UBUNTU (CTC International)

The Ubuntu Life mission is 'Connect to Empower.' When we first came to Maai Mahiu, Kenya, we found a community of children with special needs and their mothers being mistreated and secluded. The stigma and lack of understanding surrounding special needs in Kenya means extremely limited access to essential services such as education, affordable healthcare, physical rehabilitation, and vocational training. Ubuntu Life created the Ubuntu Special Needs Centre (SNC) to combat this stigma and injustice by providing therapy, education, and vocational training to youth with special needs in Maai Mahiu. Caring for these children had been a full-time job for their mothers, so after enrolling their children in the SNC the Mums started a new conversation with the founders: “Now that our kids are out of the house, can you help us do something productive with our time?” The answer was a fashion line, initially imagined to create jobs for these Mums. Today, those same women have formed into a sisterhood revered in the community: women who provide for their families, purchase land, and venture into their own successful entrepreneurial efforts. Which is why it’s not simply about creating jobs. At Ubuntu, empowerment means more than providing handouts or even a sustainable job. It means offering people a chance to create their own lives and livelihood. We pay above-market wages to all of our employees and provide health insurance, a rarity in Kenya where less than 20% have access. The job skills our Mums learn and the money they earn empower them to buy homes – they are able to provide for their families, and sometimes start their own enterprises. They earn more than money; they earn respect in their community. Together, by providing disabled children with the healthcare and education they need, we empower them to realize their fullest potential. That’s empowerment. That’s Ubuntu Life in action.