In Kenya, thousands of children with disabilities face daily struggles that go beyond their physical or mental challenges. These young ones often deal with societal stigma, limited access to healthcare, education, and basic support, especially in rural and pastoralist areas. Poverty, cultural beliefs, and inadequate infrastructure make their lives even harder, leading to isolation, neglect, or abandonment.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), as reported in the 2009 Population and Housing Census, approximately 1.3 million people in Kenya live with disabilities, representing 3.5% of the population, with children comprising a notable portion of this group. More recent data from UNICEF indicates that in Eastern and Southern Africa, including Kenya, around 29% of children aged 2-17 have moderate to severe disabilities in areas like vision, hearing, or mobility. These statistics highlight a pressing issue that affects not just the children but entire communities.
“Disabled children” are defined as minors under 18 years who have physical, intellectual, sensory, or developmental impairments that significantly affect their daily activities, learning, or social interactions. This includes conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, or visual impairments, as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is where the Sang’ida Foundation and Equalall come in. The Sang’ida Foundation works directly in Kenya to support these children, while Equalall connects donors worldwide to make giving easy and effective.
Around the world, more than 240 million children live with disabilities (WHO). While this is a global challenge, the situation in Kenya is particularly urgent. A significant number of children with disabilities remain excluded from education and healthcare, preventing them from reaching their full potential. This exclusion also hinders Kenya’s ability to meet key international commitments, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
In education, barriers are everywhere. Many schools remain physically inaccessible, with no ramps or adaptive facilities. Even when children manage to enroll, the shortage of trained teachers and sign language interpreters means learning remains out of reach for many. Healthcare access is equally limited, particularly in rural areas where families must travel long distances only to find that specialized services are unavailable.
Assistive devices like wheelchairs, hearing aids, or communication tools can transform a child’s life, yet only about 10% of Kenyan children with disabilities have access to them. Without these basic supports, everyday tasks become overwhelming, and growth opportunities disappear.
Addressing these gaps is not just a matter of charity; it is about ensuring every child has the right to education, healthcare, and dignity.
How does Sang’ida Foundation help the children in Kenya?
The Sang’ida Foundation is a community-based organization in Kenya focused on creating a society without barriers for people with disabilities. Their mission is to challenge negative views and ensure equal opportunities and human rights for individuals with disabilities, enabling them to live with dignity.
Founded by Jacinta Silakan, a nurse and mother of a child with autism, the foundation draws from personal experience to drive change.
Jacinta’s story began with her own son. When he was diagnosed with autism, she was met not with support but silence. Neighbours stopped coming by, and schools turned them away. Doctors offered no guidance. She felt completely alone.
But instead of shutting down, she opened her heart wider, first to her son, then to two children with disabilities who had nowhere else to go.
Today, that open door is called the Sang’ida Foundation, now a full-time home for 19 children who were once neglected, abandoned, or orphaned. Children who are now fed, supported, cared for, and told every single day that they matter.
“I didn’t want any other mother to feel the helplessness I felt,” Jacinta says.
“Every child deserves to grow up with dignity, not shame.”
But this home is now complete. 12 more children are waiting, and they have nowhere else to go.
Their vision remains a world where disabled individuals, especially children, are included and empowered. By offering rehabilitative support, such as therapy and education, they restore dignity and build skills for independent living.
How Sang’ida Foundation Supports Disabled Children
In pastoralist areas like those of the Maasai and Samburu, disabled children often face
harsh realities. Cultural taboos label them as bad omens, leading to abandonment or hiding. The Sang’ida Foundation steps in with programs tailored to these challenges. Their Safe House offers a secure environment for neglected children, providing specialised care, education, and therapy to help them thrive.
They conduct occupational therapy sessions to enhance daily skills, including walking and communication. They also have a Young People’s Mentorship Program that guides teens with disabilities toward personal growth and employment opportunities. The Menstrual Hygiene Initiative helps girls manage their periods with dignity, which is crucial in remote areas where resources are scarce.
One impactful story involves children from the foundation visiting wildlife conservancies, giving them rare chances to explore and build confidence. Volunteers share how these kids’ resilience inspires them to make a change. The foundation also advocates for rights, training community leaders to shift attitudes and promote positive change. In Laikipia County, they’ve cared for many neglected children, providing medical help and school access. According to a 2021 government report, efforts like these are vital, as only a small percentage of children with disabilities in Kenya attend school regularly.
