World Cerebral Palsy Day Spotlight: From Barriers to Beauty Therapy

On World Cerebral Palsy Day, we acknowledge the 50 million people living with cerebral palsy worldwide and celebrate the stories of children and young adults, like Stella, who are thriving through partnerships with Kupenda for the Children. Stella’s cerebral palsy, a brain disorder that affects physical movement, began at birth, causing her to walk with a limp and sometimes feel unsteady. For many years, her family, like many in low- and middle-income countries, believed her disability was a punishment from God or a curse. As a result, life felt uncertain, and without the right opportunities, Stella’s future seemed limited.

This began to change when a Kupenda scholarship supporter and Kenyan staff partnered with her family. This allowed Stella to attend school and continue her education from primary through secondary school. Today, she is thriving at a vocational training center, pursuing a two-year course in beauty therapy. Her teachers describe her as humble, responsible, and hardworking. She attends classes regularly, eagerly asking for help when needed, and often supports her peers, including those with disabilities. Already, she has mastered skills such as plaiting, weaving, nail care, and facial treatments.

Throughout her journey, Kupenda staff have regularly checked in through calls and home visits, provided counseling for her family, and supported them in understanding Stella’s rights and potential. Thanks to this guidance, her parents have become active partners in her education and proud witnesses to her progress. Once filled with doubt, they are now filled with pride as they see their daughter’s skills blossom.

In addition, Kupenda’s disability advocacy work has helped her community better understand disability and the importance of including Stella in daily life. As a result, neighbors often visit her and ask her to practice her hairstyling techniques on them, happily paying her for her services.

These opportunities are paving the way for Stella to lead a more independent life. She isn’t just learning technical skills, she is gaining confidence, self-worth, and a strong sense of belonging. This World Cerebral Palsy Day, would you consider supporting a child like Stella to access education, dignity, and independence? Your involvement demonstrates that disability does not define a child’s future—opportunity does. Thank you for equipping people with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, to shape their own futures.

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