Deaf Empowerment Kenya

About DEK

Deaf Empowerment Kenya (DEK) works to improve the environment for those living with disabilities in services related to health, education, governance and social services. It aims to improve quality of life for people living with disabilities and ensure people with disabilities understand their fundamental rights.

DEK builds the capacity of people with disabilities and enhances their wellbeing through programmes related to training, advocacy and networking to promote inclusive practices.

How DEK and DCW work together

The Deaf Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Livelihoods Project (DEYI) is a three-year project with Deaf Child Worldwide that began in September 2018. The project works towards ensuring that 150 deaf youths in Nairobi are skilled and can be employed as well as empowering deaf youths with knowledge and experience to manage the demands of living independently. 

The project works in a number of ways

• Sensitisation training to the community, especially employers – to encourage businesses to open up their recruitment policies for deaf young people and to work with employers on providing an inclusive working environment for deaf employees
• Career guidance to help deaf youths to understand the different career paths available, including vocational education and becoming self-employed
• Highlighting skill sets and expertise of deaf youths with employers for internships, work experience and employment opportunities

 Beneficiary of the project, Benjamin Amonyi says 

“Through training provided by DEK I have learnt a lot about finances, CV writing and entrepreneurial skills like starting up a business. DEK helped me secure my job at the Coca-Cola company and I’m already saving part of my salary so that in future I can start a business on the side.”