Special Needs Empowerment Programme

"empowering persons with special needs"

PROGRESS REPORT
(2010 – MAY, 2012)
By

Ms. Juliet Mwaniki
Programme Coordinator


Special Needs Empowerment
Programme (SNEP)
To be a World Class organization in the
Vision empowerment of persons with special needs

To empower persons with special needs
Mission intellectually, economically and socially through
facilitation of access to information and creation
of equal opportunity

Core Compassion, Integrity, Professional Services,
Values Teamwork, Transparency, Accountability, Efficiency,
Effectiveness and Love

OBJECTIVES

To empower and To partner with other To introduce an
advocate for persons institutions e.g. Civil interest free revolving
with special needs by society, Government, fund in order to
promoting and United Nations among economically
enhancing their other towards fulfilling its empower persons with
information access. objectives. special needs.


Core Values
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Professional Services
• Teamwork
• Transparency & Accountability
• Efficiency & Effectiveness
• Love

Functions
• Translation
• Advocacy
• Education
• Economic Empowerment
• Advisory
• Partnership


Foundational Basis
• Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003
• The Kenya Vision 2030
• The Promulgated Constitution of Kenya
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities
• Africa Regional Conference on Millennium Development Goals
and Disability
• Millennium Development Goals
• Disability Mainstreaming Performance Indicator in the Public
Service


What is the status
of Youth in Kenya?
• Kenyan population of 38.6 million as per the 2009
population census.
• 75% are youth aged less than 30 years.
• 10% are Persons with Disabilities as per WHO
report.
• 60% youth population under 30 years is
unemployed.
• Less than 25% youth enroll in secondary schools.


Challenges faced by Persons
with Special Needs
Persons with special needs cuts across all categories
of ages. The challenges faced are:
• Discrimination in employment.
• Health Inaccessibility.
• Limited access to education.
• Derogatory and demeaning myths.
• Disturbing traditional beliefs.
• Barriers in Communication.
• Lack of Forums to have their voices heard.
• Poverty.

What do they turn to?
• Suicide
• Crime, Violence
• Substance Abuse
• Physical and sexual abuse
• Sex trade
• Begging


A life Case of
example – Izaak
•
Kandenge
Izaak’s blindness was caused by robbery with violence.
• Discriminated and was desperate.
• Tried committing suicide 3 times.
• SNEP found him with his sister who had to
discontinue school to watch over him.
• We counseled him and gave him hope to live.
• Later we searched for placement and admission at Machakos Technical for
the blind.
• Now specializing in Leather Tanning and SNEP is paying his school fees.
• He does not use a guide to and from Machakos.
• His Vision is to have an Industry and employ other youth to help him.

Disability Mainstreaming in the
Public Service

SNEP officials and some of the Participants in the Ministry of State for
Immigration and Registration during the Disability mainstreaming Programme


Disability Mainstreaming in the
Public Service

Participants from the Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of
Persons learning Basic Kenyan Sign Language during a Disability
Mainstreaming Programme.


Disability Mainstreaming in the Public
Service – Ministry of State for
Immigration and Registration of persons

A Visually Impaired Staff from the Ministry trying to learn a word in Sign
language. He is assisted by one of the participants as the Trainer Mr.
Boniface Akaranga who is Hearing Impaired Looks on.


Disability Mainstreaming in the Public Service –
Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife

SNEP Sign Language Interpreter , Interprets to the Hearing Impaired during the
opening ceremony and a Trainer takes the participants through her
presentation.

Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife

A Hearing Impaired Trainer giving his presentation as an Officer from the Ministry
follows and some of the staff from the Ministry making enquiries from SNEP
officials.

County Council of Kirinyaga

The Clerk to Council giving his Opening remarks during the opening
ceremony of the Disability Mainstreaming training


A SNEP Trainer demonstrating the handling of persons with disability



A Visually Impaired person reading through the Kirinyaga Council ‘s
Customer Service Charter in Braille format. The Service Charter was
translated to Braille by SNEP

Ensuring Persons with Special needs exercises
their rights

The Chairman County Council of Kirinyaga Mr. Kang’eri presents the
Council’s Customer Service Charter in braille Format to the Visually
Impaired in Kirinyaga County.

Ensuring Persons with Special
needs exercises their rights

Mr. Patrick Muli, the D.C. Kirinyaga Central Presents a Computer and
Copier Printer to the Visually Impaired in Kirinyaga County to enhance
information access.


Ms. Juliet Mwaniki, Programme Coordinator SNEP addressing the audience
during the presentation of equipment to the members of KUB Kirinyaga Branch



SNEP official and Sign Language Interpreters from Kenya Broadcasting
Corporation during the 2nd Season of “Moving the Masses” organized by the
National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee. This was to enhance
information uptake by all including the hearing impaired.

needs exercises their rights in
Elections

One of the Polling Centre during Kirinyaga Central Constituency By-Election


Elections

Ms. Mwaniki consulting an Election Official at the centre to understand
how they serve persons with special needs and a SNEP Official
seeking opinion from the Hearing Impaired after voting.

Elections

A SNEP official a highlight of SNEP’s role during the elections and
persons with special needs after they voted.

Enhancing Information
Access by all
• Conducting public awareness about Youth with
special needs.

Forum on the social responsibility of youth with special
"empowering persons with special2010
needs 4th December, needs"

Access by all
• Applying affirmative action to address the acute
unemployment amongst the youth with special needs.

