A new learning center for students with visual disabilities recently opened at a secondary school in Kisumu, Kenya, through a collaboration between the East African nation’s Ministry of Education, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other community groups and organizations.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that all learners, including those with disabilities … can access education in the right environment,” said Fredrick Haga, head of the board of directors overseeing education for people with disabilities in Kenya, as he spoke on behalf of the nation’s government at the new center’s handover ceremony.
This new center is “state-of-the-art,” he said, “and we believe the learners who use it will be comfortable,” as the new center “provides greater accessibility for all who will study here.”
The new learning center — added on to Kibos Special Secondary School in Kisumu, Kenya — expands the school with 12 new classrooms, each capable of accommodating about 50 students. It also adds 18 lavatories and 150 desks and chairs.
“We want learners with visual disabilities to access modern facilities,” said the school’s principal, Joshua Ombayo. “When they learn in such a complex, their self-esteem is enhanced, they become confident and their performance improves.”
The new learning center comes at a “critical time” for the sector overseeing education for people with disabilities in Kenya, states a recent news release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The country’s currently leading institution for students with visual disabilities is located nearly 250 miles from the new center and currently serves about 800 students — an amount “well above its ideal capacity,” the church news release further states.
The new center at Kibos Special Secondary School will help ease the pressure on the nation’s leading institution for students with visual disabilities and increase access to specialized education across Kenya, per the church’s release.
“Our message to the community and to the students is that we should share the love of Christ with one another and with those around us,” said President Peter Akal of the church’s Kisumu District.
“This spirit of Christlike love strengthens our unity as a community. We love this school and we love this community, and we look forward to continuing to support and improve all that we do together.”
The secondary school in Kisumu, Kenya, serves students with visual disabilities through “tailored infrastructure designed to provide meaningful educational experiences,” per the church’s release. In addition to the new learning center, the school also received 20 braille Bibles and 300 braille storybooks.
Celebrating the new center at its handover ceremony were leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ, Kenya’s Ministry of Education, the Riziki Foundation and other community organizations. Teachers and representatives from Kisumu County’s government and Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa were also present at the ceremony.
