By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    G7 finance leaders seek non-tariff consensus in Canada, may face US pushback
    Ahead G7 Summit, Finance Ministers Seek Non-tariff Consensus In Canada, May Face US Pushback
    1 week ago
    Over 28,000 Women And Girls Killed In Gaza Since October 2023
    2 weeks ago
    Global Aid Cut
    New Report Reveals How Global Aid Cuts Affecting Women’s Organisations Aiding Women In Crises
    3 weeks ago
    UNICEF Raises Alarm Over 14m Children Worldwide At Risk Of Malnutrition
    2 months ago
    United Nations for Women
    In 8 Days, 830 Killed In Gaza – UN Women Raises Alarm
    2 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    UN Women Kenya Trains Motorcycle Taxi Operators
    2 years ago
    Nigeria To Host Sahel Climate Fund Secretariat
    2 years ago
    Dangote Recounts Investors’ Bad Experience With AU Passports In Some African Nations
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    ECOWAS Marathon Race Director Okon Congratulates Commission on 50th Anniversary
    3 days ago
    Africa Day: Majority of Africans Want African Nations Be Given Greater Influence In International Decision-making Bodies
    6 days ago
    Edelman Africa Launches Regional Advisory To Support Global Institution Growth In Africa
    3 weeks ago
    African Union Champions Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Socioeconomic Transformation
    2 months ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Impunity, Insecurity Threaten Nigeria’s General Elections
    2 years ago
    Warri South Leaders Seek Review Of Delta South Senatorial Election Result
    2 years ago
    Obasa Returns As Speaker, Lagos House Of Assembly
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    LG Election: Stakeholders Appeal To APC Not To Allow Chairmen Run For 3rd term
    4 weeks ago
    More APC Chairmanship Aspirants Reject Indirect Primary For Local Govt Elections In Lagos State
    4 weeks ago
    Youth Party Sets May 18 for Lagos LG Primary Elections, Slashes Fees For Women and PWDs
    1 month ago
    Oyo State Faces Herculean Task in Picking Makinde’s Successor – Chief Ayorinde
    2 months ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    12 months ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    IMSUAA 2025 Convention: Two Artistes From Lagos Chapter To Light Up Event
    5 days ago
    Lagos SWAN Celebrates Yeni Kuti On Her Special Day
    1 week ago
    Ado Ekiti Honours One of Its Own: A Tribute To Chief Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi
    1 week ago
    Owo Security Summit Holds 26 May
    1 week ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    BBNaija 7: Sheggz Ready For Disqualification Over Bella
    3 years ago
    Tems Breaks Record At Grammy, First Female Nigerian Artist To Win Award
    2 years ago
    Grammy-Award-Winning Jon Batiste Drops New Anthem to Open Second Season of Coke Studio
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Nigerian Idol Season 10 Live Shows Are Underway as the Top 10 Battle for Stardom
    5 days ago
    Nigeria Strengthens Fight Against Content Piracy Through Strategic Partnerships
    1 week ago
    Prestige, Impact: Why AMVCA is the People’s Award Show
    3 weeks ago
    Celebrating African Cinema: AMVCA’s Growing Influence in Global Entertainment
    1 month ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    UNIUYO: PHE Students Dazzle At Sports & Dance Event
    2 years ago
    Global Food Crisis Put Millions Of Young Lives At Risk
    2 years ago
    Gov Sanwo-Olu Makes Case For Smart Packaging To Reduce Food Waste
    9 months ago
    Latest News
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    5 days ago
    Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and Toledo Museum of Art Launch Historic Cultural Exchange
    3 weeks ago
    Piracy in Africa’s Creative Sector: How Creators Can Protect Their Content
    1 month ago
    Fanti Carnival Returns To Lagos This Easter Sunday
    1 month ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Lagos Will Continue To Lead Initiatives That Accelerate Economic Diversification – Sanwo-Olu
    1 week ago
    Afreximbank
    Afreximbank Reports Strong Performance For Q1 2025 In Line With expectations
    1 week ago
    Pan-African Payment & Settlement System
    Nigeria Unlocks Intra-African Trade With New Pan-African Payment & Settlement System Policy Boost
    3 weeks ago
    Impact Of Online Trading Platforms Like Temu On Nigeria’s Economy
    3 weeks ago
    Unity Bank Launches GenFi, Targets Children, Teens With Gamified Banking Platform
    4 weeks ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    In Ghana, Demands For Body Enhancement Surgeries On The Rise
    2 years ago
    Women And Men Mistakenly Given Different Advice To Prevent Heart Disease
    2 years ago
    FIND Welcomes Adoption Of Historic WHO Assembly Resolution On Diagnostics
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Alimosho Football Coaches Council Set For Health, Safety Business Workshop
    1 week ago
    World Hypertension Day: Merck Foundation Commits To Improving Cardiovascular And Diabetes Care Across Africa
    2 weeks ago
    First Lady Gives Paediatric Support To Indigent Patients At Lagos General Hospital
    2 weeks ago
    Salt Awareness Week: CAPPA Urges Fed Nigerian Govt To Accelerate Salt Reduction Targets Regulation
    3 weeks ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: Kenya: Proving That Disability Is Not Inability
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Africa > Kenya: Proving That Disability Is Not Inability
Africa

Kenya: Proving That Disability Is Not Inability

Last updated: 2024/01/30 at 9:37 AM
1 year ago
Share
SHARE

Stephen Omondi Odhiambo signs the word “HEN” to his wife, Dorah Akungu, and she immediately understands. By fingerspelling words, Stephen has taught her, his family and close friends the signs for the most commonly used words and now they communicate fluidly.

