In-Country Manager

Salome Mwaniki
Kenya Coordinator

Summary

HATW works in partnership with four special schools in Meru County, Kenya, providing tailored education to children with disabilities and special needs. The support includes the provision of necessary equipment, educational materials, and nutritious meals, as well as raising awareness to change negative attitudes towards children with disabilities and support an inclusive learning environment. Support increases school attendance, promoting higher academic performance and achievements. An improved learning environment promotes respect for the dignity of pupils and teachers and an increase in self-esteem amongst parents and community members.

Challenge

In Kenya, it is estimated that only one in six disabled children attend school. Those who are able to attend school continue to face problems of exclusion, stigmatisation and poorly equipped schools. The schools lack access to adequate facilities, equipment and learning materials to meet the needs of the children to enable them to thrive and reach their full potential.

St Lucy's School

In 2024 Hands Around the World partnered with St Lucy’s Primary and Secondary Special Schools. These schools provide an education to 309 blind and visually impaired learners (155 boys and 154 girls). For over 60 years, the schools have been dedicated to supporting visually impaired students as they grow into confident, capable individuals, making meaningful contributions to their communities. This year, Hands Around the World supported the schools with the provision of 60 refurbished laptops, 60 headsets and 60 laptop bags. The provision of laptops has enabled the visually impaired students to access information on an equal footing with sighted counterparts and effectively follow the Kenyan Competency Based Curriculum. Students have developed critical ICT skills, essential for academic success, enhancing their independence, creating a greater sense of autonomy and fostering inclusive learning. St Lucy’s Schools require further support with adaptive technology to effectively complete the school curriculum, as well as new sanitation facilities and pathways for safe access around the school. 

St Lucy's School for the blind
St Lucy's School for the blind

Athi Special School

Hands Around the World has a long-standing relationship with Athi Special School. When we first got involved, the special unit was just a simple shed attached to the local primary school. Today, thanks to years of collaboration and community effort, it is a thriving independent school offering hope, dignity, and opportunity to children with disabilities.

Athi Special School currently provides an education for 135 students with disabilities and special needs (73 boys and 62 girls). Hands Around the World has supported Athi Special School since 2007, and projects have included the construction of classrooms and latrines as well as volunteer visits with special skills in special needs and physiotherapy. In 2025, we will be supporting the school with access to clean, safe water by establishing a functioning water system that provides water throughout the school. The provision of a reliable water supply will improve the health, sanitation and dignity of these children. Athi Special School requires new latrines and improved pathways around the school for safe access.

Athi School, Kenya
Athi School, Kenya

Irindiro Special School

Irindiro Special School provides residential education and essential support to children with disabilities and special needs. The school provides a life-enhancing service to 140 children, delivering a special academic curriculum tailored towards children with disabilities.

Hands Around the World has supported Irindiro Special School with the provision of specially designed furniture to support the learning needs of these children. The project delivered 40 chairs, two chalk boards and eight specially designed horseshoe tables to enable the children to learn effectively. The provision of the new furniture has improved the facilities in the classroom, providing an enhanced learning environment. Hands Around the World also supported Irindiro Special School with a water connectivity project. The project provided much-needed water pipes, to ensure a constant supply of safe clean water is available to all students and teachers – improving the water, hygiene and sanitation conditions in the school. Irindiro Special School requires an ablution block with latrines and a laundry room to regularly wash uniforms and bedsheets.

Irindiro School, Kenya

Partner news

Laptops for St Lucy's

Project update: More Laptops for St Lucy’s Special School, Kenya

Kenya Special Schools | Kenya

We are delighted to have received a grant from the Ulverscroft Foundation to purchase a second instalment of refurbished laptops for visually impaired students at St Lucy’s School in Kenya. This grant will make a... Read more »

Provision of clean water – Irindiro Special School

Partner update: Kenya Special Schools

Kenya Special Schools | Kenya

Irindiro Special School in Meru County, Kenya provides residential education and essential support to children with disabilities and special needs. The school provides a life-enhancing service to 115 children, delivering a special academic curriculum tailored... Read more »

visually impaired students

HATW Christmas Appeal 2024

Kenya Special Schools | Kenya

This Christmas HATW would like to raise money to support 334 visually impaired students attending St Lucy’s Primary and Secondary Schools for the Blind in Kenya. The schools are in need of essential IT equipment... Read more »

A student using one of the laptops provided

Christmas Appeal Update – January 2025

Kenya Special Schools | Kenya

Hands Around the World (HATW) has been implementing projects in Kenya since 2003. Our projects provide essential and much needed support to children with disabilities attending special schools in Meru County, Kenya. Recently HATW partnered... Read more »