Disability Advocacy

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 the SPARK 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, “Mahenzo,” means “love” 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: 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: This story includes discussion of violence related to childbirth and disability-based harm. Harmful beliefs about disability are not abstract ideas or distant traditions.…



Learning to Love: Esther’s Journey to Inclusion Through Kupenda’s Running Club

by Veronicah Kuria, Jessica Charles Abrams

  • Posted on November 24, 2025

Kupenda’s Inclusive Running Youth Clubs are creating spaces where children with and without disabilities can run, learn, and grow together. Through these clubs, participants build friendships, strengthen their confidence, and receive spiritual support that affirms the value of every child. The program is a collaboration with the Micah 6:8 Foundation and We Run We Rise, and children are recruited…



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