We are working towards a more inclusive job market in Kenya. with room for everyone.
We do this together with our partner APDK because we both believe that everyone has something to offer to society. Together, we have committed to holding the government accountable for their promise to the people, especially those living with disabilities.
Background
It is estimated that 15% of the population in Kenya lives with some form of disability. The majority live in poverty, and nearly half are children under 14 years old. Most schools in Kenya lack the resources and facilities to ensure the development and education of children and young people with special needs. This has significant consequences for their future lives and their ability to support themselves. Additionally, youth unemployment in Kenya is high, and young people with disabilities are particularly disadvantaged in the Kenyan job market.
This is not because they lack the ability to work, but because there is still too much stigmatization, superstition, and exclusion associated with living with a disability in Kenya. The young people we work with are eager to contribute, but they simply lack the opportunity. We need to change this.
The Kenyan government has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and committed to ensuring that at least 5% of jobs in Kenya are allocated to persons with disabilities. However, the reality is far from this commitment.
Our Approach
Together with our partner APDK, we are committed to holding the government and other essential decision-makers accountable for their promise. We believe that to address this complex challenge, we need to take action on multiple fronts. Therefore, we have chosen to focus on three interrelated components: young ambassadors, economic mentors, and APDK’s capacity for advocacy. These three components are designed to collectively ensure the empowerment of individuals, the strengthening of civil organization, and governments accountability.
Meet the people it’s all about.
The Young Ambassadors
Ten young women with disabilities have been trained to be ambassadors. Together, they are fighting for a more inclusive job market in Nairobi. These ten young women have undergone advocacy training, boosting their self-esteem and their ability to engage with decision-makers. They have found a community in each other, which strengthens them both individually and as a group. They have succeeded in creating noticeable changes for their peers by securing jobs and internships in companies and public offices in Nairobi.
Economic Mentors
Twenty-five parents of children with disabilities have been selected as economic mentors. The mentors have undergone a program where they learned about starting new businesses, entrepreneurship, networking, and advocacy. Each mentor leads a local support group for an additional twenty-five parents of children with disabilities and has been responsible for sharing their knowledge and skills. This ensures that even more parents are able to support their families and serve as role models for their children.
