By Sherry Waweru | Senior Programme Officer, Kenya
Hello,
The last seven month have been the most difficult period of all times due to the outbreak of Covid-19. All learning institutions remain closed. For the two special schools supported by Raising Futures Kenya, minimum activities have been happening around the schools since March. Although the government is planning on reopening the schools, the final decision will be announced by the president after holding a national conference on the Covid-19 pandemic, after which he will unveil the containment measures that will guide Kenya into the new normal. Although children have been out of school much longer than normal recess, many parents are not yet ready to allow their children back to school for fear of contracting the virus as the curve is not yet flattened hence there will be a lot of confusion in the next few months before the dust settles. In addition, vast numbers of parents lost their jobs and therefore they may not afford school fees, uniforms and other requirements to take their children back to school.
Unfortunately, children with special needs are the most vulnerable in the community as they are entirely dependent on caregivers to provide care and support hence, they are most likely to remain at home when schools open. The two special education schools we work with, Kirunguru and Percy Davies, are making thorough preparations ready to receive the children back, but this will only happen once they get approval having put all measures in place according to the guidelines provided by the ministry of health. This is a tall order for the school management and the staff team but we know that they will do everything possible to safeguard the wellbeing of all children.
During these difficult and uncertain times of the pandemic, a few cases of children with special needs were brought to our attention by teachers at Percy Davies school: one being of a young boy by the name David who would run away from home very early in the morning to go and beg for food on the streets few kilometres from his home as his mother could not afford to provide meals. One of his teachers was informed by a concerned lady and David and his family were added to our Emergency Support Programme, giving them a monthly allowance for food, hygiene and emergency supplied. His mother has now been able to buy food and urgent supplies and this has kept David at home protecting him from contracting the coronavirus.
Apart from David, the teacher also identified a young girl named Eunice who was once rescued by well-wishers having been neglected and locked up in the house for a long period of time. Eunice is 14 years and now lives with her mother and 3 siblings. Eunice's mother is a single parent coping with her own mental health needs. Eunice is physically disabled and has been diagnosed with autism after being assessed and placed at Percy Davies school. The pandemic has hit the family badly as the mother could not afford proper meals for Eunice and her siblings since losing her income. Raising Futures Kenya learnt about the sad state of Eunice’s family from one of her teachers and through the Covid-19 Emergency Support Programme, the family has continued to receive food and essentials monthly.
According to Mr. Mwangi the school head teacher, the two families have greatly appreciated the charitable support. Every month one of the teachers accompanies David’s mother and Eunice and her mother to a nearby town to do some shopping for food and other essentials that would last them for a month.
Thank you so much for your continued support and allowing Raising Futures Kenya to stand with vulnerable families helping them to raise above their challenges during the most difficult period of our lifetime. We can’t thank you enough for your generous giving towards the children with disabilities who are in need of special education and care to reach their full potential.
By Kirsty Erridge | Director
By Sherry Waweru | Senior Programme Officer, Kenya
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