Thirteen Self-help groups of people living with disabilities (PWD’s) from Mpeketoni in Lamu County have undergone a financial literacy training.
The training that was organized by Muslims Women Advancement for Rights and Protection organization (MWARP) is aimed to equip the PWDs with knowledge on how to understand and carry out their financial responsibilities.
“We also want the PWDs to take fully charge of their financial future”, said MWARP Programs Officer James Chapa.
MWARP believes that people with disabilities should be in charge of their businesses to be financially independent to the degree to which they are capable according to the organization’s county coordinator Umulkher Ahmed.
She encouraged the participants to make good use of the knowledge gotten at the training to ensure they do well in their businesses.
Often persons living with disabilities face various obstacles in accessing financial services. This condition is caused by lack of financial literacy and capital to start a business.
People living with disabilities are also facing significant challenges, including high cost of living, reduced earning potential and limited access to financial resources. Additionally, many PWDs do not fully understand the financial system and the opportunity available to them.
In the training, the PWDs were made to understand on the tax exemption process and how to access disabled funds, grants, and loans.
“People living with disabilities are exempted from paying taxes. This is to enable them do their businesses without any obstacles”, said MWARP finance officer Zeinab Abdallah.
She noted that the training will help groups and individuals to reduce the financial burden and increase their earning potential, as well as access financial resources from the government and organizations for their groups”, said Chapa.
The training also provided the Self-help groups with knowledge on how to sustain their groups including understanding financial opportunities and benefits available.
Most Self-help groups have collapsed or failed to progress due to internal wrangles brought about having no financial records keeping.
The county director for Sports Peter Ndichu has said records keeping is important for a group to know the progress of a business.
Moses Kiarea one of the PWDs applauded the organizers for the training that to him was timely and that he will be able to do business professionally.
Emilia Kiniria another PWD also said the training is a new dawn that will make their business run smoothly.
