Sensitisation of the Youth in Kenya

Mission Statement:

Promote active engagement of the youth of Kenya with contemporary issues surrounding intellectual/mental disability and encourage inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with intellectual/mental disabilities both within and outside the academic environment.

Objectives:

To increase awareness amongst students of mental disabilities and encourage a sense of social responsibility towards those with disabilities;
To create an inclusive environment for students of all abilities and promote integration in the student body;
Inspire and motivate students to provide support for those who are experiencing difficulties, whether academically, socially or financially, and to become involved in projects aimed at promoting the well-being of those with disabilities.

Membership:

All students, teachers, youth leaders and staff from various educational facilities are welcome to participate. The programme will strive to be inclusive to all. Members are required to participate in fundraising activities and other projects. Members will receive certificates on completion of a full academic year’s active participation in the programme.

Activities:

Students will view films, both fictional (e.g. Rain Man, I am Sam) and factual, that highlight mental disabilities and social injustices. They will also be encouraged to read recreational and factual books on the subject, e.g. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and Warrior Mothers by Jenny McCarthy.

Students will be encouraged to engage in debate regarding current issues in mental disability. They will be asked to contribute suggestions of what individuals, KSMH, and the government can do to alleviate the suffering and improve the living conditions for the mentally disabled in Kenya. Guest speakers can be arranged to give talks at the schools or educational institutions from KSMH and possibly speakers from other prominent organizations.

Visits to special schools for mental disabilities will also be arranged as well as other activities that will immerse them in current issues. Activities that will unite all educational facilities with special schools or units for the mentally disabled will be encouraged, e.g. School Olympics with a Special Olympics component, providing an opportunity for all students to compete.

Other inclusive fun days will be organized such as arts and crafts days, music and sports days. These will have a broad spectrum of activities that can cater for students of all abilities.

Each academic term a newsletter will be produced, outlining the programme activities and achievements, and encouraging further support from the student body.

Activities will be chosen with the ultimate goal of improving awareness and understanding of mental disabilities, and to encourage students to take initiative when they see injustices being carried out.

At the end of the academic year each school’s performance will be assessed. Assessment criteria will include the number of inclusive fun activity days implemented, the success of any fundraising events, percentage of school attendance at the KSMH Moi Day Walk on the 10th of October every year, active engagement of the school with KSMH, student awareness of disability which was cultivated through exposure to a combination of material on mental disability and direct involvement with those with mental disability both at club level as well as school level. The most successful school will receive a prize of distinction from KSMH and our corporate sponsor.

Kabete Orthopeadic Workshops, Next to Kabete Army Barracks, Opp ABC Place, Waiyaki Way, Westlands. | +254 20 445 0853/4 Mobile: +254 729476101/736476101 | infor@ksmh.org

Mission Statement:

Objectives:

Membership:

Activities:

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