Children with visual impairments should get more chances to take part in sport, share their experiences and have their mental health needs addressed, stakeholders said at a World Mental Health Day event at Thika School for the Blind on Saturday.
The event was held under the 2026 theme “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.”
It was organised by Pamoja, an initiative of Kenyan alumni of the Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP). Pamoja uses sport to promote mental well-being, inclusion and social development.
The initiative says children with visual impairments and other disadvantaged groups are often left out of conversations and interventions on mental health. It aims to let them speak for themselves, and to use sport to build physical wellness, confidence and a sense of belonging.
Psychologist Monica Mahinda called the engagement timely, especially for children with special needs.
“Engaging directly with the children gives us valuable insight into the unique challenges they face, so we can develop more relevant and effective interventions,” Ms Mahinda said.
She noted that sport is a universal tool for supporting both mental health and physical wellness.
Pamoja co-convener Grace Kiraguri said opportunities for the visually-impaired children to play sport remain limited, which is why the group chose to focus on them.
“Opportunities for children with visual impairments to participate in sport remain limited, and we deliberately chose to focus on this often-neglected group,” Ms Kiraguri said.
Pamoja plans to reach more learners through adaptive games and other sporting activities.
Co-convener Maculate Onyango thanked the GSMP for making the initiative possible.
Onyango added that Pamoja hopes to draw on the expertise of the alumni network and other sport-for-development initiatives.
Deputy Principal at Thika School for the Blind thanked the organisers for an activity that spoke directly to the learners’ experiences.
She said children with visual impairments can face particular mental health challenges, so they need platforms where they can be heard, supported and helped to cope.
The children took part in adaptive football and tug of war.
Kiraguri said Pamoja hopes to make the event a regular one and extend it to more learners with visual impairments. It also wants to encourage schools, communities and other stakeholders to invest in accessible sporting activities and supportive environments.
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