Japan gives Sh18m grant to help children with special needs

The Embassy of Japan on Friday signed a Sh18 million grant with the Garden of Siloam to build a comprehensive care centre for children with special needs.

The grant was signed by Japan Ambassador Horie Ryoichi and Kumon Kazuko, the representative of the Garden of Siloam, at the envoy’s residence in Nairobi.

The centre will be built in Limuru subcounty, Kiambu county, and will benefit 70 children and 280 family members by providing appropriate medical care and other services.

This, the embassy said in a statement, will contribute to improving their overall well-being, quality of life and social engagement in the community.

“Since its establishment in 2015, the Garden of Siloam has been tireless in their efforts to accommodate as many children with special needs as possible at their centre, where they provide high quality education, personalised health care, therapy as well as psychological and social support to cater for the different needs of the children and their families,” the statement said on Friday.

It added that since 1989, the government of Japan has provided funding to non-profit organisations such as self-help groups, community-based organisations, NGOS, schools, medical institutions and county governments through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.

“To-date nearly 350 community-based projects have benefited from this programme, which has enhanced the lives of the Kenyan people at grassroots level,” the Japan embassy said.  

The Embassy of Japan has been cooperating with the Kenyan government to support children with special needs through its GGP programme.

For example, in 2019, the embassy provided Sh10.6 million to Ogande Special School for the Mentally Handicapped for the construction of two dormitories and a perimeter wall.

A survey by the Ministry of Education in 2016 survey revealed that one out of every 10 Kenyans below 21 years suffer from some kind of disability.

Despite the efforts by the Kenyan government, many of these children still continue to suffer silently due to lack of interaction with society because of the social stigma associated with children with disabilities. This pushes their parents to keep the children hidden and away from school, the mission noted.