Kai, Erica, Vino & Prerana
paid for an inclusive art program for kids living with disabilities in a slum community in Kenya
THEY raised $900!
This paid for:
Art supplies (acrylics, brushes, paint, drawing books, pencils, paper etc)
An art specialist to run the course for 20 kids for 12 weeks
Healthy meals and drinks for 20 children for 12 weeks
Kai, Erica, Vino & Prerana's feedback
The kids absolutely loved the classes! One particularly beautiful moment was when, in one of the earlier sessions, the kids had to try and touch a painted heart in the middle of a piece of paper. All of the kids came together to help each other out to touch the heart!
The kids painted some gorgeous pictures and sent them to Singapore as a thank you gift .
Marion's Story
Age 12, Kibera, Kenya
In the urban slums of Kibera, Kenya, people with disabilities face multiple disadvantages. Kibera is the largest urban slum in Africa, with most residents living in extreme poverty, earning less than $1.00 per day. Most slum residents lack access to basic services including electricity, running water, and medical care, resulting in a prevalence of diseases caused by poor hygiene and dirty water. In such conditions of poverty, parents are barely able to support their able-bodied children let alone children with disabilities. As a result children with disabilities are stigmatised, marginalised and often left to fend for themselves, which puts them at very high risk of abuse.
Marion, a resident of Kibera, has cerebral palsy and is also epileptic. Due to having regular convulsions, she is always on medication and needs constant care to help her get through the day and carry out her daily activities. Despite the challenges that Marion faces she loves art and finds it a therapeutic and creative way to express herself.
A local organisation that works with people who have disabilities has designed an art program for Marion and other kids in the community. Marion and other children with disabilities are invited to attend the course alongside able-bodied kids, and are supported to build friendships and connect over art, rather than focussing on their physical differences. Marion would love to take part in this program so that she can explore her passion for art further, and focus on developing her talent rather than dwelling on her disabilities.
Through the integrated art programme Marion and the other children will be able to discover new interests as well as make new friends. These activities will also create opportunities for social interactions, and improve coordination, memory and reading skills, especially for children with disabilities.
Therefore, on top of enjoying art and expressing herself through the new techniques she’ll learn, Marion - and her friends with disabilities - will also experience a reduction in stigma and discrimination associated with their differences. This change will drastically improve their overall quality of life as they start to feel more connected to and accepted by mainstream society.