Households With Special Needs Children to Receive Sh 7,000 Each
Special Olympics Kenya (SOK) is embarking on a project to promote education for children with special needs in Samburu County.
The project aims to sensitize the community to enroll these children in schools, instead of confining them to their homes.
To support this effort, SOK will provide funding to 400 needy households with special needs children in the county. Each household will receive Sh 7,000 to start small income generating activities to enable them to maintain their children in school.
According to Scolla Muhoi, a representative of SOK, the project will help families understand that having a child with special needs is not a curse, and that they should enroll them in school to get equal opportunities like other children.
Additionally, SOK will conduct assessments to identify children who need assistive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, braille, and hearing aids to improve their quality of life as they study.
The project has received a warm welcome from the community, with Grace Edonga, a resident of Loikas village, expressing gratitude for the funding.
She noted that parents with special needs children are often poor and rely on selling firewood and charcoal to make ends meet.
Edonga also highlighted the stigma associated with having a child with special needs, which often leads families to hide them from the public.
However, with this project’s sensitization, and special needs children’s enrollment in school, Edonga believes the stigma towards their families will reduce in the future, as normal children will interact with them.
Barrack Okoth, the headteacher of Loikas Primary School, called on well-wishers to work with the Ministry of Education to provide equal education opportunities for children with special needs.
He noted that many children with special needs in Samburu County are not enrolled in school, and it is essential to ensure they get the education they deserve.
Through sensitization and funding, the project aims to address the stigma and lack of education opportunities that these children face.
It is essential to continue supporting such initiatives to ensure that all children, regardless of their abilities, have equal access to education and opportunities.
Households With Special Needs Children to Receive Sh 7,000 Each