Charity Overview

Mama Respond is a grassroots organisation based in Kitengela, Kenya, dedicated to improving the health, education, and opportunities of children with disabilities — and empowering their mothers to be changemakers in their communities. At the heart of their work is the belief that when mothers are supported, entire families and communities are strengthened.

The organisation’s approach is multi-faceted: building and running the country’s only comprehensive special needs unit, providing medical support and advocacy for children with disabilities, and creating peer networks for mothers. These networks, known as Strong Mamas, are safe spaces where women can share experiences, break down stigma, and build collective strength.

The Challenge

In Kenya, children with disabilities face significant barriers to education and healthcare. Many are excluded from schools, denied access to medical support, and subjected to stigma or neglect. For their mothers, the burden of care often brings social isolation, financial strain, and emotional hardship.

Without intervention, these challenges create a cycle of disadvantage — where children’s health and education suffer, and mothers are left without community or hope. The need is not only for medical and educational support, but also for empowerment and solidarity.

Meridian’s Support

• Year Awarded: 2023
• Grant Amount: $10,000

Meridian’s grant was used to fund a cohort of women through the Strong Mamas Program, providing training, peer connection, and tools for advocacy. The program offered:

• Training sessions covering health, education, mental health, and leadership.
• A safe community where mothers could share experiences and build confidence.
• Support to launch outreach activities that extended impact beyond their own families.

The Impact

• 91 mothers participated in at least one Strong Mamas training session.
• 8 mothers completed all 16 sessions, demonstrating deep commitment and leadership growth.
• 5 graduates formed a group that now conducts hospital outreach, reaching 56 clients in a single month.
• These women are fundraising to open a community water station — a project that will bring both economic benefit and community service.

The ripple effects are powerful: trained mothers are now not only caring for their own children more effectively, but also stepping forward as community leaders and advocates.

Looking Forward

Mama Respond is building momentum. As more cohorts of Strong Mamas graduate, the program is creating a network of empowered women ready to lead local change. Their initiatives — from health outreach to micro-businesses like water stations — are strengthening entire communities while dismantling stigma around disability.

Meridian’s support has provided more than just funding; it has enabled a multiplier effect, where mothers empowered through the program extend their impact far beyond their own homes. This aligns with Meridian’s vision of enduring, compounding generosity — giving that grows over time.

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