My name is Jackline Ndungwa Waiharo, a young woman born with a disability known as scoliosis kyphosis, also known as a “hunchback” in layman’s language. I noticed I was very different at a very tender age because, for the better part of my childhood, I lived with my grandmother in a village in Kangundo, Machakos County, and she wouldn’t let me do any heavy chores with my cousins. My advocacy journey began in late 2018 when I joined the Gifted Community Center, a grassroots organization that champions the rights of young people with disabilities, especially those from underserved communities in Kenya. Before GCC, I had not thought of championing for our rights, I felt useless, my confidence was low, I had low self-esteem and self-love wasn’t a vocabulary to me but in GCC I met people like me and through the weekly capacity trainings, Twitter chats,whatsApp group chats and inspiring stories (peer to peer mentorship) from other young persons with disabilities who had made it in life, I told myself that I matter and I was enough and from then, my journey began. I began attending training where I would go and represent persons with disabilities. I became the voice for the voiceless; my public speaking skills continued to improve day by day, and I started seeing myself as important. I networked more, and I started receiving invitations to speak to various individuals with and without disabilities in different forums, where I would motivate, mentor, and advise them on various matters. Professionally, I am a teacher. Through the capacity building described above, I gained confidence to share with my pupils about disability. You see, in my school, my pupils are always curious about my disability and are very inquisitive, but the first thing I do is open up to them and talk about my disability, and guide them on how to treat children and adults with disabilities. This has fostered a good rapport among us. My secret is to always talk about my disability whenever I meet new people to create inclusiveness and awareness. Since accepting myself, I have accessed many different opportunities: I have had the privilege to work with the former Member of County Assembly Kinoo as a representative of persons with disabilities in the bursary committee from 2017 to 2019. I got the opportunity to attend last year’s ICPD-25 side events organized by Population Bureau Reference (PRB) of the USA, where I talked about challenges facing young women with disabilities when accessing Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights (SRHR). I have been a facilitator at Decent Conversations, an organization that raises awareness on SRHR. I also networked and met a representative of Special Olympics Kenya, who asked me to speak at one of their events. Through the GCC WhatsApp platform, where many opportunities are shared, in 2019, I learnt about the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF), the prestigious program founded by former US president Barack Obama in 2010, and I applied. Fortunately, I got it. MWF is very competitive, and I have been honored to be a fellow since 2022 at Georgia State University under the Public Management track. I also applied for the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Center East Africa (YALI RLC EA) cohort 39, and I was a successful candidate.I received all these opportunities due to my involvement with GCC. Due to the pandemic, the programs were conducted virtually. My reason for applying to these opportunities is to amplify our voices and ensure inclusivity. It’s also a way of involving and speaking to the community that persons with disabilities can do anything that others without disability can do. It’s a message to the community that instead of them seeing our disabilities first, they should see us. I have built networks of over 100 professionals, providing training and guidance on enhancing inclusion in their schools and communities. As my advocacy journey continued and I moved to Nakuru, where I started my own organisation, Safe Haven Spaces, a Kenyan-based women's and youth with disabilities-led non-profit organisation, born from the realisation that children with disabilities face numerous challenges in accessing or staying in school. Safe Haven Spaces advocates for sexual reproductive and health rights services amongst women and girls with disabilities. It equips young people with disabilities in Nakuru, Kenya, with hope, opportunity, and skills. It also empowers children with disabilities who are facing challenges that prevent them from going to school by ensuring that they get quality education. I can’t compare myself now with when I started my advocacy journey. I am more confident, eloquent, and I am always championing for us everywhere I go. I look for inclusivity everywhere, and I am always speaking about it in every corner. I am a preacher of inclusivity, and I am sure one day we shall attain it fully without discrimination. We are far from it because when a person with a disability like myself does a task, e.g., an exercise, making it in life, going shopping, farming, etc., society sees this as a miracle; people should know that we are different and not less. We can participate in any activity given as long as the environment is friendly. In fact, the environment is making us more disabled than our disabilities. My dream one day is to join the parliament and represent persons with disabilities, be their voice, mentor, and above all, instill and ensure change in the society, for there is no us without us. My advice to parents is to teach their children about disability, talk to them about us, and through this, I am confident that the future generation will be more inclusive. Finally, I believe in “I CAN'T BLEND IN WHEN I WAS BORN TO STAND OUT.” I am a GCC ambassador 2018-To date, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni, a 2023 NextGen Tech Camp alumni, a 2022 Alumni Enrichment Institute program, a cohort 39 Young African Leaders Initiative-regional leadership center (YALI RLC), a Young African Leaders Initiative Legal Legacy(YALILL) consultancy, and the Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Spaces.

