GlobalGiving.org: Support 100 disabled youth with Assistive devices.

Thank You

Fredrick Ouko — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:49:30 GMT

Dear Friends,

It has indeed been a good year at ANDY that finally wraps up, a lot of good things did happen and that means our impact in communities that we work in has been increasing day by day.

Different projects were implemented to help change the lives of youth with disabilities in Kenya, this is a success that we cannot take alone; all of you have been there in furthering this objective and we want to THANK YOU for the great contribution is has been.

As a young and growing organization, we wish to share with you in this journey as we get into the New Year to even do greater things that shall bring meaning to the lives of thousands of youth with disabilities in Kenya.

We request that you continue your partnership with us through supporting our various projects and encourage your friends, colleagues and family to consider joining hands with us to make a difference in the lives of those who are in need of our support to make it in life.

In this year alone, we were able to reach over 300 youth with disabilities and we know that with your support, we are able to surplus this number in 2012.

We take this opportunity to wish a prosperous New Year and look forward to working together to Make it Happen and Make a Difference!

Your Support Keeps Us Going!

Fredrick Ouko — Wed, 18 May 2011 04:40:10 GMT

Dear Friends,

Greetings from the team at Action Network for the Disabled, we are excited and greatful that you remain steadfast in supporting our work over the years thus enabling us make enormous strides towards reaching our goal.It is through your generosity that we continue to impact our community in a positive way.

ANDY being a grassroot organization,we have continuously remained in touch with the needs of our target group thus enabling us to make decisions that empower the community in the way that we work.Your support goes to someone who needs it and makes good use of it towards advancing their lives and becoming active participants in their communities.

It is in such cases that somebody came to us recently with a request for us to purchase batteries for his hearing aid having been turned away by different service providers.John just wanted to get the batteries for his hearing aid and he would be fine and ready to continue with his daily chores towards earning a living independently; through your support,a case like that of John is immediately supported and many more thus enabling the affected to continue with their normal lives even if they cannot afford these devices by themselves yet they cant live without them.

It is fulfiling to know that a simple act changes how one faces his/her daily life and is able to do a lot of things on their own despite being with a particular disability that poses a challenge to them in how they interact with others.

To enable us continue with this brilliant work,please consider making a donation to this project so that beneficiaries like John can receive immediate attention and support from the project,there is also an opportunity for your donation to be matched by Global Giving at 30% on June 15th 2011 between 12:01am and 11:59pm EDT(GMT-4)

Thank you so much for supporting our work and encouraging your friends to do the same.

Links:

You can follow our work through this blog that contains updates

Restoring the Ability to Communicate

Fredrick Ouko — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:47:50 GMT

John at our office

Dear Friends,

We wish to thank you for your continued support to this project that has enabled us to continue supporting deserving persons with disabilities within our community.

One such case is John, who has had along challenge of communicating since he lost his sense of hearing, being a person who does manual work; John is supposed to be keen on what his boss says lest he loses his job for not following instructions.

This has happened to him many times yet he needs to have a steady income to support him and his family. He was referred to ANDY by another disability organization for us to assist him with a hearing aid.

Through your continued support, we were able to offer John the much needed help and acquired him a new hearing aid and on receiving it, he said, “ I am delighted to receive this aid as it means a lot to me and my livelihood I want to thank you and wish you all the blessings.”

This is how important the device that was donated to John through your support meant to him. He is now back to work and he can communicate effectively with his bosses at work and this will ensure that, he never loses his means of income by being unable to communicate.

On behalf of John, we wish to thank you for your support that has continued to change lives for the prosperity in the community we work in.

Links:

Making Internet Accessible to Persons with Disabilities

Fredrick Ouko — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:42:27 GMT

Dear Supporters,

Greetings from Nairobi, at Action Network for the Disabled, we are all fine and continuing with our work in communities towards the empowerment of young people with disabilities. It is my pleasure to inform you that, lately we have embarked on a path that will enable us bring internet and its vast opportunities closer to young disabled people living in the urban slums.

