The Nairobi Disabled Empowerment Program (NADEP) is an urban-rural Programme that implements activities and offers services to persons with disabilities in Dagoretti and Kibera slums. The group is led and run by persons with disabilities and strives to empower them think independently and creatively to take charge of their future .NADEP encourages active involvement of persons with disabilities in
development activities in the community as a means of reducing poverty. NADEP was founded in 2006 and letter registered under the ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services on, 1st October 2007, this was part of the efforts to bridge the existing gap between the mainstream disability organizations and issues related to persons with disability as there was no effort being made towards their empowerment. NADEP is a member based volunteer organization with 23 active members drawn from different forms of disabilities and members of the community as a way of unit and promoting participation among the different forms of disabilities. NADEP is a non religious, non discriminating and non profit making organization, with emphasis on empowerment, capacity building, and advocacy to improve the socio-economic status of persons with disabilities within the catchments areas
This is achieved through different programmatic interventions namely:
1. peace building and humanitarian support to PWDs
Our aim
The aim of NADEP is the activation of persons with disabilities in the society to think creatively and independently realize and participate in sustainable activities and self renewal, improving their living standards and encourage persons with disabilities to understand their civil rights. Our Services
Thematic group discussions
Information on HIV/AIDS ,human rights, entrepreneurship etc
Counseling and Condom distribution
Disability Resource information
IGA(Income Generating Activities) business information
Referral services to other partners
Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
Health has become a major issue among people, especially due to the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic, and drug abuse. Research has shown that a large percentage of new HIV infection occurs among the 18-35 age groups. The increase in pregnancy control drugs available over the counter renders users more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) since they concentrate on prevention of pregnancy and overlook the risks of getting infected with HIV virus. People with disability are also affected by the loss or illness of parents or guardians suffering from HIV/AIDS. Less attention is given to persons with disabilities in the efforts to fight the scourge yet HIV/AIDS knows no disability. Majority of disabled people are dying out of ignorance for lack of information. There is a need for specific attention to be made towards educating disabled people on the dangers of the disease and other related ailments. Specific Objectives
Create awareness on HIV/AIDS pandemic and other STI’S, abortion, family planning and other health issues. Set up and operate disability friendly VCT centers. Conduct peer education in schools, youth groups, one on one, other disability – based organizations. Set up a resource center where health information and other information can easily be accessed by disabled people. Reduce social stigmatization and prejudice resulting from cultural stereotypes held by the society. Economic Empowerment
Persons with disabilities are known to be the poorest, this is a group that experiences the vicious circle of poverty day-in-day out. However, there are no genuine efforts being made to empower them economically with a view of reducing the poverty levels experienced by many. Many of them have been left for the street leading to negative mentality amongst the society members that, disabilities towards finding decent and sustainable livelihoods for themselves. Specific Objectives
Facilitating and encouraging disabled persons to venture into small scale enterprises. Creating linkages with micro credit institutions to facilitate easy access to credit facilities for small scale business by disabled persons. Empower the disabled persons to realize own potentials through sustainable community development approaches. Encourage vocational trainings and job placements among persons with disabilities. Capacity Building. Majority of persons with disabilities have various talents that can be nurtured into a source of livelihood in the long run. The skills acquired by the disabled people need constant improvement to be able to fit into the current job market. The ideas owned by this group would be beneficial to them and the community in economic terms if training and mentorship programs are availed to help sharpen them into practical ventures. There is need for continuous training, support and counseling for the disabled persons to remain in whatever they are doing to better their lives. Specific Objectives
Offer trainings in entrepreneur and life skills. Provide mentorship to various initiative started by disabled people towards self-reliance. Support income oriented ventures by disabled people. Provide leadership trainings
Advocacy and Lobbying
More than often, persons with disabilities are regarded lowly in the society and have to go through numerous hardships to gain recognition. Form negative perceptions, derogative language in the development processes is severely hindered. Policy makers rarely give attention to issues affecting person with disabilities while making policies thus jeopardizing their development making them appear as second-class citizen. Through this program, NADEP seeks to work with expert and other stakeholders to achieve its goals since this is the core program within the organization
Specific Objectives. Advocate and lobby for rights of disabled and friendly policies. Create awareness on the cause of disabilities and stigmatization against PWD’S. Advocate and lobby for involvement of disabled persons in positions of governance. Advocate and lobby for mainstreaming of disability issues in development activities. Peace Building and Humanitarian Support
Best on what happened after the disputed 2007 elections it was evident that person’s with disabilities were affected
There was no genuine project to support the disables and yet most of them had been affected
The need to equip the disables on issues pertaining to peace building how thy can play a role in reconciliation and offer any support is crucial here
Specific Objectives
• Participate in peace building processes in the community
• Peace trainings to be conducted to the disables to enhance their capacity in peace issues
• Information on peace building to be disability friendly
• The disables to contribute to the national healing and national reform processes
Our Achievements
On our own we have been able to achieve a few milestones e.g. Creating awareness on disability and HIV/AIDS in Dagoretti and expanded Kibera slums this was achieved without funding but donations and members contributions
Initiated Income Generating Activities that support persons with disabilities to access basic needs
We have also been recognized by local media in our roll towards community development with persons with disabilities playing a major roll
We remain committed to spring development from grass root with focus on persons with disabilities being change agents thus the importance of equipping them with necessary skills and knowledge required to this enormous task
