By Salome Mwaniki | HATW Kenya Co-ordinator
Hands Around the World (HATW) has been implementing projects in Kenya since 2003. Our projects provide essential and much needed support to children with disabilities attending special schools in Meru County, Kenya. Recently HATW partnered with St Lucy’s Primary and Secondary Special Schools. These schools provide an education to 355 visually impaired learners (187 boys and 168 girls).
The schools implement the Kenyan national curriculum, however, without appropriate IT equipment, the students have been unable to complete the necessary lessons to gain the qualifications and skills they need to succeed as independent adults.
In January 2025, with funds raised from the HATW Christmas appeal, our in-country Coordinator in Kenya was able to deliver 15 refurbished laptops to St Lucy’s Primary School to enhance the ICT and typing skills of the students. The laptops provided were equipped with Typing Master Software and NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) screen reader for the blind and visually impaired. This software reads aloud page content and relevant information, such as headings, lists, and links.
The students are now able to easily engage with educational content more effectively and share information in any classroom. As a result, the students will develop critical typing and ICT skills, essential for their academic success and future career prospects. Access to the NVDA screen reader will also ensure that students can use the laptops independently, creating a greater sense of autonomy.
The successful delivery of laptops to the school marks a significant milestone in enhancing the educational experience for both the students and teachers. By providing these tools, students have been empowered, with greater access to learning resources, personalised learning opportunities, and improved communication skills. This initiative will support the school's mission of creating an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. The school hopes that these laptops will serve as catalysts for academic growth and help foster the development of skills that will positively impact the students' future endeavours.
St Lucy’s Primary School was extremely grateful for the provision of the laptops and the headteacher, Sister Judith said, “the laptops will be of great importance to these visually impaired learners. We thank you most sincerely for the dedication, commitment, thoughtfulness and concern towards the visually impaired learners”.
Further funds have recently been raised, and an additional 15 refurbished laptops will be delivered to St Lucy’s Secondary School in February 2025.
Thank you for helping to equip these students with the tools they need to thrive in a technology-driven world.
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