This archive report was first published on 22 October 2021.
On October 22, 2021, Safaricom's M-PESA Foundation made a significant commitment to support disabled children in Kenya, pledging Sh 74 million to aid their access to quality education.
The 'Wezesha Elimu' project, a collaborative effort with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) Kenya and CURE Kenya hospital, seeks to address the challenges faced by children with disabilities in accessing education due to financial constraints.
Under the project, 27 medical mobile clinics will be conducted across the country, targeting over 700 children and aiming to perform more than 300 surgeries. Additionally, five schools will have their infrastructure upgraded to provide accessible learning environments, and over 100 assistive devices will be distributed.
Les Baillie, Executive Director of M-PESA Foundation, emphasized the importance of creating awareness about living with disabilities, stating, 'Through the partnership, we aim to increase the enrolment and retention of children with disabilities in learning institutions and reduce the physical barriers which drive away learners from attending classes by revamping infrastructure in select schools.'
CBM Chairperson, Joseph Okelo, highlighted the project's goal of reducing stigma surrounding disabilities, saying, 'From the previous years, we have seen an increased demand for surgical interventions and rehabilitation services as parents and guardians are empowered with more information.'
Executive Director of CURE Kenya, Abed Kilonzi, added that children with disabilities require proper care and special equipment to live normal lives.
