Author: Jessica Charles Abrams

A glimpse at Kenyan teen, Amani Patrick, in 2013 versus 2021

Including Amani: A Young Man’s Journey to Independence

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on March 10, 2021

When we first met Amani Patrick more than 10 years ago, he was struggling to communicate due to his limited sign language skills. Although his parents wished they could send him to school, their jobs as a painter and peasant farmer did not earn them enough income to cover his tuition fees. Amani Thrives at…



Three women standing within a circle of listening women

Blessed: Lessons Learned from our Work with Traditional Healers

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on March 4, 2021

By, Jessica Charles, Kupenda’s Development Director The first time I sat in a workshop alongside 25 Kenyan traditional healers, I was nervous. I’d heard that these herbalists, soothsayers and witchdoctors were conducting painful traditional healing practices on children with disabilities in their communities — things like skin cutting, exorcisms, and live burials. Some of them…



Headshot of a woman, Michele Reber, wearing a blue shirt

“It Gives Me a Sense of Joy”: An Interview with Kupenda’s Friend, Michele Reber

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on March 2, 2021

In this interview, our long-time support and friend, Michele Reber, shares stories of Kupenda’s early years and her perspective on our evolving approaches to disability inclusion. In her responses, Michele also describes how her relationship with Kupenda and its founder has kept her invested in our work for the past 19 years. We cannot thank…



Man standing to share his story at Kupenda’s Abuse Prevention Workshop, surrounded by other audience members.

“I Had to Punish Her”: New Perspectives on Domestic Violence

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on October 28, 2020

Talk of “domestic violence” often elicits images of a raging parent or partner. Someone angry, cruel, and controlling. But what if, for some, domestic violence is an obligation. Even an expectation. “Then I went to drink. I had to become very drunk so I could get the courage to beat my wife. I had to…



How Your Donations Have Changed 4 Lives

by Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on August 30, 2018

Dear Friends, This year I sat with 4 children from our programs and listened to stories of how their lives had been transformed because of your donations. Each child’s story illustrated how a $30 gift is so much more than a month of tuition – it’s also access to food, a bed, medical care, and…



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