In February 2019, I came across a post on social media from Gifted Community Center looking for a Communications Volunteer. At the time, I was a second-year student at Kenyatta University, eager to put into practice what I was learning in class. I applied immediately, and within no time, I was welcomed into the organization. That simple decision would go on to shape the path of my career and my identity as a disability rights advocate. At Gifted Community Center, I began as a Communications Intern, working closely with fellow youth ambassadors and under the mentorship of Sarah, the Director. Sarah introduced us to the world of disability advocacy, giving us the tools and confidence to speak about our rights. Disability advocacy meant more than raising awareness; it was about challenging stigma, pushing for accessibility, and making sure persons with disabilities were included in every aspect of society. Through Sarah’s mentorship, I came to understand that as a young person with a disability, I had the right to education, healthcare, employment, and dignity. This knowledge empowered me to own my voice and to use communication as a tool for change. One of my earliest platforms was social media. From GCC, I began to share stories, spark conversations, and shed light on the challenges and possibilities of disability inclusion. Slowly, I built an online presence that connected me with a wider community of advocates, organizations, and allies.

I will never forget how my journey with Gifted Community Center began, because honestly, it’s kind of funny. I was not invited or discovered through any official process. I simply heard from someone who knew someone that they were starting a project called "Hear Me See Me." When I found out it involved photography, one of my greatest passions, I begged for the link to apply. And when I finally got it, I applied with everything in me. This project utilized the power of photography to raise awareness of the lived experiences of the realities faced by women with disabilities who live in climate-affected communities, amplify their voices, and ultimately ensure that they have a greater role in decision-making around climate disaster risk management (both disaster risk reduction and disaster response, recovery, and preparedness). This single decision changed everything. From Beneficiary to Ambassador I was shortlisted, passed the interview, and entered the project as a beneficiary. But this was just the beginning. Over time, I became one of GCC’s ambassadors — not because of any title, but through my dedication, involvement, and the meaningful bond I formed with the heart of the organization. A Moment of Confidence An outstanding moment happened when one of the project beneficiaries had to drop out of the project due to unavoidable circumstances, and I was asked to step in and provide my perspectives about the DASA process (Disability Inclusion Approach to Social Accountability). I showed up nervous but determined. Then, I was unexpectedly asked for my perspective. I spoke confidently, from the heart, having paid keen attention during the discussions. What happened next took me by surprise: Madam Sarah, the founder, approached me and said, “You are really smart. You had no idea about DASA, yet you have contributed like that? We need to be engaging you more.” She meant it. And over time, that promise has been proven true. Tools, Growth & Impact Through the “Hear Me See Me” Photography Project, I was equipped with climate justice and photography knowledge, and a quality camera. That camera has become more than a tool; it has enabled me to land gigs that help me cover living expenses, many of which come through GCC’s connections and linkages. Having never seen me in action, Sarah believed me when I told her I’m an Emcee as well. She took quite a risk by entrusting me to emcee one of GCC’s big days of 2025 - The Day of their Strategic Plan Launch! I repaid that faith by delivering at my best, and her feedback, as well as the audience present, was proof of that! GCC also recognized my skills as a rapporteur, often inviting me to play that role in meetings. The pinnacle of my journey so far was when, thanks to their trust, I facilitated an international session of Donors and Founders. Me! On an international platform. I’m still in awe of that experience. Looking Ahead Gifted Community Center has not just believed in me, they’ve invested in me. They’ve shown me that it’s possible to rise above limitations, that disability does not determine my worth. As I look to the future, my hope is to grow big enough to support GCC reach even more youths with disabilities, the way they welcomed me. For now, I treasure our relationship, the faith they’ve placed in me, and every opportunity entrusted to my care. Closing Thoughts This is more than just a partnership. It's purpose, it’s people, it’s home. Thank you, Gifted Community Center, for the path paved, the doors opened, and the voice given.

