Kenya Report -- September 2004
REPORT ON ACTIVITY IN KENYA: September 2 - 25, 2004


Purpose
: To enable persons, in churches and in schools, to work effectively with individuals who have disabilities. The 2004 phase is in
continuation of ongoing training in Kenya which began in 1997.

Team members:     David and Florence Anderson (Crossing Bridges Board members)
                              Barry and Lydia Johnson (volunteers)
Ministry activities:

1.
Nairobi Great Commission School of Theology (NGCST) – Dr. Anderson taught an intensive course on Disability Awareness and Ministry
to approximately 40 seminary students. The seminar was arranged through collaboration with Dennis Okoth, M.Ed., Principal at NGCST.  
Students taking the course (the entire student body) were either current or future church leaders in East Africa (primarily Kenya). As with
previous experiences, it was rewarding to see how God opened their eyes and hearts to the needs of persons with disabilities – a group that
is marginalized by African society and traditional culture, and which tends to be ignored by the church as well.
Students at NGCST
Principal Dennis Okoth and Dr.
Anderson teaching the course
2. Acorn Special Tutorials Teacher Training – AST is a private school for children and youth with disabilities, founded and directed by
Eva Nyoike. Sensitive to the need for trained people to work with disabled individuals, Eva created a diploma program for which Dr.
Anderson serves as consultant and visiting instructor. This was the fifth seminar Dr. Anderson has conducted at Acorn since 1998. As with
previous trips, this seminar was for persons who currently work with children and youth with disabilities in the Nairobi area. This year’s
teaching focused on “brain-based teaching and learning” with application to students who have learning disabilities. Ten persons were
enrolled in this seminar, several of whom are regular class teachers working in private schools where inclusion is practiced.
Teacher in-service
at Acorn
Eva Nyoike and
Dr. Anderson
consult
3. Acorn Special Tutorials School  – Time was also spent time at Acorn Special Tutorials “visiting” with some of the disabled students, their
caretakers, and the staff at Acorn. Students at Acorn have various disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, and autistic
spectrum syndrome. Around 30 students are enrolled, 8 of whom are residential students at Acorn.
Barry chats with some of
the male students
Lydia observes students
gathering for an activity
Florence developed a close relationship with Lydia M., caretaker
for Francis. Francis, nearly 6 years old when this photo was taken,
contracted meningitis when he was about 2 ½. All his motor and
language skills were lost as a result. Lydia lives is Kibera, one of
the largest slum areas in East Africa. The loving care provided by
Lydia and the therapy received at Acorn are helping Francis to
regain some motor skills.