Counselors with Disabilities Empowering Students with Disabilities

Youth with Disabilities are 10 times more likely to suffer from depression, especially in East Africa where stigmatization, marginalization and discrimination is still widespread. The lack of essential psychosocial support creates additional barriers that keep Persons with Disabilities from being able to obtain and maintain meaningful employment.

Next Step Foundation’s Upili Program addresses this pervasive mental health challenge by providing Counselors with Disabilities to support secondary school Students with Disabilities, their families and communities. By meeting the psychosocial needs of these students and training teachers, staff and peers to serve as “psychological first responders,” the Upili Program instills self-confidence, improves academic performance and provides the tools to successfully navigate future discrimination so they can achieve economic independence.

Our Pillars of Actions

Group Counseling

Trained Kenyan counselors empowering Students with Disabilities to process past and current traumas

Teacher Training

Educating teachers/staff to serve as Psychological First Responders in support of group therapy sessions

Peer Counselors

Training select group of students to provide peer support, active/reflective listening and mentoring

Caregiver Awareness

Coaching and educating caregivers around disability acceptance and support at home

Our Key Outcomes

Better Sexual and Reproductive health

Upili supports participants by fostering self-confidence and self-love, which strengthens their sense of self-trust. This empowerment reduces their vulnerability to exploitation and promotes overall well-being.

Improved Academic Performance

Through weekly group counseling sessions, Upili participants receive psychosocial support. This allows them to fully focus on academics outside of sessions, enhancing their educational success.

Strengthened Interpersonal Skills

Through acceptance and unconditional positive regard in Upili’s group counseling, participants gain confidence and tools to practice conversational and interpersonal skills comfortably.

Increased Workplace Success

By building emotional resilience and self-awareness through counseling, Upili participants are better equipped to navigate workplace challenges, communicate effectively, and thrive.

What others say about Upili

“We have great students, but they bring their frustration from home situations to school, and this impedes academic performance. This anger becomes a cycle and teachers, administration, and students feel frustrated.  Upili would help.

Upili instilling confidence is what our students need. That and learning to self-advocate both here and out in the world when they leave here. “

Sylvia Sintamei
Principal Kasarani Treeside Secondary School for the Deaf

Support Our Mission

Join us in making a difference by championing the mental health and well-being of Students with Disabilities.

Your contribution helps create safe spaces where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Donate Today

$100

Helps provide a group counseling session led by counselors with disabilities, ensuring participants receive crucial psychosocial support.

$200

Supports workshops for students and parents, teaching coping strategies that improve emotional resilience and foster family support systems.

$300

Covers the cost of follow-up sessions, ensuring continuous care for students facing severe anxiety or depression. Ensuring continuous care.

Together, Let’s Create Opportunities for All

Far too often, students with disabilities are left out, leaving them vulnerable to mental health challenges, social isolation, and missed opportunities. Upili is committed to changing that.

Every student deserves mental health support, opportunities to grow in confidence, and the skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.

With your support, we can empower these students to overcome challenges, thrive academically, and build brighter futures for themselves and their communities.