Unlocking Literacy for life : Empowering Visually Impaired Learners Across Africa
Digital Skills & Employment Opportunities
Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa (KBTA) is committed to empowering children and young adults with visual impairments. We focus on raising awareness of their challenges and removing the barriers in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Malawi. By providing innovative digital and Braille technologies, KBTA enhances access to quality education and employment, fostering inclusive learning and working environments. Despite high costs, which make digital Braille assistive devices unaffordable for 90% of the learners, we have equipped over 3,000 students across 250 schools and colleges in Africa, with the essential tools they need to succeed as independent adults. However, significant challenges remain as over 5,000 youth still lack access to inclusive education and employment opportunities.
Navigating Beyond Sight: KBTA's Impact on Education & Inclusion
Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa (KBTA) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to enhancing the lives of visually impaired individuals across East Africa. For nearly two decades, KBTA has been at the forefront of promoting digital Braille literacy and skills. We operate across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Malawi, reaching over 3,000 learners in 250 schools and colleges. Our mission is to ensure that children and young adults with visual impairments achieve not only academic success but also social and economic inclusion through quality education and state-of-the-art assistive technology.
Bridging Employment Gaps for Visually Impaired Graduates
KBTA’s ultimate goal is to enable young university graduates with visual impairments to access inclusive employment opportunities. Our employability skills training program equips these graduates with essential work readiness skills through an immersive training experience. In this program, trainees develop various skills that enhance their ability to secure mainstream employment, building on their university education. Youth with visual impairments often face significant challenges in completing their education due to a lack of digital assistive devices and limited exposure to information beyond the university environment. We provide them with the necessary digital skills, information, and training to independently seek employment and advocate effectively for themselves.
We Advocate For Children & Young Adults With Visual Impairments
KBTA’s Holistic Approach to Digital Inclusion for the Visually Impaired
Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa (KBTA) empowers learners with visual impairments through comprehensive programs that span digital literacy, educational support, career orientation, employability skills development, and research and innovation. We provide essential digital tools like the Orbit Reader 20 for modern education and communication proficiency. Our educational support enhances teacher capabilities and classroom inclusivity, while our career and employability programs connect education to employment, offering specialized training and partnerships with inclusive employers. Additionally, our research initiatives collaborate with global innovators to develop practical, affordable assistive technologies, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.
Digital Literacy
We provide essential digital tools like the Orbit Reader 20 to visually impaired learners, ensuring they become proficient in modern educational technologies for enhanced learning and communication.
Educational Support
We enhance educator capabilities with training on assistive technology, create inclusive classrooms, and distribute accessible educational materials. Our support extends to training school-based technicians to maintain and repair these vital devices.
Career Orientation
Addressing the gap between schooling and employment, our Career Development Program equips visually impaired youth with digital tools for STEM and ICT, preparing them for diverse career paths.
Employability Skills
We prepare graduates for the workforce with immersive training programs and place them in internships across the private and public sectors, partnering with inclusive employers to ensure sustainable career opportunities.
Research & Development
KBTA stands at the cutting edge of technology, partnering with both global and emerging African innovators and researchers to advance and enhance assistive technologies. Through our Live Labs initiative, we employ human-centered design principles to test and refine products, ensuring they meet the specific needs of individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to create and distribute practical, cost-effective, and scalable solutions that truly make a difference.
Brighten Futures: Empower Visually Impaired Youth with Orbit Readers!
The Orbit Reader 20, an affordable and versatile digital Braille device, is essential for the education of children and young adults with visual impairments in educational institutions across Africa. KBTA has generously donated 3,000 Orbit Readers and other vital assistive devices to learners in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Malawi. We have also trained over 500 teachers and technicians to support these learners. This initiative is a key part of our comprehensive Education to Employment program, which aims to transform lives and ensure no one is left behind.
Our employability skills training program has empowered 100 young graduates with visual impairments from various universities to advocate for themselves in their job searches. The need is vast, and while KBTA is making steady progress in these six countries, the existing gap is large, and your support is crucial to expand our reach and impact. The demand is immense, and we need your help to close this gap. Your contribution, whether an Orbit Reader or financial support, directly enhances education and opportunities for visually impaired youth. Every donation counts and advances KBTA's mission further. Join us in creating an inclusive and equitable future. Your generosity has the power to change lives and open doors to a brighter tomorrow.
Be A Hero
Braille Assistive Technologies Provide A Foundation For Youth & Young Adults With Visual Impairments To Access Education. Join KBTA in making a tangible difference in the lives of visually impaired children and youth. Your support through donations, volunteering, or forming corporate partnerships is invaluable in helping us continue our mission.
Inclusion
The Orbit Reader provides opportunities for youth and young adults with visual impairments to achieve social and economic inclusion in society.
Education
Youth and young adults with visual impairments have higher chances to live a life of quality with independence, dignity and job opportunities.
Innovation
The Orbit Reader 20 levels the playing field for youth and young adult with visual impairments making it easy for them to learn alongside their sighted peers .
Research
KBTA advances digital assistive technology through its LIVE LAB model, which focuses on human-centered testing to enhance education and employment support.
Employment
Inclusive employment opportunities for youth with disabilities can only be accessed with proper post education integration & skills development in order to gain employment.
Training
KBTA uses training to developed an innovative model for training users, teachers, technicians as well as youth for learning STEM subjects, ICT & digital skills, robotics.
You Can Help
Your support is important to our work at Kilimanjaro Blind Trust. There are many ways you can contribute towards our causes, and every little bit that you commit goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission. We invite you to get involved and take advantage of the opportunity to do some good for learners with visual impairments in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Make An Impact
We greatly value your generosity and engagement with our organization. Every contribution you make enhances Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, making it an even stronger non-profit organization. If you have any questions regarding how you can support us, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to provide you with relevant information.
Help Us Soar
This is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. We believe the best way for our initiatives to be successful is for the community to actively get involved. This is an easy and efficient way of contributing to the great work we do at Kilimanjaro Blind Trust. Get in touch with any questions about how you can Volunteer Your Time today.
