The Deaf Empowerment Society of Kenya (DESK) has partnered with the Coca-Cola Foundation to train over 15,000 members on entrepreneurship skills.
The initiative that targets youth and women started in Embu and will run in five selected counties as a way of boosting the deaf and postering the self-reliance aspect on them through business.
The members in Embu, Meru, Migori, Nyamira and Vihiga counties will fully be trained on finance management, business development and capacity building so that they can fit in the business environment.
Also Read:
The program is dubbed as “Boosting Economic Self-reliance of the Deaf Women and Youth in Kenya Project (BESDY)".
"This program will ensure the deaf people do not depend on handouts but instead be able to be self -reliance,'' Mercy Jeremy, DESK Director of Communications and Public Relations, said.
Ms Jeremy said that the five counties which will benefit from this program have the highest number of people with various disabilities.
"After the training, DESK will give them some money to start small businesses.
"We are seeking to counter marginalization, dependency culture and social isolation related to people living with hearing impairment,” the Director said.
The trained team will also be assisted on tapping the business opportunities in all levels of government.
Purity Kagendo from Embu county, who is a beneficiary of the program, said that deaf people suffered a big challenge while seeking job opportunities in different sectors due to their communication challenges.
Kagendo also said they were being ignored in everything and treated as people who cannot do any meaningful task.
Reverend Jackson Ngari from the Anglican Church Embu Diocese urged residents not to hide their disabled children but instead be proud of them so that they can benefit from various programs.
The President of Coca Cola Foundation, Said Saadia Madsbjerg in a speech read by Jeremy said the program will be a game-changer for deaf persons.
