If Simon Peter, 24, was born without disability, he would have been in his final year at the University. But since he is a special needs child, he is now at Grade 4.

Born in Chikudum, South Sudan, Simon a refugee at the Kakuma Camp was born with a condition known as Hemiplegia: paralysis of half of the body. 

His disability made him join school at an advanced age as he had no wheelchair to help him reach a school, most of which were far from home. His chance to join school came only when his family moved to a city.

“Growing up with Hemiplegia has been challenging. I never got a chance to socialise and play with other children.

I was indoors often. There was no school that could enrol me because of my condition. I started class one in 2016 at the age of 14,” he says.

However, due to political instability and war in South Sudan in 2018, Simon’s education was halted.

When he came to Kenya in 2019, he immediately enrolled in Future Primary School in Kakuma Refugee Camp and joined Class Three through the help of Finn Church Aid Special Needs Education project.  The organisation issued him with a wheelchair.

“I used to carry him wherever he needed to go. It is a relief that I can wheel him to school, and he manages the school day by himself while I report to other duties.

Then I pick him up after the classes”, says Simon’s guardian Mark Loyiel.

Simon now mingles with his classmates, all younger than him and has made new friends and family.

His classmates are friendly and usually make sure they get to him to all the places he is supposed to be.

The project also trains teachers on inclusive education that bridges language barriers of refugee learners and prepares teachers to meet their needs.

So far the project has trained 69 teachers and supported 275 children and youth with disabilities that live in the refugee camp to go back to school by getting wheelchairs, stationaries, textbooks, school uniforms and food.

They also actively involve parents and guardians in supporting the special needs education.