2026

A large group of people of varying ages and races standing inside in front of a projector screen.

From Kenya to the World: How Kupenda’s Expertise Is Shaping Global Disability Research

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on March 9, 2026

When global researchers want to understand how to support children with developmental disabilities in African communities, they increasingly turn to Kupenda. In 2022, King’s College London and Aga Khan University invited Leonard Mbonani, Kupenda’s Kenyan director, to serve as an advisor on theĀ SPARKĀ project (Supporting African Communities to Increase Resilience and Mental Health of Kids with…



A group of children and adults walk together along a rural road carrying a large purple banner that reads ā€œInternational Epilepsy Day – My Epilepsy Journey,ā€ participating in a community awareness march in Kenya.

International Epilepsy Day: Closing the Care Gap for Children with Epilepsy in Kilifi, Kenya

by Rebecca Heidorn

  • Posted on February 23, 2026

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, yet it remains widely misunderstood and under-treated—especially in low- and middle-income countries. For children, lack of treatment can mean frequent seizures, disrupted development, exclusion from school, and life-threatening medical emergencies. However, with the right medication and follow-up care, many children with epilepsy can…



A smiling woman wearing a patterned headscarf and colorful dress carries a young child on her back wrapped in bright red fabric, standing outdoors in a rural setting

When Communities Lead, Children Thrive: Zainabu’s Story

by Kupenda

  • Posted on February 23, 2026

Kupenda activates local leaders and parents to come together to improve the lives of children with disabilities in their communities. These efforts have allowed children like Zainabu and her peers to access medical care and education, experience love and inclusion, and reduce their vulnerability to violence and abuse. Living With Disability in Lango Baya Six-year-old…



A woman wearing a sleeveless red dress and glasses sits indoors beside leafy green plants, smiling at the camera in soft natural light.

Making a Loving Impact

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on February 16, 2026

This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate a different kind of love—the kind that is not just a feeling, but a choice to stand with children with disabilities, even when the journey is hard. For Lucky Mahenzo, Kupenda’s Deputy Executive Director in Kenya, love is more than a calling. Her very name, ā€œMahenzo,ā€ means ā€œloveā€ in Giriama,…



A person with very short, light blond curly hair stands facing away from the camera in a rural village with red dirt ground and small brick houses. They are wearing a green and blue patterned dress. Palm trees and leafy green trees rise behind the homes, and several children are visible in the background walking and playing between the houses under a clear blue sky.

She Survived Infanticide: A Woman with Albinism Tells Her Story

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on February 15, 2026

Editor’s note:Ā We are sharing this story to illustrate the real, life-and-death consequences of disability stigma and why community-based education and advocacy are essential to protecting the dignity and lives of children. Content note:Ā This story includes discussion of violence related to childbirth and disability-based harm. Harmful beliefs about disability are not abstract ideas or distant traditions.…



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