Japan’s Grants Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program in Aid of Mentally Challenged Children & Epileptic

Title

Japan’s Grants Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program in Aid of Mentally Challenged Children & Epileptic

Date

14th March 2011

Location

Kakamega North, Western province

Project title

The Project For the Expansion of St Joseph the Worker Home for Mentally Challenged & Epileptic 

Amount

US$ 103,625

Attendance

• Mr Yoichiro Yamada, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Kenya
• Mr G. Ombongi, Kakamega North District Commissioner
• District Officer and representative from ministries
• Sisters of Mary Community Health and Development members
• The local Religious fraternity
• Parents
• Members of the Community

Totaling about 200 participants

Main activity

Mr Yoichiro Yamada, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Kenya signed a grant contract amounting to US$ 103,625 with Sisters of Mary Community Health and Development at the St Joseph the Worker Home for Mentally Challenged and Epileptic in Kakamega North District for the Project of the Expansion of the Institution for the mentally challenged.

Upon completion of the project, more mentally challenged children will be enrolled at the facility where it is expected that they will learn basic life skills such as feeding, dressing, bathing etc. Therapy in which a child is involved in a variety of creative tasks and activities and vocational training will be given in order to enhance their usefulness in the society.  In addition, since this will be a well equipped facility, it will be open for referrals of children who may need occupational therapy even though they are not resident at the home. With the new facility, they will not have to travel as far as Kisumu or Eldoret to get treatment. This will be the only institution in Kakamega North District that deals with heavily handicapped cases.    

At the ceremony, the community expressed its gratitude to Japan for providing funds to improve the facilities. They said that lack of specialized facilities for their children had led to the neglect, abuse and exploitation of disabled children by people who don’t understand their needs e.g. witchdoctors, traditional healers etc.

The area leaders commended Japan’s efforts in helping communities in Kenya and specifically thanked the Embassy for choosing to come in aid of their community. They expressed hope that following the noted improvement of children at the home, negative cultural attitudes and superstitions regarding people with disabilities will end.