Education for children with disabilities, Kenya

In this report, we focus on the special education unit in Mitaboni, which Advantage Africa helps to sustain and where we have seen encouraging developments in recent months. These are exemplified by the experiences of Marci and Jeremiah, described below, and reflect the progress being made by children and young people with disabilities as they benefit from classroom learning and ultimately move towards greater independence and new opportunities in adulthood.

Marci's Progress from Immobility to Mainstream Education

When we last featured Marci, she was attending Mitaboni School but facing very significant mobility challenges. Without a wheelchair, she had to rely on crawling or being carried in order to move around, which made it extremely undignified and difficult for her to access classrooms and participate fully in school life. She was initially placed in the special unit, where boarding facilities helped reduce the barrier of daily transport and enabled her to remain in education.

Thanks to your support, Advantage Africa was able to initiate improvements, including providing Marci with a properly fitted wheelchair, giving her the mobility, comfort and independence she previously lacked. This has enabled her to attend school more consistently, move around with dignity, and take a far more active role in her learning and daily school activities.

We are delighted to report that Marci is now thriving. Recent photographs show her back at school, confidently using her wheelchair and fully engaged in learning. Most significantly, she has successfully moved from the special unit into a mainstream class.

Her teachers recognised that Marci is a bright and capable learner who would benefit from the appropriate level of teaching available in a mainstream setting. She has settled in well, is enjoying learning alongside her peers, and continues to make excellent progress. Her journey is a powerful reminder that disability should never be a barrier to education when the right support is in place.

Jeremiah's Successful Transition to Adult Life

Jeremiah, aged 20, who also attended Mitaboni Special Unit, has recently completed his planned transition from school into adulthood. Working closely with his single mother and three siblings, his teacher, Ben Mutuku, helped develop a transition plan that would enable Jeremiah to build on the skills he had gained at school, overcome barriers associated with his intellectual disabilities, and lead a more independent and meaningful life at home.

With support from Advantage Africa, Jeremiah was provided with a cow and materials for an animal shed to start a small livestock project. The project was carefully chosen to match his abilities, interests and family circumstances, providing him with both responsibility and a source of future income.

During a recent follow-up visit, Jeremiah proudly showed visitors the cow that he now cares for each day. His family report that he has grown in confidence and independence since leaving school and plays an active role in household life. The project has given him purpose and helped ensure that his transition from education has been a positive and successful one.

Marci and Jeremiah's stories are just two of the many learners whose lives are being transformed with your support. From helping children access the education they deserve to supporting young adults to build independent futures, together we are creating opportunities that have a lasting and far-reaching impact.

This report highlights the experiences of young people with learning disabilities in Kenya who have recently taken the life-changing step from school into adult life within their communities. Their journeys have been made possible through the guidance of dedicated special-needs teachers who received specialist training in school-to-community transition from Advantage Africa, in partnership with the Kenya Institute of Special Education.

During a recent trip to Kenya, Rob Aley, Programme Manager, and our Kenyan Trustee Alice Gathoni, visited the homes of several recent graduates of special schools to assess the impact of this teacher training and the subsequent school-leaver transition programme. The stories of Faith and Amina are featured below and represent powerful examples of independence, dignity and economic improvement.

Faith's Journey from School to Self-Reliance

Faith, aged 22, lives with her parents in a rural area of central Kenya. While at school, her teacher Monicah recognised that Faith had reached the limits of what the school could offer and that she needed support to move on to a purposeful adult life. Monicah noted Faith’s enthusiasm for caring for the school’s rabbits and chickens, and used this interest as the starting point for conversations with Faith’s family about her future.

With her parents’ support, and a small start-up grant from Advantage Africa, Faith started her transition from school and began rearing chickens and a goat at home. Within less than a year, the livestock multiplied and the whole family became involved as they recognised the enterprise’s potential. So transformative was the initiative that Faith’s father decided to give up his bar business to focus fully on livestock farming. He greatly expanded the animal shelter that was originally built using Faith’s grant, and at the time of our visit the herd had multiplied to over 80 animals!

Faith’s mother shared her pride and relief: ‘It was just the idea and the small start that we needed. Now we can expand. The market for eggs, lamb and goat meat is good, especially at Easter and Christmas. In fact, Faith is now the main supplier of chicks and eggs around here!’

Faith’s enterprise is not only generating income, it has changed how her family and community view her abilities. She has gained confidence, purpose and independence, challenging the assumption that people with disabilities cannot contribute economically or socially.

When asked to reflect on the transition process overall, Faith’s mother said:

‘I give it 100%. Faith is always busy, and this project has brought happiness to our whole family.’

Amina’s New Chapter

Amina lives on the coast of Kenya near Malindi. At the age of 29, she was still attending school. Until her teacher, Janet, received training in transition planning, no one had a clear idea of how Amina could move forward into adult life.

Amina had mastered self-care and daily living skills, yet a clear plan for her life after school was absent. While she was still enrolled, her teacher Janet conducted several home visits to explore potential pathways toward a meaningful occupation. Amina’s family, who had been uncertain about her future, welcomed the guidance and supported the process.

The family were already rearing cows, and Amina showed a strong interest in this work. Together, it was agreed that she should be supported by a small grant to have her own cow. She also received further practical training in making brushes and roofing materials from local coconut palms, building her skills to be productive and generate income.

Although Amina is non-verbal, her mother shared this reflection; ‘She knows she is too old for school. Now that she is out of school, she has improved in her thinking. She has become more responsible and more content — she is doing well.’

Building Futures with your support

Faith and Amina are just two of more than 100 school-leavers who have successfully transitioned into adulthood through this programme. We believe their stories show how Advantage Africa’s teacher training, combined with modest financial support, can unlock lifelong change.

Thank you for supporting Advantage Africa to continue to enable young people with learning disabilities to move beyond school and into productive, fulfilling adult lives, benefiting not only the individuals, but entire families and communities.