They also address broader issues, such as climate change affecting pastoralists, by promoting adaptive livelihoods. This holistic approach ensures children not only survive but grow into active community members.
Role of Technology & Innovation
Technology is helping bridge the gaps for children with disabilities in Kenya, bringing solutions where traditional systems fall short. Telehealth services enable children in remote areas to access medical consultations, therapy sessions, and specialist advice without travelling long distances. Similarly, mobile learning apps make education more accessible, offering interactive lessons tailored for children with visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments.
Platforms like Equalall ensure a secure donation system that enables global supporters to contribute safely and transparently, ensuring that funds reach verified programs, such as the Sang’ida Foundation. Donors can track the impact of their contributions, from therapy sessions to educational tools.
By leveraging technology and innovation, organisations can overcome barriers, deliver care efficiently, and expand opportunities. The primary end is helping disabled children not only survive but thrive in communities that previously lacked support.
Equalall’s Role in Supporting Sang’ida Foundation
Equalall is a nonprofit platform that connects donors to meaningful causes worldwide. It focuses on verified giving, meaning every donation is thoroughly checked to ensure it reaches real needs. They support emergency relief and long-term projects, empowering vulnerable groups, such as children with disabilities in places like Kenya. Through Equalall, people can easily contribute to trusted local programs, ensuring funds help build stronger communities.
Equalall plays a key part by linking global donors to local heroes like Sang’ida. They feature stories and projects on their platform, raising awareness and funds for children with disabilities in Kenya. This partnership enables Sang’ida to expand its programs by purchasing therapy tools or constructing facilities.
By verifying partners, Equalall builds trust, ensuring that donations support real, tangible impacts. They’ve backed similar causes, such as shelters for forgotten children, demonstrating their commitment to Kenya’s most vulnerable. For Sang’ida, this means steady resources to rescue more kids from stigma and poverty.
How Equalall Makes It Easy to Contribute
Giving through Equalall is a secure and straightforward process, making it an ideal option for anyone who wants to make a difference. Visit the website, browse causes such as disability support in Kenya, and make a donation in just a few clicks.
Sang’ida’s work directly touches hundreds of children. Through their Safe House, children receive personalised care, enhancing their health and skills. For instance, children with autism learn social interactions, while those with physical disabilities receive mobility aids. UNICEF notes that such interventions can increase school attendance by up to 50% for children with disabilities in the region. Beneficiaries often report feeling valued for the first time, which can lead to improved mental health.
Equalall’s support amplifies this, helping fund care for more recipients. In similar projects, donations have transformed the lives of over 50 children per initiative, providing them with education and nutrition.
Community-Level Benefits
Beyond individuals, these efforts change whole communities. Sang’ida’s awareness campaigns have reduced stigma, with families now embracing their members with disabilities. This leads to stronger social ties and economic growth, as empowered children contribute more effectively in the future.
In pastoralist areas, adapting to climate change through livelihood programs helps families stay resilient. Government reports show disability inclusion boosts overall development, with inclusive education improving outcomes for all kids. Equalall’s global reach brings more resources, fostering sustainable change.
Here’s how your help can make a difference with Sang’ida Foundation:
$5 – Puts food on a child’s plate for a day in the Safe House. That means Jacinta doesn’t have to worry about whether they’ll go hungry.
$10 – Provides hygiene supplies and clean clothes. For a child who was once abandoned, this simple act helps them understand that they are loved and belong.
$50 – Covers a week of therapy. These sessions help children develop skills such as walking, talking, and playing, which many were told they could never do.
$100 – Pays a month’s school fees and materials. For a child once hidden away, stepping into a classroom is a life-changing experience.
Helping disabled children in Kenya is crucial, as it gives them a fair shot at life and fosters kinder societies. With challenges like poverty and stigma, support from groups like Sang’ida and Equalall makes all the difference. Every child deserves dignity, education, and love.
The Sang’ida Foundation can only remain open with the support of people like you. Equalall makes it easy for you to be part of that change, ensuring your support reaches the children who need it most.