Help me, to help others!
Hello everybody! My name is Keely Walsh! I am a 22 year old
student studying a bachelor of social work at Sunshine Coast University. I also
work as a disability support worker with the Endeavour foundation and volunteer
once a week as a youth mentor at Headspace.
I have embarked on a month long journey to Kenya next year and I am
hoping to raise money to purchase items such as vitamins, sanitary, clothing,
educational books and equipment, general hygiene items, towels, bedding,
medication, art and craft items, first aid materials..the list is endless. The
orphanage itself can house between 15-30 children with different levels of disabilities, and this is only ONE
orphanage. The project I will be involved in works with children and teenagers with
disabilities living in the slums of Nairobi called Ongata Rongai special needs orphanage, (you can google it). It is estimated that
800,000 Kenyan children under 17 have a disability. These statistics however,
do not provide an accurate picture as most children are kept indoors because a
disabled child is viewed as a curse that brings shame to the family.
Due to a lack of therapy and schooling facilities in Kenya, most disabled
children never receive any kind of help to improve their quality of life.
Through the support of my workplace (Endeavour Foundation), I am aiming to
educate the people of Kenya and create awareness about disability by
implementing strategies such as providing active support training to staff and
families who are affected by discrimination that surrounds this cultures view
on disability. As many of these children have been denied basic human rights, the
marginalisation they have experienced throughout their short lives is beyond comprehension
and has remained practically invisible in the media.
As IVHQ is a non for profit human services organisation, they
provide support to those less fortunate than us to ensure the people of Kenya receive
the resources that they desperately need. These are some of the poorest and
most disadvantaged people in the world. And they need your help. All donations
will be highly appreciated. I can guarantee personally that all funds raised
will go directly to the Orphanage in which I will be volunteering. Thanks for
taking the time to read my post. Good karma will be sent your way.