We have just established an internet cafe within our offices with about ten computers and through your donations, we were able to make two of the computers out of ten to be accessible by our blind colleagues in their efforts to use the internet.

You know that in this 21st century, the internet is playing a revolutionary role yet many people have not been in a position to access it due to various challenges.

Our organization will be to play a small part by facilitating access to information, communication and technology for persons with disabilities. Having installed a Jos Software in two computers has made it possible for any blind person who wishes to access the internet for various reasons to be able to do so at our center. I want to thank you for continued trust in our project giving us the energy to reach more persons with disabilities through our project.

I will keep you updated of how the center continues to impact persons with disabilities in their lives especially for those who will be utilizing the computers installed with Jos software ( a software that enables the blind to access any information through a computer including on the internet).

I look forward to further ideas on how we can ensure we get more donations through the Global Giving portal to continue impacting our constituents more positively.

Thank you so much for investing in the future of young disabled people who are in need.

One Mobility Aid,Different Positive Effects!

Fredrick Ouko — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:32:03 GMT

Martin in his current office after being employed

Dear Friends, In the last update, I informed you that we had changed our name from Kenya Disabled Action Network to Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY);it is indeed expected that this new status comes with lots of challenges and responsibilities as we are now a national organization responding to the needs of Young People with Disabilities countrywide. My colleagues have been upbeat about this development and putting in much needed efforts to realize our dream at a national level. This only means we have been spending time to plan on what it entails to work at a national level and looking for the required resources to fulfill those responsibilities as well. Many of you have remained steadfast in making sure that our objectives are met due to your constant support and the belief you have in our initiative, I want to extent a personal THANK YOU and from our team including those that we work with. We are both committed to ensure that no young person with any challenge is left behind just on the mere account of having a disability; it is our belief that we can indeed eradicate poverty if persons with disabilities are adequately empowered to lead independent and sustainable lives. This brings me to one case we have dealt with in the recent past and through your donation-a positive impact has been achieved in the life of Martin. Martin is a wheelchair user and had acquired relevant academic qualifications that warranted employment. This was however not the case, he remained in the cold for quite a long time until he was introduced to our initiative and took part in a one-month training on employability that is run from our office. He came every morning on his old wheelchair that he had stayed with for ages since schooling time and when job advertisements came out from one of the Government`s Ministry, we encouraged him to apply and he was invited for an interview. The panel was surprised to see him at first and was wondering if the CV they had shortlisted and prioritized as the best was indeed his! To cut the long story short, Martin nearly lost that job even after emerging successful until the Ministry decided to call us as he had put the name of our initiative as his referees. We managed to convince them that Martin would indeed work just as anybody else and we offered to support them whenever they needed support to ensure that it was indeed a good learning experience. And to ensure that Martin was also taken seriously and was able to commute easily to the work station, we bought him a wheelchair through your support that he is now using. Colleagues at his work station have learn`t a great deal from him based on one of the visit we paid them and they are excited to have that particular opportunity! This is what it means supporting our project, you do not only change an individual (Martin) you change the entire attitude of those who haven’t had knowledge about disability when they see a person with disability performing beyond their expectations. When you enable us assist a person with a mobility aid, it is replicated in many ways as they can lead decent independent lives and are able to participate actively in economic activities. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

We have changed our name!

Fredrick Ouko — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:03:20 GMT

ANDY`s Launch Event

Dear All, I herein wish to inform you that,as from 14th January 2010,we legally changed our name from Kenya Disabled Action Network (KEDAN) to Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY) after our successfully registration with the Government of Kenya through the NGO Board.The current registration gives us a larger legal mandate to implement our work nationally thus reaching larger audiences than before with our important work. We had to change name due to the Government`s requirements to be registered as an NGO. We hosted a re-launch event that was attended by the Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports amongst other guests. At the moment,we are now focused on planning for our national work in view of our new mandate.It is at this juncture that we need all of our supporters the most to contribute with ideas on how we should strategically expand our work and where to find the requisite resources to make it happen as planned. We want to thank you all for remaining steadfast in supporting our work and do encourage you to urge your friends to consider supporting our project. On our website,we have put a section on how one can get involved in our work by becoming a friend of the organization,this also applies to corporate institutions willing to support our workin any possible way. We welcome your thoughts and do look forward to continuing with this work of empowering young disabled people through your valuable support. THANK YOU!

