Currently, KUB is working with the following development partners:  

• African Union of the Blind
• Computer Aid International 
• German Development Cooperation, through the GTZ HealthSector Programme
• Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, through Care International in Kenya
  
• Institutional Development Program 
• Kenya Community Development Foundation
• Sight Savers International
• Stephen Lewis Foundation
• Voluntary Service Overseas

African Union of the Blind

KUB and the African Union of the Blind have collaborated on a number initiatives including:

• Training and empowering visually impaired youth to actively participate in organizations of visually impaired, including the formation of KUB’s Youth Leadership Wing.
• Providing HIV and AIDS Awareness, Prevention and Mitigation seminars for visually impaired persons, who are often excluded from mainstream programs.
• Advancing programs that advocate, lobby and stimulate the state practice on disability policies and legislation dispensation in Kenya, including Kenya’s Disability Act (2003) and draft Disability Policy.

Computer Aid International
Computer Aid International has provided hundreds of computers and assistive technology devices to visually impaired persons, empowering them to access resources and to live more independent lives.  In 2009, KUB and Computer Aid International provided assistive technology devices and training to more than 300 visually impaired teachers, saving significantly in terms of time and costs incurred to produce materials in Braille and allowing them independence from assistant readers.

 

German Development Cooperation, through the GTZ Health Sector Programme

The German Development Cooperation through German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Health Sector Programme has supported a Reproductive Health, Gender Based Violence and Human Rights Resource Centre for Youth with Visual Impairments at the Kenya Union of the Blind.   The purpose of the resource centre is to reduce vulnerability of youth with visual impairments to violations of sexual and reproductive health rights including gender based violence through increasing their access to information on reproductive health, gender based violence and human rights.  

The Resource Centre produces information in formats accessible to persons with visual impairments including digital text, Braille, audio (MP3) and large print.   It also offers computer training courses to youth with visual impairments, as well as free internet access.   Youth are able to hone their skills by working in the Resource Centre, which produces materials in accessible formats, as an income generating activity to support KUB projects.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

KUB is a sub-recipient of funding for the Global Fund Round 7, through Care International in Kenya. Through our vast branch structures in seven provinces throughout Kenya, KUB is producing and distributing materials related to HIV and AIDS prevention and mitigation in formats accessible to visually impaired persons, as well as conducting peer educator trainings reaching more than 3,000 persons with visual impairments nationwide. We are also working to sensitize services providers, including VCTs, about the special requirements for service delivery to visually impaired persons.

Institutional Development Program

The Institutional Development Program, through Perkins School for the Blind works with KUB to advocate for improved policies and equal participation for visually impaired persons by:

• Developing leadership skills and training at national and community levels
• Building democratic systems of governance
• Building individual and group capacity to advocate for their rights as members of society, including developing and implementing effective advocacy plans

Since 2007, IDP and KUB have been working together on a Youth Leadership Initiativeto mentor and enhance the inclusion and participation of young blind men and women within KUB, the wider blindness and disability sectors, and within the mainstream political, social and economic processes.

Kenya Community Development Foundation 

The KCDF and KUB implement programs which increase the effective participation of visually impaired people in the development of their own communities. 

Recently the KCDF and KUB implemented empowerment workshops for visually impaired young women between the ages of 18 and 25.  These young women were provided with mentoring, as well as training on basic daily living skills, health issues (including HIV/AIDS), human rights, advocacy and income generating activities.

SightSavers International

Over the years, Sight Savers International and KUB have implemented numerous programs which have had a sustainable impact on thousands of visually impaired persons including: advocacy, technology training, personal empowerment, HIV/AIDS, and branch development.  A few key examples include:

• Providing training to KUB branch leaders, which allows them to effectively represent and negotiate with local government officials, businesses and associations.
• Advocating post secondary schools admission and employment of graduate teachers with visual impairment by Teachers service Commission.
• Promoting assistive technology for visually impaired learners in secondary, tertiary and university levels using various software, such as Dolphin Pens.
• Organization capacity strengthening of KUB to effectively deliver services
• Economic empowerment of visually impaired persons through micro enterprise development.

Stephen Lewis Foundation

Poverty among visually impaired persons has led some to engage in or expose their children to practices that put them at high risk of HIV and AIDS.  The Stephen Lewis Foundation is working with KUB to:

• Develop and deliver HIV and AIDS education workshops for visually impaired persons
• Provide impoverished children with educational opportunities, including visually impaired children, orphans and children of visually impaired parents who are considered at risk of or affected by HIV and AIDS
• Sensitize mainstream HIV and AIDS education and service delivery programs to the special needs of visually impaired persons and link children with mainstream child sponsorship organizations

UNDP

Following Kenya’s post election violence in 2007-2008, the UNDP is working with KUB to produce and distribute peace building and peace keeping materials in formats accessible to visually impaired persons including the Waki Report, the Klegler Report and other peace building materials. KUB is also carrying out grassroots trainings and barazas in communities throughout Kenya to relating to peace building iniatiatives.

Prior to Kenya’s national elections in 2007, with support from UNDP KUB also implemented a series of voter education sessions throughout Kenya, educating visually impaired persons about the elections process, their right to vote as Kenyan citizens and how to go about voting.

Voluntary Service Overseas

In 2008, KUB received support from VSO Jitolee, through the placement of an international marketing professional who is providing support in resource mobilization, fundraising and marketing for a period of 2 years. Likewise in 2010, VSO has supported the growth of the Resource Centre as a sustainable income generating activity to KUB through the placement of an enterprise development specialist for a period of 6 months.