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The Women Who Hold the Line: Foster Caregivers Rebuilding Protection
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The Women Who Hold the Line: Foster Caregivers Rebuilding Protection

FADOA Programs TeamMay 23, 20245 min readResearch & Insights

Why This Matters for Donors

School continuity often depends on small, time-sensitive costs and trusted adult follow-up. When caregivers lack support, children miss classes and face higher protection risks. Donor funding helps remove these barriers before they become long-term setbacks.

What Caregivers Are Holding Together

  • Daily household care and food planning during unstable periods.
  • School retention tasks such as uniforms, fees, and attendance follow-up.
  • Coordination with teachers and community focal points after shocks.
  • Emotional support and supervision that keeps children connected to routine.

What Your Support Funds

  • Timely school-support items that prevent avoidable absenteeism.
  • Short caregiver sessions on safeguarding, referrals, and term planning.
  • Community follow-up through women-led groups and school focal points.
  • Basic tracking so support reaches children at highest risk first.

Safeguarding and Accountability

  • Support is coordinated with local schools and community leaders using clear role definitions.
  • Referrals are routed through appropriate child-protection pathways.
  • Reporting is aggregated and privacy-protective for children and caregivers.
  • Program teams review whether support translates into continued attendance and safer routines.

A Caregiver-Level Example

One caregiver described how term costs can overwhelm a household budget even when commitment is strong. With timely support for essentials, she was able to keep children in class and maintain household stability. That is the practical impact donor support can unlock.

Endnotes

  • [1] World Bank - Social protection overview (accessed 2026-02-23). Learn more
  • [2] UNAIDS - Children and HIV (accessed 2026-02-23). Learn more
  • [3] U.S. Department of State - PEPFAR overview (accessed 2026-02-23). Learn more
  • [4] Government of Kenya - Social Protection (accessed 2026-02-23). Learn more

Take Action

Support women caregivers with practical school and protection support that keeps vulnerable children safe and learning.

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