Our New Website

A disability dance troupe

Guests Following up the proceedings at the launch

THE PROJECT LEADER HONOURED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL AWARD!

Fredrick Ouko — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:04:07 GMT

Fredrick receiving YouthActionNet Award

Dear Friends, It gives me a great pleasure to share with you an achievement made in the last week during a week-long retreat in Washington D.C. This is in relation to an award bestowed on me by the International Youth Foundation by selecting me as one of this year`s YouthActionNet Global Fellow,joining a group of 20 other young social enterpreneurs working on community projects that advance the empowerment of young people all over the world. Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Nokia, YouthActionNet® seeks to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world. “Each of the 2009 YouthActionNet® Fellows are passionate, committed young leaders who chose not to look the other way when they saw a problem, but to take a stand,” said IYF President and CEO William S. Reese. “Through their efforts, companies in Colombia are learning how to operate sustainably, low-income farmers in Zimbabwe are able to send their children to school, and youth in violence-prone neighborhoods in the U.S. are learning to be peace-builders.”

It is through your support and dedication to our work that this is made possible,we look forward to the possibilities provided by this recognition to our initiative.

As we share the success;we are reminded of the tasks a head and committments that will enable us make life habitable to persons with disabilities in our societies. In that view,it would be worth considering donating again to this project or informing a friend of the possibilities available for us to receive a matching grant based on the donations made on our page. We also wish to remind our supporters that,Globalgiving is able to provide tax receipts for donations made in the US and UK. We thank you for your continued support.

With regards,

Fredrick with other 2009 Fellows

Fredrick with IYF President

Links:

Profiles of YouthActionNet Global Fellows

A Postcard from Support 100 disabled youth with Assistive devices

Gerald Cook and Kara Wevers — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:01:59 GMT

Gerald Cook and Kara Wevers are students who travelled throughout Africa and visited a number of GlobalGiving projects. On March 18th they visited "Support 100 disabled youth with Assistive devices." When asked what they would tell their friends about this project, Gerald said "Incredible: You need to see this!" while Kara said "Great: They are making a difference."

Gerald writes:

Kara Wevers and I arrived at KEDAN’s office around 1:30pm. Fredrick Ouko and his colleges were kind enough to interrupt their lunches to meet with us. Upon entering the office, I could not help but notice that the worker there themselves were disabled and walked with the help of metallic crutches.

We started by asking a variety of questions about his organization and their services. The organization was quite amazing. They candidly discussed a variety of topics. Their organization does a lot of great work including obtaining supplies and equipment for disabled individuals living in the slums, as well as leading workshops, sporting games, and other events to educated and help people to socially interact. In the middle of our interview, one of the men had to excuse himself in order to lead a human rights workshop.

We then took a small tour of the area and met with many beneficiaries. One room was filled with computers and it seemed some form of computer literacy was taking place. They were kind enough to allow us access to the room where the human rights workshop. We watched as a man stood at the front of a small, very crowded room and lectured about individual rights. Two different people stood signing, presumably into two different languages, to “translate.” He asked me to briefly introduce myself and I must admit feeling a bit strange as these two people “translated” all of my words into sign language. That was definitely a first!

There were a lot of beneficiaries present and most were excited to be introduced and to talk to us. It was obvious that the organization was holding a few events that day and that the people there felt extremely comfortable with all of KEDAN’s staff and with us. We shared few stories and someone taught me “the Kenyan way” to shake hands with a friend (slap hands hard into a handshake, switch grips to an “arm-wrestling-position,” then switch grips again back into a handshake position).

