Rise and Shine School for the Disabled

In collaboration with The Wameyo Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Mumias East Constituency, we also visited Rise and Shine School for the Disabled. Just like our previous visits, our main goal was to educate them on health-related matters; among the topics discussed were general hygiene, mental health, and menstrual hygiene. The team brought to the school a bag of maize, beans, 200 sanitary towels, underwear for the girls, 176 incontinence diapers, toothbrushes, colored crayons, and sharpeners, among other school supplies.

Disabled students in the area we operated in were especially disadvantaged, due to both their increased needs and decreased visibility. The result of this - an increased burden placed on parents and community members - drove our attention towards Rise and Shine. The team gave a pep talk to the students on general hygiene - which most of them seemed familiar with - menstrual hygiene, and mental health. The majority had little knowledge of mental health-related issues although from our various interactions, it was clear that they have experienced mental health issues.  The obvious challenges that we observed were a lack of infrastructure specifically designed for disabled students, high levels of poverty from the community and thus low support for the institution, and a severe lack of funding. 

One of the staff members pointed out that most families hide their disabled children from communities and the public because of the stigma and shame that is associated with disability. This of course not only impacts the students mentally, physically, and emotionally but also has a significant on parents, both financially and emotionally. As a disability institution, Rise and Shine have had instances where they visit homes and the community to get the children from where they have been hidden.  There is a clear need for society-level changes - both institutionally and casually - to give disabled students the chance to succeed they deserve.