In Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of disabilities among children aged 0–14 years remains unclear, with estimates ranging from 6% to over 20%. What’s more, 90–98% of children with special needs are out of school, resulting in extremely low literacy levels (only 3% of adults with disabilities are literate). This lack of access to education not only limits opportunities for learning but also severely restricts future professional and economic prospects.
Our Response
Through our Home-Based Education (HBE) Programme, we identify children with special needs within our communities and design individualised education and care plans to accelerate their development. These plans are implemented in the children’s homes, together with their guardians, by community caregivers who are extensively trained in understanding the biological, psychological and social challenges faced by children with developmental differences.
A central aim of the programme is to ensure that at least 75% of children are enrolled in formal schools, while equipping 100% of guardians with the knowledge and practical skills to effectively support their children’s growth and development. When the programme was piloted in 2016, only 10% of school-aged children with developmental conditions were enrolled in school. Today, 93% of this first cohort are enrolled in school. This demonstrates the transformative impact of inclusive education and family-centered support. Over the years, we have also strengthened community capacity by training and deploying 16 teachers’ assistants to primary schools to champion inclusive education.
While the programme primarily focuses on 134 children with special needs, its multiplier effects extend far beyond, positively impacting nearly 5,000 family members, caregivers, parents, and teachers across our focal areas.