Our Impact

The aim of the Foundation for African Empowerment (FAE) is to make positive, measurable sustainable impact in the lives of children with disabilities. We however recognize the fact that to achieve such level of changes it takes time. In collaboration with the schools, families and communities and other stakeholders, all our projects shall be careful designed, implemented and evaluated by internal and external experts in order to demonstrate impact and ensure sustainability. We measure our programs by the number of children with disabilities have accessed quality education and their lives improved. We’re committed to  publishing results from our programs and projects in order to share best practices and lessons learned with the broader human development community. In this section, you will read evaluations, case studies, reports and other technical documents about our programs and projects.

Read below about some of our successful projects:-

1.Safe Water for Chemka Primary School

In the summer of 2017, FAE developed a constructive partnership with BAM International, Hai District Council, Chemka Primary School and Chemka village to bring safe drinking water to Chemka Primary School. The village didn’t have either access to safe water, so the children collected it from ponds where also the animals were drinking. As a consequence, a year prior to the project, around 40% of the pupils including those with disabilities had contracted water-borne diseases such as typhoid, schistosomiasis and urinary tract infections that not only affected their health but also their school attendance, perpetuating the 

poverty cycle among the children and their households.

The Chemka Primary School located in Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania is a public school that provides kindergarten and primary school education to 510 children. The school had no running water so the children had to carry large buckets for up to 3 Kilometers to the school every day.“Safe and clean water is a serious problem in our school. We stay in school for 9 hours, from 6am up to 3pm without water to drink, to use in the toilets and to  wash our hands. ”, said the young Amina,  Head Prefect of the school. Now, hopefully, this will change and constitute a first step towards better livelihoods for all Chemka children including those with disabilities studying at Chemka Primary School.

 

Outcomes

As a result of bringing water to Chemka Primary School, the dignity, health, sanitation and hygiene of about 370 students including those with disabilities plus their teachers has been improved. Incidences of water-borne diseases have been reduced and attendance improved since girls can now attend classes even during their menstrual cycle.
2.Disability Inclusive Games and Sports
The benefit of sports and games in schools goes beyond the benefit of physical activity. Increases in self-esteem and mental alertness make school sports and games necessary for every school age child. Although the benefits of school sports abound, many schools are cutting out sports and physical education programs to the detriment of students.  Beyond physical benefits,  sport and games are crucial for breaking the barriers to disability inclusive education. Sports that include children with disabilities help in changing negative attitudes towards children with disabilities especially when these children can effectively demonstrate their talents and abilities in sports and games.
In November 2018, FAE in collaboration with two friends from the USA, Stacy and Amin were able to build sports infrastructure for volleyball, netball and soccer at the Chemka Primary School. Also, various sport equipment  were supplied enabling  students to play different sports and games. Moreover, one of the objectives of the project was to facilitates  disability inclusive education  at the school.
Outcomes
Currently, children including those with disabilities can engage in different sports and games.  School life has become more enjoyable and inclusive.  Girls and boys play together, students from rich and poor families play together, students with disabilities and those without disabilities play together.
3. Moivaro Disability Inclusive Playground

In efforts to improve access to disability inclusive education,  FAE  in collaboration with the Moivaro Primary School and the Moivaro Special Needs Children Center in Arumeru, Arusha have implemented a project entitled “The  Moivaro Special Needs Education Children Center Playground Project”.

Moivaro Special Needs Children Center established in 2004 is located within the Moivaro Primary School with a purpose of educating and supporting children with mental and physical impairment from Moivaro village and the nearby villages to learn mathematical numeracy and literacy skills before joining primary and vocational training centers. Currently, the center has 53 children in which 30 are boys and 23 are girls with age ranging from 5 to 24 years. There is a potential for the number of students to increase significantly because other such children are known to be kept at homes.

This project is  supported by the Australian High Commission, Direct Aid Program in Kenya. We have built a ‘modern’ disability inclusive playground at the school.  The objectives of the project are:-
1. To improve learning environment and physical, mental and social activation of children with special needs, and
2. To retain current students with special needs and make the school more attractive for new students.

 

The Moivaro Primary School has around 800 students including 53 students with special needs/disabilities. In efforts to achieve inclusive education, the playground is designed to be used by both children with disabilities and those without disabilities.

Would you like to know more about the impact FAE is making? Contact us now to learn more.