Lauren Blair

Three smiling students in matching school uniforms pose together outdoors, with one student forming a heart shape with their hands

Back to School: Recognizing the Gifts Around Us

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on August 28, 2026

This summer, I had the privilege of returning to Kenya to see Kupenda’s programs in person. Although I first traveled there almost 20 years ago as a volunteer and returned several times, I had not visited since 2012. I never imagined those early trips would eventually lead me to chair Kupenda’s board, then join its…



a woman holding her baby

When Outbreaks Strike, Disability Inclusion Cannot Be an Afterthought

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on June 27, 2026

When *Moses became seriously ill, his family feared they were running out of options. Doctors believed the shunt used to treat his hydrocephalus was infected and told them that nothing more could be done. But when Kupenda helped him reach a medical professional experienced in disability-inclusive care, the doctor discovered the real problem: Moses had…



2 women in Kenya, seated on a bench outside a home and holding hands

Mental Health Awareness Month: When Healers Need Healing

by Martha Omar, Lauren Blair

  • Posted on May 21, 2026

*AI-generated image used to protect privacy At Kupenda for the Children, we walk alongside families as they experience a variety of emotions, from the love and hope they hold for their children with disabilities to times when, despite every effort, they experience unimaginable hardship and loss. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor families and…



A young girl stands against a textured, weathered wall, wearing a bright blue dress with red circular patterns and light-colored sandals. She faces the camera with a calm, neutral expression, her hands resting at her sides.

A Place to Belong: Mercy’s Journey from Fear to Faith

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on April 8, 2026

In many low-income countries like Kenya, children who are deaf often begin life in isolation—without access to sign language, schooling, or even basic understanding from those around them. Mercy’s life once reflected these challenges. Today, her story is one of change, marked not only by education and opportunity, but by the confidence to step into…



A Kenyan young woman standing in front of a white wall, wearing a white collared shirt.

From Grief to Hope: Florence’s Story

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on April 2, 2026

Many of the children with disabilities Kupenda supports have stories shaped by hardship. In their communities, disabilities are often seen as a curse, and children are undervalued and denied access to basic opportunities—barriers that can become even more significant during seasons of instability or loss. This Easter, we are reminded that even after the darkest…



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