Stephen himself had to learn sign language in school at the age of seven, when an illness caused problems in his ears. Despite prolonged hospitalization, he ultimately lost his hearing.

In his village of Ulafu, Siaya County in western Kenya, like in many parts of the world, people with disabilities often face marginalization. Typically, they have difficulties finding work, which leads to economic hardship, further exacerbating their situation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been working with the Siaya Disabled Peoples Organization (SIDIPO) in Kenya to promote jobs in the agrifood sector for youth with disabilities, helping create quality work opportunities to break the vicious cycle of poverty and exclusion.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

In general, unemployment is a challenge for young people in the country. Although Kenya is East Africa’s strongest economy, it has the highest number of unemployed youths in the region.

Since 2011, FAO has been implementing the Integrated Country Approach (ICA) programme to boost agrifood-based jobs for young people. The agrifood sector holds great potential to offer steady work with adequate income and do so outside of the large cities.

Stephen, who went to work in Nairobi at the age of 27, describes, “I was working at a place where they made paper for printing. When COVID-19 hit, our boss decided to downsize and some of us were made redundant. I thought it best to leave Nairobi and go back to the countryside.”

Back in his village, Stephen had friends who ran a farmers’ group, so he decided to join it. The group took advantage of an FAO training on fruit, poultry and fish farming as well as other agricultural practices.

FAO then collaborated with the Department of Agriculture of Siaya and local partners to deliver the technical training to SIDIPO members, who are normally excluded from this kind of learning opportunity.

Through this FAO ICA programme, the Government trained around 65 young SIDIPO members on various types of farming. When needed, the training sessions were delivered with the support of a sign language interpreter.

After a few training sessions, Stephen decided to focus on poultry farming.

Andrew Mwaura, FAO’s National Coordinator for ICA, says that the programme was unique because it gave people with disabilities a platform to showcase that they are able to engage in agriculture. The programme highlighted their accomplishments and provided visibility, which they did not have in the past.

Charles Juma, SIDIPO Chairman, says, “We identify the needs of persons with disabilities. We offer vocational trainings.” The FAO-SIDIPO collaboration is an example of this approach. “Our vision is a barrier-free and inclusive society for all,” adds Juma.

Analyzing the gaps and barriers to success, FAO offered specialized training or procured inputs, such as feed that had become very expensive, to jumpstart production or give agribusinesses a boost.

Along with tending to their two young daughters who also have hearing impairments, Dorah and Stephen work together in every aspect of poultry farming, augmenting their return from the activity.

“We enjoy farming so much. It is the backbone of life. We do it, and we love doing it. So from it, to get something to support our lives,” conveys Dorah.

The ICA also managed to take the trainees’ farming to another level. Most participants now have plans to expand their businesses, using FAO’s support as the impetus.

Stephen describes, “I started with only one chicken; it hatched 15 chicks. When they were big enough, they laid eggs which I sold and made some profit. I used this money to pay school fees for my daughter, who is in a boarding school for children with hearing impairments.” With a smile, Stephen concludes, “I really look forward to expanding my poultry farming.”

Maida Nyawade, Director of Youth Affairs, Gender and Social Services from the Siaya County Government, explains that they hope to mainstream this type of programme throughout the county.

Completed in December 2023, the FAO ICA programme, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, worked to make agrifood value chains more inclusive for rural youth in five countries – Guatemala, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda.

Promoting quality work opportunities helps break the vicious cycle of poverty and exclusion. It also demonstrates that people with disabilities can play important roles in the social and economic development of their communities.

Overall, the ICA programme in Kenya benefitted 64 institutions, 148 youth organizations and 3 800 youths. In addition, ICA has reached more than 14 000 indirect beneficiaries, through fairs, awareness raising activities, dialogues or digital platforms.

You Might Also Like

ECOWAS Marathon Race Director Okon Congratulates Commission on 50th Anniversary

Africa Day: Majority of Africans Want African Nations Be Given Greater Influence In International Decision-making Bodies

Edelman Africa Launches Regional Advisory To Support Global Institution Growth In Africa

African Union Champions Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Socioeconomic Transformation

United Kingdom Looks to Deepen Energy Trade, Investment Ties with Africa

TAGGED: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
INadminNG January 30, 2024 January 30, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article 75th Anniversary: WHO Advocates A Healthy World And Safer Future 75th Anniversary: WHO Advocates A Healthy World And Safer Future
Next Article International Surrealism Holds In Portugal From 5-17 February
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?