The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has rolled out the Tunza Mentorship and Career Guidance Programme to foster personal and professional development among physically challenged learners.
The government-funded program aims to promote self-confidence, academic excellence, and social integration among persons living with disabilities.
Speaking during the launch of the first ever and one of its kind in history disability mainstreaming training at the University of Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Acting (Ag.) Executive Director of- the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Eva Njoroge pointed out that through the program, the council is keen to ensure equal access to quality education and training for students with disabilities by eliminating barriers to learning and enabling their full participation in the academic environment.
“The obstacles we navigate through every day, let them not define you, they are your strength, your perspective, and resilience are often what stands out to give your insight to the world around you,” noted the Ag. CEO.
She underscored that the mentorship will give trainees a chance to have someone guide them to elevate their potential. Additionally, it is about collaboration and working together with someone to help students succeed.
“When the road is challenging, with the right guidance you will be able to face those challenges head-on. You deserve all your opportunities to achieve your dreams regardless of the challenges you face,” she added.
The Ag. CEO urged the trainees to remain open, determined to learn, and move forward, noting that each lesson learned challenge faced, and goal achieved is a victory.
Titus Yego, Chief Officer Disability Services-Education Unit, NCPWD, emphasized the need to equip students with disabilities with the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to overcome societal barriers to enable them to pursue gainful employment opportunities and to contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s socio-economic development.
The Council’s officer in charge of programmes, Godana Boru encouraged the students never to underestimate their potential and abilities.
“If you take the opportunities around us as an impediment to our development it will continue as such, it all depends on your attitude, a transformative attitude about your disability will take us far,” he noted.
The University Administration led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Richard Cheruiyot requested the council’s support to streamline the infrastructure and provide equipment in terms of assistive devices.
The VC affirmed that the university provides good infrastructure with laws that help in mainstreaming disability issues to ease the movement of people with disabilities for example the physically handicapped and the visually impaired.
He further echoed that people should join the vibrant group of people with disabilities club because the club can share information about the rights and privileges that they can enjoy as registered individuals of PWDs to enforce a good campus experience.
In his remarks, the chairperson for Disability mainstreaming in the University of Eldoret, Dr. Orao Remy emphasized the need to accord every student an equal opportunity to explore their potential to the maximum regardless of the nature of disability.
The PWD trainees were taken through self-advocacy and human rights to articulate their issues more appropriately to get help.
Additionally, they were offered career guidance and advice on how to choose jobs in the future through skillful designing of the curriculum vitae (CV) to suit various employer’s needs.
Dr. Orao advised the students to plan their study time well, develop a reliable timetable, and choose an ample study environment while at the same time embracing collaboration with colleagues to achieve academic excellence.
The program has mentored more than 1000 trainees from comprehensive school to tertiary level and plans to mentor up to 4000 trainees in this financial year 2024/2025.
