Rotary Club of Ngong Road President Mwende Mulandi addresses children, parents, caregivers and teachers during an event
By Nicodemus Makemu
Children living with disabilities, alongside their parents and caregivers, received much-needed therapy and mental wellness support during a special programme held at the Edmund Rice Centre in Kibera, Nairobi.
The initiative, spearheaded through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Ngong Road and the Restore and Renew Wellness Group, focused on promoting emotional healing and psychosocial support for learners with special needs, their families, and teachers.
After a month of intensive sessions, the programme culminated in a colourful Art and Mental Wellness Exhibition that celebrated the progress made by the children and their support systems.
Speaking during the exhibition, Mwende Mulandi, President of the Rotary Club of Ngong Road, highlighted the emotional and social struggles many families of children with disabilities continue to face.
“We are here to celebrate an exhibition after one month of therapy and mental wellness,” Mulandi said.
She noted that while society often recognizes children with disabilities, parents and caregivers are frequently overlooked despite carrying heavy emotional burdens.
“Many parents are told to hide their children or even shun them. Most of them live in informal settlements and face many challenges. That is why mental wellness is equally important for caregivers,” she explained.
Mulandi urged parents to seek supportive environments that embrace children with disabilities instead of isolating themselves.
“If you have a child with a disability, find a school such as Edmund Rice Centre that will welcome and support you,” she said, while reminding caregivers that they also deserve mental wellness support.
Similarly, Austine Itebete emphasized the need for continuous support for children with disabilities, saying inclusion should not be treated as a one-time activity.
“This is not a one-day event but a continuous journey. Every child deserves a chance,” Itebete said.
Throughout the programme, learners participated in specialised art therapy sessions designed to help them express emotions and improve mental wellbeing. At the same time, parents, caregivers, and teachers underwent training on how to better support children with disabilities at home and in school.
Teachers at the institution welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
Phylis Ambenge, a teacher at the Edmund Rice Centre, praised the support offered by the Rotary Club of Ngong Road, saying it had greatly benefited both learners and caregivers.
“The Rotary Club of Ngong Road visited us, brought materials for our children, and supported both parents and teachers,” she said.
Ambenge also encouraged parents who still hide children with disabilities due to stigma to bring them forward and allow them access to care and education.
“My advice to parents with children with disabilities is: do not hide them, let them come,” she urged.
In a show of the learners’ creativity and growth, baskets woven by the children were displayed and sold to officials from the Rotary and Rotaract Club of Ngong Road, demonstrating the potential of children with disabilities when nurtured in a supportive environment.
