Like Lorine, the woman mentioned in the previous post, Quinter Anyango is a young disabled lady who makes a living creating school uniforms. She worked her way through the classes of the ELCK Kisumu School for Mentally Handicapped, which is where she learned how to sew and tailor clothing. Quinter is a light in her community, and an inspiration to other disabled people and their families. In her small village there are several others with either physical or mental disabilities, and she serves as an example to them that it is possible to overcome a disability. She proves that when given the opportunity, a disabled person can succeed.
Last week DCM set up a meeting in Quinter’s village for her family, the village chief and parents of local disabled children. DCM staff members where at the site to help facilitate the meeting and to share with the attendees the opportunities available to disabled people. They were able to share information about the rights of disabled people and the programs available through the school. DCM even brought in an acting troupe, a financial advisor and a young disabled man who spoke about his situation.
DCM sets up about four meetings a month and they aim to raise awareness at various levels throughout the community and also work to inspire parents to send their disabled children to school and job training, rather than locking them up. In a country where the average person struggles to survive, DCM is helping those with obvious disadvantages succeed.