DISABLED YOUTH: ENABLING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD IN KENYA DYESL Presented by Ezekiel Isanda Oweya School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Cape Town, South Africa

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION The presentation will: provide an overview of the study look at the aims and objectives outline data collection methods discuss emerging challenges in preliminary findings offer a few practical suggestions on how to overcome the challenges invite discussion on how we in the disability movement can collectively support livelihood in disability concluding remarks

Overview of the Study The paper explores the involvement of youth with disabilities in poverty reduction strategies in Kenya. A replica of this study was carried out in South Africa at: University of Cape Town University of Pretoria University of Witwatersrand University of Kwazulu-Natal

‘livelihood’ Rakodi’s (1999: 316) definition of livelihood: “comprising the capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living” Preferable to the narrow western concept of income generation (Grech, 2009)

Aims Aims Examines the existence of social, human and financial capital among disabled youth in Kenya Why the study To facilitate participation of young people in personal growth and development To compare the findings with South Africa as a developed country

Data Collection Methods Qualitative research methods Using a case study design the study was conducted in three main cities of Kenya: Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu Using KII and a snowballing technique. A sample of 30 youths with disabilities (18-35 years), covering all forms of disabilities Each focus group comprised of 7-10 participants in each city

Emerging and Striking Challenges As the study continues to unfold... Greatest risk factors affecting disabled youth population after school are; lack of sound sustainable livelihoods programmes i.e. lack of competitive livelihood opportunities due to non-existent human social and financial capital Inaccessibility and societal attitudes

Practical Suggestions Lets pump resources with disabled youth in mind and at heart How Build gifts and talents while young people are still in school Insist on the participation of young people in raising sustainable livelihoods Support housing, decent jobs, access to health and leisure

Concluding Remarks We need to come up with practical programmes on knowledge, work and health, grounded on socio-economic cultural formations within the social worlds context.

Open Discussion and Questions Discussion on how we in the disability movement can collectively support livelihood in disability Open Discussion and Questions

Thank you all for Listening Ezekiel Isanda Oweya Disability Studies Postgraduate Student- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town isand.ezek@gmail.com South Africa