The Yes We Can Project was launched in December 2017 with the main focus being on children with mental disabilities. At the time KidsCare Kenya was working solely with children with physical disabilities. During this time KidsCare Kenya identified that there was a gap in the area for children with mental disabilities. It was clear that for these children, attention and help was at very low levels both from the community and in many cases from the caregivers. What really stood out was the treatment that many of these children were receiving. Many were locked up in houses, stigmatization was rampant, and these children were not receiving their basic human rights. Furthermore, poverty was a major factor in determining the lifestyle of many of these children. Most caregivers were very poor and lacked the basic necessity for providing these children with proper care. It was clear that there was a need for helping children with mental disabilities as well as their caregivers.
Currently, there are 63 children actively participating in the Yes We Can Project. The project consists of Home Visits guided by an Individual care plan for both children and caregivers. We set up Support Groups to share experiences, give mutual support, receive training and encourage economic activities. And, we hold regular Awareness meetings for the community to create acceptance for the children with disabilities. Assessments of a child is conducted by specialists from Association of the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) and KidsCare.