By Sunday Oyinloye
Monicah Tenai is an Early Childhood Development and Education(ECDE) teacher in Kenya. She has taught children with disabilities for 5 years. Monicah lost her hearing to meningitis at the age of 10. She was taken to Iten School for the Deaf where she started learning Kenyan sign language. Monicah later moved to Kapsabet School for the Deaf to complete her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. She also attended Angela Mumias for her O level Certificate and holds a Diploma in Education.
Monicah is Mandela Washington Fellowship Fellow . She did Business Entrepreneurship Track at Yale University Connecticut and three months Internship at National Association of the Deaf, Maryland, USA. She is the Founder of Deaf Girls Education Foundation, Kenya.
She set up Golden Hearts Inclusive ECDE Centre in Eldoret Uasin Gishu County, Kenya in January 2017 to provide conductive environment and nutrition for vulnerable children in order to ensure that they meet their holistic development at early age. Golden Hearts is an integrated school where all children learn in the same classroom regardless of their special needs. It provides unique education for children between the age of 2-10
Though, Golden Hearts is still new and yet to get any support from government or the private sector, Monicah is determined to make a success of the school which currently has 15 children. The school is recognized by District Education Department.
Monicah in an interview with Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable said:
” Children with disabilities are more vulnerable than regular children. They deserve a lot of care since they cannot express themselves when in need . Golden Hearts is taking care of children with disabilities to help parents reduce their daily burdens. Though the school is new, we are working round the clock to write its name in gold”.
Monicah is also working on a new project. She wants to set up Deaf Children Home with occupational therapy unit and community library. She is seeking support from corporate organizations and spirited individuals to realize her dream.
For this beautiful lady, disability should not be an impediment to achieving one’s goal even as she is determined to lift the broken hearted.
