The US Embassy in Kenya partnered with inABLE to initiate an 8-month Creating Tomorrow’s Business Leaders project to equip blind youth with computer and soft skills to develop entrepreneurial skills and the specific mitigation competencies that blind people use to participate in the workforce.

This project includes 60 blind youth (40 girls and 20 boys) in Kenya aged 15-30 from 4 counties (Siaya, Thika, Meru & Mombasa) who are presently enrolled in the inABLE Computer-Labs-for-the-Blind program. Using hadley.edu participating blind and low-vision youth have access to online resources to sharpen their mobility skills, employment readiness, daily house chores, personal hygiene, and even social engagement with the general community.

The youth have been very adaptive to the process and eager to learn about employment possibilities. One of the program’s beneficiaries is Jacinta, a 15-year-old visually impaired grade seven pupil at St. Oda school for the Blind. A top student in her class and passionate about technology, she describes the value of this project. “As a blind learner who has had difficulties accessing many learning resources, I am excited to be part of this project. I want to take full advantage of accessible technology to boost my studies and learn about other useful life skills, such as the best way to land employment.”

After learning basic computing, browsing, and internet skills, as well as the application software to be used in training, including the Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship platform, the participating students are learning more advanced skills such as online career research, online business opportunities, advanced Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship, and exploring work possibilities for the blind in the business world.

After going through this project, these youth will be equipped with assistive technology competence, computing skills, basic life disciplines, and employment preparedness. These will give them the confidence to leverage available and accessible digital resources that can set them apart when seeking employment or becoming self-employed.

This partnership between the US Embassy in Kenya and inABLE supports our mission to empower Persons with Disability through computer-assistive technology and our advocacy work that envisions a world where everyone has all-inclusive access to the same educational, technological, and employment opportunities.