Overall an amazing experience. I would personally vouch for this organization and encourage anyone to donate knowing 100% that they are legitimate and doing good work.

Kara writes:

Don’t you love it when a group of people recognizes injustice and decides to do something about it? That’s exactly what they’re all about at KEDAN (Kenya Disabled Action Network). Fredrick Ouko and his committed staff realized that the needs of disabled people living in the Nairobi slums were not being met. So they have been working to advocate for the rights of this disabled community. Their passion comes from their personal experiences as many of them live with their own physical disabilities.

When I had the chance to visit with them last month, I was able to see their staff in action. I saw them teaching computer classes and leading trainings on basic human rights. I got to speak with a few people who had received assistive devices like crutches and canes as a result of KEDAN. They were very grateful and gushed about the generosity of KEDAN and the positive changes that resulted in their lives after receiving their new devices. It seems that not only does KEDAN help disabled adults, they also work to give them hope for a better life. What a valuable contribution to the wellbeing of this Kibera community!

Your Generosity,Restored Hope!

Fredrick Ouko — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:38:28 GMT

Dear Friends, I take this opportunity on behalf of over 20 young disabled people who have been lucky to benefit from your generosity that enabled us donate mobility aids to them thus restoring hope in their lives. In particular,i would wish to inform you of the great assistance you have accorded to Violet Ndindi,this young lady was indeed faced with myriad problems given her multiple disabilities. Her case was to brought to our attention by officials of a community organization who knew our sphere of work as they have seen Violet`s mother struggling everyday to carry her on her back. We requested a meeting with her where she explained all that she has gone through taking care of her daughter,it is these acts that enabled us to connect with her motherly love and saw the need of assisting her with a wheelchair so that it would be easy for her to move around with her daughter on a wheelchair. After donating the wheelchair to Violet,her mother found her an institution where she has started attending to meet with her colleagues and not remain in isolation and we believe that this is the hope that a mobility aid can bring into lives of many who cannot access such. We thank you all for your acts of generosity and for assisting young disabled people just as Violet. We look forward for your continued support in restoring hope in the lives of many.

Fredrick Ouko

Give a Man a Wheelchair and He Will Eat for a Lifetime

Fredrick Ouko Alucheli — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:11:08 GMT

A NOTE FROM GLOBALGIVING:

This is the second in a series of snapshots about project leader Fredrick Ouko and his organization Kenya Disabled Action Network (KEDAN).

Thank you for your continued support of Fredrick and his tireless dedication to rehabilitating 100 disabled youth from underprivileged families through the provision of mobility aids and assistive devices. We ask you to contribute again today! Feel free to tell your friends about Fredrick and his incredible work!

Give a Man a Wheelchair and He Will Eat for a Lifetime

Fredrick Ouko Alucheli is the Executive Director of Kenya Disabled Action Network (KEDAN). Only 26-years-old, Fredrick has already championed various initiatives in Kenya and abroad that bring awareness to and improve the lives of youth with disabilities.

He cites his family as his primary source of motivation; U.S. President Barack Obama, a close second. “Initially, my father influenced me the most as he is the one who sacrificed a lot to educate me despite being a disabled child in the family,” says Fredrick. “Lately, the U.S. president Barack Obama inspires me a great deal from how he rose from a community mobilizer to become the 44th President of United States of America. Considering all the challenges he has faced in life and he is a true testimony to the disabled community that indeed ‘YES WE CAN’ one day!”

With funds raised through GlobalGiving, Fredrick and his team at KEDAN have been able to purchase aluminum elbow crutches, wheelchairs, and white canes for the blind. They plan to continue buying other assistive devices as the demand for them is particularly high among their beneficiaries. “A lot of people … continuously come to our offices looking for such assistance,” says Fredrick.

