Disability Advocacy

Cross International Partnership Equips Kupenda to Refine and Expand Life-Saving Disability Programs

by Kupenda

  • Posted on May 25, 2026

Over the past five years, Cross International has become one of Kupenda’s most important partners in changing harmful beliefs and practices about disability and expanding access to life-saving care, inclusion, and opportunity for thousands of children and families in and beyond Kenya. In the early years of our partnership, Cross focused on strengthening Kupenda’s core…



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…



A woman sitting, playing the guitar, and singing with a Kenyan boy.

More Than Leadership: The Transformational Impact of Cynthia Bauer

by Rebecca Heidorn

  • Posted on March 31, 2026

During Women’s History Month, we honor women whose leadership reshapes our world. Today, we celebrate Cynthia Bauer, Founder and CEO of Kupenda for the Children, a global leader in disability inclusion, whose work has transformed the lives of thousands of children and families. Cynthia’s journey toward disability justice began with a profound realization while studying…



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 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,…



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