This confirms the World Health Organization (WHO) report that states; 80 % of persons with disabilities in the world are living in developing countries like Kenya. In this country, only 1 % of persons with disabilities have access to rehabilitation services. Mathare Slums is unlikely site for motivated young people who act as forces of change to dwell. There is a glimmer of hope for this young talented youth who have different abilities and not disability. Seeing them play wheel chair badminton, or wheel chair basketball, Boccia and even wheel chair dancing will amaze you of the once forgotten talents. Football is a passion for this great people who play anything round, from Goal bell to soccer, wheel chair table tennis and sitting volley ball.

MYSA has developed a facility that allows this young people to explore their abilities and develop their talents. The project now provides sport and recreational activities in response to a lack of facilities to enjoy sports in the special schools and in the communities. MYSA also organises “Weekly Recreation Days” at Komarocks where equipment and sport facilities are available. During these days people with intellectual and physical disabilities are involved in numerous sports activities mentioned above.

With the support from the MYSA creative arts programme ‘Haba na Haba” the persons with disabilities who cannot participate in sports activities are engaged in creative arts. The project is offering persons with disabilities the opportunity to participate in music, drama, arts and plays which has helped in improving their self esteem. By creating a large network with relevant sports clubs and sports organisations for persons with disabilities, MYSA has increased the number of opportunities for persons with disability to participate in sport and has developed a pathway from grass root to competitive level.

In order to overcome the lack of knowledge in disability sport, MYSA provides courses and trainings to educate the Volunteers in the organisation and leaders on disability issues in general and sports for persons with disabilities in particular. Furthermore, the project is also educating persons with disabilities on HIV and AIDS and other health related issues.

MYSA is the first organisation to report to the Kicking AIDS Out Secretariat their interest to develop movement games for persons with a disability. Although inclusion, at least as a philosophy, has become broadly accepted, the full acceptance of individuals with disabilities has not yet been achieved. It is a complete process going step-by step from separate to parallel, to inclusive activities.

The inclusion process of MYSA’s Kids with Disabilities project started with the recruitment of volunteers with and without disabilities. Working together in the same project has increased understanding and sensitivity about one another which has assisted in preventing social exclusion. Furthermore, MYSA has tried to enable all individuals regardless of their disabilities to participate in physical activities in the same environment as their peers by giving them individualized support and attention.

The recreation days and the community information meetings give the opportunities to the children and the rest of the community to interact socially and to move forward in the process of inclusion. In order to reach the totally excluded children, MYSA volunteers are working on locating and including in the project the ‘hidden’ or ‘locked-in’ children who are not attending school or participating in the social life. Close relationships between MYSA and the special schools has facilitated the integration of the ‘hidden’ children into the school system and give them the opportunity to follow an academic education like their peers. By doing so, MYSA uses the power of sport to improve the social situation of people with disabilities in the slums of Nairobi.

This project was launched in late 2007 to fully engage all persons with disabilities from the Mathare slums and its environs in providing sports activities as a link to community development activities. But the project is fully operational 3 years down the line with an amazing recruitment and participation of the marginalised groups in the society. The projects vision is to, “give youth with disabilities an equal chance.” This has been in line with their mission of, “fully engaging all persons with disabilities from the Mathare slums and its environs in sports by providing sports activities as a link to community development projects.”

MYSA is currently looking for partners and friends who share the vision with them to support them in this endeavour.

If you are interested or want to know more about this project, please contact:

MYSA Kids With Disabilities Project MYSA Headquarters Off Kangundo Road, Komarocks Box 69038 - Nairobi 00622 Kenya

Tel: +254-20-241-6651 / +254-20-2416652 Telkom wireless +254-20-20-62353 Fax: +254-20-241-6653 usawa@mysakenya.org www.mysakenya.org/kwd