Disability Advocacy

houseparents who work at Kupenda supported schools

Home Away From Home: The Role of Houseparents in Caring for Children with Disabilities

by Cynthia Bauer, Kupenda Founder and Executive Director

  • Posted on January 13, 2023

  When I think of the houseparents who work at Kupenda supported schools, I think of strength, compassion, and sacrifice. They are the caretakers for children living away from their families for weeks at a time. Mainstream schools in Kenya do not have the resources or properly trained staff to provide the support that many…



Gede Special School students

One Year With Kupenda: Lessons Learned From Seven Thousand Miles Away

by Rebecca Heidorn

  • Posted on January 5, 2023

It has been one year since I joined the Kupenda team, and I could not speak more fondly of my experience. My fellow staff are kind-hearted, hardworking, and share in my passion for making the world a better place. The work we get to do together is truly changing hearts and minds in a way…



Leah Battillo

“The True Value of Educating and Advocating for Others”: An Interview with Kupenda’s New Board Chair, Leah Battillo

by Lauren Blair

  • Posted on December 20, 2022

This month, I had the privilege of interviewing Leah Battillo, a special education teacher, board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), and current Kupenda board chair. Last year, after deciding to step down from 12 years of board service (mostly as chairperson) to work as a program consultant for Kupenda, it was a privilege to transfer this meaningful…



Intern

Contributing to Change as a Kupenda Intern

by Lucie Rutherford

  • Posted on December 2, 2022

For years, I have been interested in the intersection of public health and international aid. As a former global public health undergraduate at the University of Virginia and now a master of public health graduate student focused on policy, law, and ethics, I was eager to join Kupenda’s team. Thanks to connections between a former…



New Kupenda Storybook Helps Children Understand Disability Equity and Kenyan Culture

by Lucie Rutherford

  • Posted on November 14, 2022

The stories of three children in our new storybook, No Longer Left Behind, demonstrate how Kupenda bridges education equity gaps for children with disabilities around the world. Plot: Only One of Three Friends Can Attend School Set in rural Kenya, children walk eight miles to and from school every day. For Rehema, a non-disabled child,…



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