Fredrick’s accomplishments are impressive, and he hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams as well. He talks about one particular young person who had a similar drive to excel, but didn’t own a wheelchair to help him move around. “With a donation, we were able to afford him a wheelchair that came in handy,” says Fredrick. “He could now do everything for himself as opposed to relying on people’s assistance every time he wanted to move from one point to another.”

Fredrick believes that providing assistive tools is the gateway to achieving independent living. He draws a comparison to the famous Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” Speaking of the ambitious young man who received the wheelchair donation, Fredrick says, “We actually gave him a fishing line and he is happy to get fish for himself!”

Fredrick Ouko Alucheli: A Champion for Disabled Youth in Kenya

Fredrick Ouko Alucheli — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:43:59 GMT

A NOTE FROM GLOBALGIVING:

Please welcome Fredrick Ouko Alucheli. He is a new project leader here at GlobalGiving and over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to get to know Fredrick and the great work he does for his organization Kenya Disabled Action Network.

Periodically over the next two months we will be sending you snapshots about Fredrick’s life and work. We encourage your feedback about this new form of progress update so that we can provide you with the most interesting and relevant information possible about the projects and causes you support.

We thank you for your contributions and ask you to consider donating again to Fredrick and the Kenya Disabled Action Network. Feel free to tell your friends about Fredrick and his incredible work!

Fredrick Ouko Alucheli: A Champion for Disabled Youth in Kenya

Fredrick Ouko Alucheli is the Executive Director of Kenya Disabled Action Network (KEDAN). The 26-year-old is a young paraplegic with a background in Business Administration from the Kenya School of Professional Studies. Ever since his high school days at the Mombasa Secondary School for the Physically Handicapped, Fredrick has held various leadership roles, starting with Head-Student and Chairman of both the Law and Interact clubs.

Before joining KEDAN, Fredrick was a founding director of the Kibera Community Youth Programme (KCYP), a unique organization formed and run by young people in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. During his five year tenure, Fredrick spearheaded efforts that brought the organization international acclaim for its success as a youth-lead initiative. The KCYP’s innovative and simple solar assembling project was aired on CNN`s Global Challenges Program and went on to win an international award in Basel, Switzerland, dubbed Clean Energy Awards in 2007.

At KEDAN, Fredrick has also used his networking skills to bring the organization into both the national and international spotlights. He has worked hard to expand its reach and initiate unique programs targeting young disabled people in Kenya, such as the Job Placement and Livelihood Project that seeks to find solutions to employment problems facing persons with disabilities. The project works with employers to provide internship and employment opportunities to young disabled people, and over 60 youth have undergone training with over 10 of them securing an internship or employment in different sectors of the economy. In addition, KEDAN carries out capacity building and advocacy activities to ensure that young disabled people both know and demand their rights. The organization seeks to improve the socio-economic status of young disabled people, many of whom are living in severe poverty.

Due to Fredrick’s deep knowledge of and experience in youth and disability issues, he was nominated by the UN Youth Section to serve for three years as an advisor on the Global Advisory Panel for the Disability Rights Fund. He also sits on the board of a handful of organizations, is married, and the proud father of one daughter.

Extension to stay online until 28th February 2008

Fredrick Ouko — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:12:56 GMT

Dear Friends,

On behalf Kenya Disabled Action Network(KEDAN) and the beneficiaries of our projects;we would like to thank you so much for your generous support through donation to our project online during the GlobalGiving Challenge.

Your financial contribution really mattered as we had raised a total of US$ 1,974 by 21st November 2008 with the support of 24 of you!! And in so doing;we have been invited to stay online upto 28th February 2009 to raise more money with a target of 50 donors by the next deadline to win a permanent spot on the GlobalGiving website.

We are confident that with your committment,we are going to meet the next deadline and thus encourage you to consider giving to the project again and also telling your friends,business partners,colleagues to consider donating to the project.

We will give an update how your support has gone a long way to assist persons with disabilities regain their independence through mobility through your support.

Thank you so much for believing and supporting this project,together we can do more!

With regards,

Fredrick Ouko