Help Kenyan children with disabilities into school

The Disability Community Centre (DCC) in Meru, Kenya, is a community-based organisation committed to fostering an inclusive society where people with disabilities and their families are empowered, supported, and fully integrated into the community. The DCC has extensive experience supporting children with disabilities and below is one of their success stories.

In 2000, a young girl named Daina arrived at the DCC facing serious health challenges. She had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and epilepsy. At that time, Daina needed more than medical treatment. She needed someone to believe in her, walk alongside her family, and give her an opportunity to live with dignity.

At the DCC, she was attended to by Dr. Racheal, who provided medical care and follow-ups for five years, from 2000 and 2005. Daina underwent treatment for hydrocephalus and was fitted with a shunt and placed on treatment for epilepsy. For her family, this was a difficult journey. Caring for a child with complex medical and developmental needs was overwhelming, particularly for families with limited resources. However, Daina's family never gave up.

When Dr. Racheal left Kenya, Daina's journey did not end.

From 2005 to date, Daina has continued to receive support from the DCC under the care of Janet, the Director of the DCC. This continuity of care has been one of the most important parts of her story. It has ensured that Daina was not forgotten and that her family continued to have somewhere to turn to for support, guidance, and follow-up.

Sadly, because Daina experience numerous challenges, she was unable to attend school and progress through formal education like many other children. But the DCC chose to look beyond what Daina could not do and focus on what she could do.

Through encouragement, family involvement, and rehabilitation support, Daina developed practical skills that have helped her become more independent. Today, she can wash her own clothes, wash dishes, rear chickens, and participate in everyday activities. These may appear to be simple tasks. But for Daina and her family, they represent something much bigger: they represent independence, dignity, confidence and hope. Reminding us that ability can flourish when a person is given patience, support, and an opportunity to learn.

Daina's story is a powerful example of why long-term disability support matters. Her journey has stretched across more than 20 years, demonstrating that rehabilitation is not always a quick process. Her story also represents that the many children and adults living with disabilities, who may never have the opportunity to achieve conventional milestones, are no less valuable.

Daina's journey would not have been possible without people who believe that every person deserves care, dignity, and an opportunity to reach their potential. Behind every rehabilitation programme are people who make this work possible, health professionals, rehabilitation workers, caregivers, community volunteers, partners, and donors.

Daina's life is a reminder that small interventions, sustained over time, can create a lifetime of impact. Together, we can ensure that no person with a disability is forgotten.

Thank you for your continued support.