My name is Stella Onyango (low vision disability) from Kibera. Below is my story on the impact Gifted Community Center -GCC has made in my life. In 2019, courtesy of GCC, I joined St. Charles Lwanga a vocational institute where I enrolled in fashion design. The programme took one year. GCCs assessment exercise helped me choose the right course which I pursued till the end. What made you choose fashion design? There were two main driving factors that made me chose this path. My late dad was a fashion designer; I grew up in a set up seeing the sewing machines. This gave me a great inspiration and my interest to develop the skills and knowledge required in the fashion and design industry. Life at St. Charles Lwanga happened to be great. They offered quite a wide variety of technical courses. Their main aim was to transfer knowledge and skills to us. I became really fascinated and hoped to give the course my absolute best throughout the year. They also offered traditional courses beside the main courses such as entrepreneurship, life skills, and communication and computer application packages. What made you choose fashion design? There were two main driving factors that made me chose this path. My late dad was a fashion designer; I grew up in a set up seeing the sewing machines. This gave me a great inspiration and my interest to develop the skills and knowledge required in the fashion and design industry. Life at St. Charles Lwanga happened to be great. They offered quite a wide variety of technical courses. Their main aim was to transfer knowledge and skills to us. I became really fascinated and hoped to give the course my absolute best throughout the year. They also offered traditional courses beside the main courses such as entrepreneurship, life skills, and communication and computer application packages. I gained other skills aside from fashion design There were games at the recreational grounds. We would go for sports at least once per week for physical fitness. As the exam date was approached, I became excited and at the same time anxious. We were about 10 students who sat for the NITA (National Industrial Training Examinations). I completed and passed The exams begun on 5th December 2019 and ended on 6th Dec 2019. Conduct capacity building trainings to GCC team on monitoring and evaluation Though the contract is coming to an end, I intend to use these skills to sustain myself. Thanks to Gifted Community Center.

The Government of Kenya through Health Cabinet Secretary CS Mutahi Kagwe continues to emphasize on quarantine, self-isolation, and working from home as some of the ways to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. And while this effort is for the public good — and one of the best ways to “flatten the curve” of the virus proliferation — navigating the new normal won’t be easy especially if you are used to outdoors. For persons with disabilities, it is becoming difficult as most of them work hand to mouth and need to be out there. To support persons with disabilities during this season in terms of their mental health, below are some of the tips we have wrapped up for you: 1. Physical Activity. Spending a lot more time at home does not mean you get to be a couch potato. Any form of physical activity will help sharpen your focus and aids sleep. Helping with house chores, cleaning out your house, or even simply moving around your limbs can serve as a workout session. Try to stretch, go to your sitting room and do some squats, have someone massage you, put on your mask and take a walk around your compound. 2. Consume less sugar or avoid sugar Scientists have proven that high amounts of sugar have a stress-heightening effect. Warm soothing foods like bone soup and sugarless teas can help thwart stress. Other helpful foods include whole-grains, bananas, oranges, water, and traditional leaves 3. Avoid Nonstop consumption of news Although it is important to stay informed and alert to what is happening around us, avoid bombarding yourself with inaccurate or depressing information especially before bed or as soon as you wake up 4. Write, paint, draw Be creative. Write a poem, publish a blog, paint or draw yourself. You will be surprised at how much using your creativity will improve your moods 5. Do you Finally, if you have already figured out what reduces your stress levels, do………..Just that. This list is not exhaustive, and can never be, Ï end this in the words of Dalai Lama “If you feel burnout setting in, if you feel exhausted and demoralised, it is best for the sake of everyone to withdraw and reset yourself.’’