Jacky Muraba

As the world gears up to celebrate this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2024, members of the Chakol and Amase Persons with Disabilities (PWD) groups in Alupe, Teso South, Busia County, Kenya, will have a unique reason to celebrate.

Earlier this year, Farm Africa, an international non-governmental organization, invited these two groups to participate in its transformative Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) program. YISA is a five-year aquaculture development initiative implemented by Farm Africa in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The program’s objective is ambitious yet vital: to create 150,000 sustainable, dignified, and fulfilling jobs for young women, men, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons in Kenya. The initiative focuses on promoting innovative practices to transform the country’s aquaculture industry.

According to United Nations statistics, 80% of the one billion people with disabilities live in developing countries. Like many others, before joining Farm Africa’s program, most members of the Chakol and Amase PWD groups struggled to find gainful employment.

Through the YISA program, group members have received comprehensive training in soybean production and marketing. Soybeans, rich in protein and lipids, are essential for producing high-quality fish feeds. With fish farming businesses expanding under the program, the demand for such feeds is set to grow, presenting a transformative opportunity for the PWD groups.

A Life-Changing Opportunity

For the group members—many of whom are young and previously unemployed due to their disabilities—this initiative is a game-changer.

“We expect to earn between 600,000 to 1,000,000 Kenyan Shillings [approximately £6,000],” shared Everlyne Namu, chairperson of the Amase group. “This will allow us to command respect from those who currently despise us. The community will witness our children going to school, and our young members will have the opportunity to further their education.”

The groups are currently cultivating 25 acres of soybeans and have applied for the YISA Program’s Challenge Fund. This fund offers grants or matching funds to small and medium-sized enterprises with innovative ideas to create employment opportunities for young people, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons in Kenya. With this grant, the groups aim to acquire mechanized equipment to streamline their operations further.

A Commitment to Inclusion

The inclusive approach of the YISA program has been particularly meaningful to participants.

“I truly appreciate the inclusive nature of this programme, as it has brought persons with disabilities on board—something most projects usually overlook,” said Agnes Auma, chairperson of the Chakol PWD group.

Teddy Nyanapah, Farm Africa’s Program Manager, emphasized the broader impact of the initiative:

“This initiative will not only create gainful employment opportunities for persons with disabilities growing soybeans but will also strengthen the entire aquaculture value chain by ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality fish feed to fish producers. The YISA program aims to increase the quality, production, and productivity of fish, ultimately expanding work opportunities for young women and men in the aquaculture sector.”

Looking Ahead

As members of the Chakol and Amase PWD groups share their progress and achievements on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, their story serves as a testament to the power of inclusive development. With training, resources, and support, they are building a future where disability is not a barrier to success but a driver of innovation and resilience.