Better Lives for Vulnerable People in East Africa

Over the past few months, Advantage Africa has worked closely with our community partners to improve health, inclusion, livelihoods and self-esteem for over a thousand of East Africa’s most vulnerable people. These are just a few highlights from this life-changing work:

In Kibwezi, Kenya, men are now stepping forward as advocates for women’s safety. Our project working with motorbike taxi riders to prevent gender-based violence was evaluated and found that almost every participant had intervened in a real incident, and most felt confident speaking publicly about the issue. Women reported feeling safer at home and in the community, reflecting a genuine shift in attitudes.

Also in Kibwezi, you helped complete a project to reduce poverty among families affected by disability. 60 people (mostly women) with disabilities learned goat-rearing and business skills while gaining better access to clean water.

At the same time, the arrival of 20 tricycles and 146 wheelchairs has transformed mobility for those receiving them, including children able to attend school for the first time as a result.

On the other side of the country in Migori, our practical, compassionate support included rebuilding homes for flood-affected families, helping others start small enterprises, and promoting disabled women’s participation in sports.

At a national level, training materials to improve the transition of children with intellectual disabilities from home to community developed by Advantage Africa are now embedded in Kenya’s national curriculum for children with special needs. Teachers are already reporting greater independence among school-leavers with learning disabilities and increased confidence among their families.

New research projects we conducted into autism and dyslexia revealed widespread stigma and major gaps in diagnosis and teacher training. We now have a clear roadmap for future advocacy on nationwide improvements to the education of children affected.

In Uganda, your support of the Better Lives project enabled the Single Parents Association of Uganda to steadily build skills and opportunity in the Katungulu community. Young people are learning trades ranging from welding and tailoring to motorcycle mechanics, while 75 people have completed business training to help them turn their new skills into income. Agricultural activities such as coffee and maize growing are taking root, and regular HIV & AIDS education, testing, and counselling continue to keep people safe.

Our work to prevent skin cancer among people with albinism also continued strongly with 17 District skin clinics in the period, and others in Rwamwanja and Nakivale Refugee Settlements, where we are also supporting children’s education and providing food aid.

Collaborative advocacy successes included three events to mark International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) and the addition of SPF50+ sunscreen to the World Health Organisation’s list of essential medicines. This is a landmark development that will improve protection, dignity, and life expectancy for people with albinism across Africa and beyond.

We’re so grateful for your support to this project which is making a real difference to the lives of so many people in Kenya and Uganda. As the examples above demonstrate, the learning from practical community projects is also supporting wider change for even more impact. Thank you for helping to make this possible.