Working with our community projects across Kenya, we know how tough it can be to involve everyone in our activities. We sometimes face limitations, lack of adequate resources, selection criteria that restrict who can join, or personal challenges faced by the individuals. Despite these challenges, we at 3E Africa always strive to ensure all groups are included, women, men, youth, and people living with a disability. We believe that Without inclusivity, our impact in the communities we work with will not be fully realized.
In our past work, we’ve always brought on board people living with a disability to participate and reap the benefits of our projects. Our current project, Mizizi yetu Maisha yetu, is no different. We met the Sigma Youth Group during mapping in Koriema. Their enthusiasm to support each other immediately led us to include them. We selected two of their participants who had access to water to take part in the project. Clare Bungei, a young woman living with a disability was one of the selected beneficiaries. She shared a painful reality, the greatest challenge PWDs face is exclusion. They are often ignored because communities or individuals perceive them as lacking the capacity to lead successful projects. For us, this was not a barrier, it was an opportunity to shatter a misconception.
Through Clare’s successful involvement, the entire community has learned that disability is not inability. With the right tools and simple solutions, people living with a disability can join community efforts, improve their own lives and their communities. Clare is now a beacon of hope, empowering herself, her family, and changing the deep-seated attitudes of the community on disability.
Our experience in the community has cemented a critical lesson, we must have representation of every member of the community, youth, women, men, and People Living with Disabilities to achieve successful initiatives. By involving PWDs, we not only deliver tangible project benefits but also actively change the attitudes of the wider community. This dual impact is the very definition of sustainable development.
Our commitment remains to work directly and indirectly with all community members to bring about lasting, sustainable change together.
