Author: Lauren Blair

Fighting for the Right to Education and Inclusion: Rita’s Story

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on April 9, 2024

  Due to negative stigma about her disability, Rita’s parents abandoned her to the care of her uncle, Barnabas. Throughout Kupenda’s programs, 70% of children with disabilities have lost either one or both parents. This is due to social perceptions that disabilities are a curse from God and the lack of support families often receive.…



A girl smiling and seated outside in a wheelchair, wearing a brown checkered shirt.

Creating Possibilities: Living a Life of Achievement with Cerebral Palsy

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on March 19, 2024

Many years ago, while volunteering in a classroom at the Gede Special School in Kenya, a particular student’s smile always stood out to me. Gladys was a little girl with cerebral palsy, a developmental disability that affected her movement, posture, and coordination. Her demeanor was warm but unassuming. At home, her parents would often comment…



Happy International Womens Day Graphic

International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Women of Kupenda

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on March 8, 2024

This International Women’s Day, Kupenda joins with a global community to raise awareness about the rights of women and reduce the number of barriers they face in living prosperous lives. We also celebrate a number of women whose achievements with Kupenda continue to reduce harmful stigma and heighten inclusion for thousands of people with disabilities…



Photo of Hellen laying down in a blue shirt and yellow shorts

Loving the “Unlovable”: Hellen’s Story

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on January 31, 2024

Throughout the world, people with disabilities are often denied loving inclusion among their families and communities. This is not usually due to the disability itself but to the limiting views of others around them. For children like Hellen, her community’s understanding of disability meant the difference between life and death. Stigma and Struggle When Hellen…



rwanda student

Reaching Rwanda: Kupenda’s Partnership with Uwezo Youth Empowerment

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on January 10, 2024

One of Kupenda’s main missions is to share its disability inclusion strategies and tools with other organizations so that a greater number of people impacted by disability can become more active participants in their communities. Recently, this included meeting with Uwezo Youth Empowerment, a Disabled Persons’ Organization (DPO) in Rwanda that combats the stigma, prejudice,…



Follow Us on Social Media!

Blog Archives

2006-2017