Outreach - 100 Women with Disabled Children

Dear Supporters,

We are delighted to share the latest updates on our Strong Mamas program, supported through your generosity.

We have successfully completed another training program in partnership with the Edmund Rice Centre, Nairobi. A total of 35 women participated in 18 training sessions, gaining knowledge on disability prevention, peri- and postnatal care, and community sensitisation. Of these, 7 women are now actively conducting outreach in their local communities and hospitals around Kibera, Africa’s largest informal settlement.

Our previous graduates from Athi River have also progressed into their community outreach roles across Machakos County, extending support to families and children with special needs. These 13 graduates are now actively pursuing two group business goals: producing washing liquid and installing water tanks, which will generate income to sustain their initiatives while benefiting their communities.

It is exceptionally difficult t determine where our next program will run, so we have devised a decision-making framework which includes an application progress and community assessment. This will ensure we are running programs in places where the community is ready for training and in actual need.

Thanks to your support, we continue to expand the Strong Mamas network, equipping women with the education, skills, and financial independence needed to break the cycle of poverty while providing essential care for their children. Each new training session strengthens our impact and moves us closer to our goal of supporting 100 women annually.

We are grateful for your continued partnership and belief in our mission. Together, we are transforming lives, one mother at a time.

With appreciation,
Erin

CEO

Mama Respond

Over the past month, the Outreach – 100 Women with Disabled Children project reached a significant milestone as 13 Strong Mamas graduated from the training phase and stepped into their new roles as community outreach workers. This transition marks a shift from learning and personal recovery to leadership, service, and peer support within their own communities.

These newly graduated outreach workers are currently preparing to begin engagement in their local hospitals, where they will support mothers of children with disabilities who are often navigating diagnosis, stigma, and limited access to information. Their preparation has focused on building confidence, ethical engagement, and practical communication skills to ensure outreach is respectful, culturally appropriate, and safe for both the mothers receiving support and those providing it. A key strength of this phase has been peer mentoring.

Three graduates from previous Strong Mamas cohorts are actively mentoring the new outreach group, sharing lived experience and guidance on how to approach vulnerable community members with sensitivity, build trust, and offer meaningful support without causing harm. This peer-led model reinforces leadership, strengthens community ownership, and ensures knowledge is passed on sustainably.

Alongside outreach preparation, the women are working together to set group goals related to economic empowerment. They are developing small business ideas suited to their local contexts, defining shared responsibilities, and building the confidence and planning skills needed to launch income-generating activities. This dual focus on outreach and livelihoods reflects Mama Respond’s holistic approach, recognising that financial stability plays a critical role in long-term wellbeing and in women's ability to support others.

The impact of this period has been significant, with 13 women transitioning into leadership roles, strong mentoring relationships established, and increased readiness for hospital-based outreach. Foundations have also been laid for small-business initiatives that will strengthen the resilience and independence of women and their families.

In the coming months, the outreach workers will begin structured engagement in local hospitals, supported by ongoing mentoring and supervision. We will also continue to support the women as they refine and launch their small businesses, ensuring that empowerment, community support, and sustainability grow together. Thank you to our GlobalGiving supporters for making this progress possible. Your support is helping mothers of children with disabilities move from isolation to leadership, and from receiving support to becoming agents of change in their communities.