‘There is No perfect moment to be a Leader...do it everyday’

As a Network, we continue exploring different ways to advance disability inclusion. We endeavor to keep playing a part to ensure that our communities are more inclusive and more accessible to persons with disabilities. Importantly, to support women and girls with disabilities to exercise leadership in their everyday life. One of the activities that we have recently conducted through the support of the Ford Foundation is holding Strategic Dialogues with Youths with Disabilities from different Higher Learning Institutions to reflect through leadership and what it means to them; barriers to their inclusion in their communities and collectively reflecting on solutions to challenges that they face.

We brought together 20 young people with disabilities from 10  higher learning institutions such as the University of Nairobi, Mt. Kenya University, Tangaza University, Thika Technical Institute, Kenya Institute of Special Education, Kenyatta University, NITA (National Industrial Training Authority), United States International University, among others. The learners represented diverse disabilities. Some of the participants were a part of their institutions’ student councils and hence are involved to a great extent in the running of student affairs in their institutions.

We were indeed lucky to partner with Emerging Leaders Foundation (ELF-Africa) throughout the process, including developing and executing the agenda. Through this collaboration, we got amazing facilitators from ELF-Africa, as well as others including Bina Maseno, Eceutive Director  from Badili Africa. As the Network, we are happy to create these connections across movements and by so doing supporting other organisations and movements  to ensure that their programming is inclusive of persons with disabilities. For us it is important to keep creating bridges not just within our movement of persons with disabilities, but further, with others including the youth movement and feminist movement. 

“Sometimes we wait for the right moment to strike on bigger issues,” said Bina, “but there are smaller issues every other day,” she said while encouraging the youths to be aware of the everyday places where their leadership can make a difference. “What about places you would want to go to every day,” she paused, “are they accessible?”

“Do other people speak about the issues that you as learners with disabilities are talking about,” was a poignant question posed after one student leader spoke about challenges she faced while campaigning to be in her college’s student council. “Are we the only people talking about these issues? Are our allies talking about our issues?” 

The inspiring facilitation helped the learners to ask themselves how they occupy in spaces they exist each day. They were guided on how to do a power analysis which is very useful in their advocacy for inclusion.

Stella Nderitu from ELF-Africa, in her remarks encouraged the youths with disabilities that it is possible to do what they want to achieve. On the topic of leadership, she reiterated that leadership must be a representation of what we have in our societies. Our diversities. Which is pertinent even as we seek to ensure that youths with disabilities are not left out when it comes to leadership.  

The highly interactive sessions explored mentorship, goal setting, and story telling sessions that were meant to be spaces where the youths learned from each other. We were also happy to have a session with Ashura Michael who shared nuggets of wisdom with the participants. As a Network, we shall continue engaging with the youths who are already in an online group that we shall use to engage going forward.

We hope to work with the youths to realise their aspirations when it comes to leadership. Among these and from a pre-meeting survey, the youths listed the following as some of the leadership support they need: Guidance and advice from experienced leaders; Accessible leadership development programs; Opportunities to connect with professional networks and; Support in advocating for inclusive policies and environments.  

“It was so amazing, I learned something I have never heard before...I am sure with this knowledge we acquired, it will make us be future great leaders...” said one participant. As a Network we look forward to being one among other platforms that the youth with disabilities use to realise their dreams within leadership, not only in their institutions of higher learning but in their broad communities as well.  

For this update and more, connect with us on X at  @Kwwdnetwork