SNEP official addressing youth on economic empowerment in
Kirinyaga County

Access

SNEP plans to set up a Cyber Centre in each of the 47 Counties in Kenya. Four
centres already set namely: Ukunda –Kwale , Kerugoya-Kirinyaga, Kiserian-
Kajiado and Malindi-Kilifi Counties respectively, upcoming- Malaba, Mwea,
Nyamira, Turkana among others

Access by all

In the wake of enhancing information access, Mr. Bob Collymore the CEO Safaricom
Kenya Limited visits our Cyber Centre in Ukunda on 5th April, 2012 and had a chart
with our Programme Officer, Mr. Samuel Odawo.

Access by all
• Designing and executing an ICT competency
approach for Persons with special needs.

A SNEP official who is Visually Impaired using one of
the already set Resource Centre. We intend to set up
a Resource Centre in each of the 47 Counties.

Access by all
• SNEP is currently setting up
the first County Resource
Centre at Ukunda in Kwale
County.
• This was supported by
professionals from the County
and is supposed to be
An expert in internet cabling and
replicated in the other 46
networking confirming that the
Counties in Kenya. cabling is upto date at the
Kwale County Centre

Commissioning of Kirinyaga
Cyber Centre – 2 nd February,
2012

The premises where the Cyber Centre is located. It was allocated by
the District Commissioner on behalf of the Government in support of
Disability Mainstreaming Performance Indicator in the Public Service.

Cyber Centre – 2nd February,
2012

Mr. Patrick Muli, the D.C. Kirinyaga Central addresses the
congregation during the Commissioning of the Centre.

2012

The SNEP Programme Officer, Mr. Samuel Odawo demonstrates how to
access information online as Mr. Patrick Mule access a mail sent to him
by Mr. Odawo and Ms. Mwaniki looks on.

2012

A Visually Impaired persons reading through the Kenyan Constitution in
Braille as the D.C. Kirinyaga Central Mr. Muli and Mr. Mule and Mr.
Wachira of Safaricom looks on.

Economic Empowerment for
Persons with Special Needs

Procession from the D.C’s office to the function for two
brothers: James and Nicholas Mwema at Machakos on
17th March, 2012


Procession from the D.C’s office to the function for
the two brothers: James and Nicholas Mwema


The Programme Coordinator , Ms. Juliet Mwaniki and Safaricom staff,
Mr. David Mwema assisting Nicholas in to the donated structure



The old and the New Structure on presentation to the two
Brothers who are Safaricom Super Retailers with M-Pesa
Till for Economic Empowerment


The Area Manager Safaricom Mr. David Mwema handing over the M-Pesa Till to
the brothers as the Area Chief on behalf of the Government and the
Programme Coordinator, SNEP looks on.


Advisory Services
• Advising in the Formulation, Development and
implementation of disability mainstreaming policies in
all spheres.

SNEP participated in the Formulation and Development of
Disability Mainstreaming Policy for Ministry of State for
Immigration and Registration of Persons.

Interpretation Services

• Championing for a
comprehensive and
friendly curriculum
for Persons with
special needs.

SNEP Staff providing Kenyan Sign Language
Interpretation to the Hearing Impaired
during Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission
Community Based Seminar


Expected Results

Enhanced Enhanced Improved Proactive and
information access to economic meaningful
uptake among services status of all participation of
all youth among youth not youth with
including persons with forgetting Youth special needs
persons with special needs. with special in societal
special needs. needs. affairs.


Challenges faced by SNEP
• Apathy and attitude related problems.
• Low self awareness, self worth and self identity amongst persons with
disabilities.
• Insufficient resources.
• Failure to implement existing legislation and policy related problems.
• Bad cultural practices and traditions that impact negatively on the PWDs.
• Insufficient learning facilities for the PWDs.
• Lack of awareness amongst members of the society regarding the PWDs.
• Few number of committed organizations/institutions for the PWDs.


Does SNEP work
alone?
• National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee
• Kenyan Sign Language Research Project, University of Nairobi
• Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION)
• Kenya Aids NGO Consortium (KANCO)
• United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK)
• Basic Needs UK Kenya
• Safaricom Limited


Way Forward
• Collaborate with SNEP.
• Becoming a friend of SNEP by having a monthly or annual
commitment.
• A person/organization may collaborate with our organization by:
– Volunteering services/resources towards helping attain our goals
and objectives.
– Partner with us in implementing our projects.
– Incorporating SNEP in projects that are in line with our goals and
objectives.
– Donating funds or offering grants to help actualize the income
generating projects for the Persons with Special Needs


Challenges faced when
implementing Safaricom
Project
• Unfavorable till application process
• Lack of Network in areas selected for Cyber Cyber Centres e.g. Pembeni
in Lamu
• Limited finances to take care of:
– Float in the Cyber Centres
– Outlets for Persons with Special Needs
– Scratch cards for sale to clients
– Computer Screen Readers for the Blind
– Covers for Computers to limit servicing of Computers
• Lack of Computers, Desks and Chairs for the Cyber Centres.
• Lack of a dedicated person to communicate our Agenda.

Way forward through
Safaricom
• Favorable Till application consideration.
• Float assistance in the 47 Cyber Centers.
• Air time dealership and a one off supply of Scratch cards
• Computers for cyber centers.
• Enhanced network in some locations since our focus is in rural
remote areas where disabled persons face more
discrimination in access information and services.
• Computer covers branded Safaricom.
• Screen readers for the blind
• A Dedicated contact person to Champion our agenda

Conclusion
Importance of having regard to all
circumstances:
• The race for the promotion of persons
with special needs.
• The protection of the human rights of the
persons with special needs; and
• The ever-increasing and complex
challenges facing the youth with special
needs is still on.

Parting Shot
“There is no greater calling than to serve
your fellow men. There is no greater
contribution than to help the weak.
There is no greater satisfaction than to
have done it well."
Walter Reuther


Special Needs Empowerment Programme

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