva offers ongoing support to its partner networks, we look forward to hearing more stories about lives transformed, as more child ambassadors continue their journey of learning and impacting their communities.
Read more about how a Viva coach recently helped our partner network in Kenya, Together for Children, carry out a review, in which it was recognised that the network is creating a space not only for children like Gweth, but also for its member churches and organisations to grow and learn together. As they come together in not just this programme, but also in other initiatives, with Viva’s support, more children can have life in all its fullness.