Caregiver’s Training Brings Hope and Better Care for Rural Mothers Raising Children with Disabilities

For many rural women caring for children with disabilities, caregiving is a full-time responsibility that often comes with emotional, social, and financial challenges. Yet, through targeted caregiver training supported by UN Women Kenya and its partners, many women are finding renewed hope, practical skills, and a stronger support network to help them navigate their journeys.

The training programme has been equipping caregivers with practical skills through the Caregivers Training Manual. 

It provided caregivers with evidence-based knowledge on nutrition, therapy, disability inclusion, and psychosocial support. It also creates spaces where caregivers can learn from one another, build support networks, and gain confidence in caring for their loved ones. For many women, the programme has become more than a training course, it has become a source of hope and empowerment.

One of those women is Linet Wangeshi, a mother from Marula Sub-location in Laikipia East, whose life changed dramatically when her daughter Abigail was born with cerebral palsy.

"When I was told that my child would not grow normally like other children, it shook me. I never expected such a thing could happen to me," she recalls.

Abigail's difficult birth and subsequent health complications left Linet struggling to understand her daughter's condition. Like many caregivers in rural Kenya, she faced uncertainty, isolation, and the emotional burden of accepting a diagnosis she knew little about.

Over time, however, regular therapy sessions and caregiver training have helped her better understand her daughter's needs and potential.

Her turning point came when she participated in a caregiver training programme organized by UN Women in partnership with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), and the Ministry of Health with support from global disability fund.

The training, on the Caregivers Training Manual, equips caregivers with practical skills to support persons with disabilities while also recognizing the often-overlooked burden of unpaid care work carried primarily by women.

"From the training that was conducted by UN Women, I came to learn that I am not alone as a parent raising a child with such a condition," says Linet. "It really gave me hope because I was feeling very low. When I interacted with other parents, it gave me morale and encouraged me to improve the care and support I provide at home."

Beyond emotional support, the training introduced caregivers to evidence-based practices on nutrition, therapy, stimulation, and social inclusion.

Before the training, Linet struggled with feeding Abigail and worried about her slow growth. Today, she credits the knowledge gained through the programme with helping improve her daughter's health and development.

"After engaging with the caregiver training, I learned about proper dietary practices, and now you can see her health has been improving," she says.

The training also helped her overcome the stigma and fear that often prevent families from fully integrating children with disabilities into community life.

"Initially, I was very reluctant to take her out because people would ask questions such as, 'How old is she?' and 'Why is she not walking?' Those questions could really lower a caregiver's morale," she explains.

Today, Abigail attends church, interacts with other children, and participates more actively around other children.

"If I go to church, she interacts with other children. She is now very friendly. Before, you couldn't leave her with anyone because she would cry. Now she is comfortable with other people."

The programme has also created valuable peer-support networks among caregivers who often face similar challenges.

"The interaction between caregivers has been really good. We talk to one another, visit each other, and encourage one another. It helps to know there are others facing similar situations," Linet says.

Despite these gains, significant challenges remain.

Like many women providing unpaid care, Linet has limited opportunities to earn an income because her daughter requires constant supervision.

"You really need to be around such a child at all times, so you cannot engage in other economic activities. It is a challenge because I cannot work to help provide for my family," she says.

The financial burden is equally heavy. Weekly physiotherapy sessions cost about Ksh250 each, while medication to control Abigail's seizures costs between Ksh2,000 and Ksh2,500 per month. Accessing services often require travelling long distances from rural communities.

"We do not have a therapy centre nearby. The nearest one is about 30 minutes away by car. We recommend that such facilities be brought closer to villages, so caregivers do not spend so much time and money travelling," she says.

Linet is also calling for assistive devices, affordable therapy services, and expanded health insurance coverage for physiotherapy and disability-related care.

Yet despite the challenges, she remains optimistic.

Her story reflects the growing impact of investments in caregiver training and disability inclusion efforts across Kenya. By equipping caregivers with knowledge, practical skills, and support networks, such programmes are helping transform caregiving from an isolated struggle into a pathway toward dignity, inclusion, and better quality of life for both caregivers and the people they support.

Funded by the Global Fund for Disability and implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNDP, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD),  organizations for persons with disabilities (OPDs), and the Ministry of Health, this initiative is helping strengthen disability inclusion, improve caregiving practices, recognize and reduce the responsibility of unpaid care work, and enhance the dignity, wellbeing, and socioeconomic participation of persons with disabilities and their families in Kenya.