Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps make Kenya the second-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Apart from being settlements for people forcibly displaced from their countries due to persecution, human rights violations, and armed conflict. Teachers, caregivers, parents, and learners still face a major challenge in accessing inclusive education for all children with and without disabilities. With eKitabu’s partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Humanity & Inclusion at Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, eKitabu traveled to the two camps in May to train over 150 caregivers, 200 teachers, and 400 learners, on the importance of caring for children with disabilities and UDL and accessible digital content, and how to utilize digital materials respectively.“We are happy to collaborate with eKitabu to deliver accessible digital content to Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps and train teachers and caregivers in the community on the importance of techniques and valuable tips to create a comfortable environment for learners with and without disabilities, and to achieve their goals and dreams in life" Grace Mwwangi, Inclusive Education Project officer, Dadaab-Humanity & Inclusion.Caregivers in the refugee camps were trained on ways to support children with disabilities at home, equipping them with skills to provide the best possible care, helping children with disabilities to receive support at home and to become better caregivers to children with disabilities.

“Raising a child with a disability is wonderful but also difficult. Our children need and deserve the best possible care. All of us can learn to become better parents or caregivers to our children with disabilities. I am looking forward to applying the skills that I got from the training in supporting my children in home learning.” Hawa Dahir Nunow, Caregiver at Dadaab refugee camp.Over 200 teachers, community assistants, community outreach teachers, primary and secondary school teachers, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teachers were trained to utilize the three Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and to advance inclusive learning in the classroom.

“I am happy to have received the UDL training by eKitabu. UDL guides the design of learning environments connecting every student to the learning experience regardless of their ability and allows teachers to make decisions based on emotion and motivation. We must offer the students a variety of ways to access materials, and give students options about how to show us what they are learning.” Tutu Haidar, Special Needs Education Teacher, Kakuma refugee camp.400 learners with and without disabilities were also trained on access and use of eKitabu’s accessible digital content on tablet devices in the classroom. With learners who are blind listening to the audio and Deaf learners watching signed videos with their peers in the mainstream.

“I enjoyed reading Dora in the Big City storybook on a tablet device during the digital platform training with other learners who are deaf and blind and learned how Dora moved to a new school in Nairobi and lived with her aunt, Moni”. Hawo Hussein Mohamed, Grace 6 student at Central primary school in Dadaab refugee camp.“eKitabu is working alongside other partners to develop a manual for caregivers of children with disabilities, to support care for and learning for children with disabilities. We are also working with HI to engage stakeholders at the county level and in this past visit we had a session with the Turkana county stakeholders in Lodwar from 22nd to 23rd May. We will be engaging the stakeholders in Garissa from 20th to 22nd July 2022.” Lilian Kibagendi, Project Manager, eKitabu.For more information, eKitabu plans for more training sessions in the coming months and you can find out more by contacting support@ekitabu.com