Stichting Why Not Kenya? established a program that guarantees children with exceptional needs can access education without facing prejudice for the past 14 years. To assure that our children receive a top-notch education, the organization partners with both for-paying and non-paying special learning institutions. The organization supports these children by:

1. Sponsor the education of children in varying levels
2. Provide stationaries to learners in government special units.
3. Make routine trips to the schools we collaborate with to assess and talk with the teachers about our children’s development
4. To guarantee success and positive outcomes, we offer guidance and counseling services to the children and parents we assist
5. We collaborate with the neighborhood schools to guarantee our kids receive the greatest care.

Wearing a school uniform is an integral aspect of school life, because it contributes significantly to the development of a child's self-confidence and a school-like feeling. Any student in a Kenyan school is required by law to wear a school uniform. For ease of recognition, every school has a distinctive uniform. This is because a child's uniform color can be used to determine which school they attend.

This year, the organization provided 70 learners with a set of uniforms, to support their academic endeavors. Forty-three of the children that received a pair, each are direct beneficiaries of Stichting Why Not Kenya? The remaining 27 learners are from three special units, namely: Utange, Kadzandani, and Concordia. They were also supported with a pair each, due to the good relations we have cultivated over the years.

Because we wanted our learners to look smart and presentable, we employed the services of Coast Tailoring Store, which specializes in creating high-quality school uniforms for various schools in Mombasa and beyond. Stichting Why Not Kenya? has been partnering with this company for several years, and they occasionally give discounts or sponsor some children with uniforms when we place an order.

The company was very thoughtful to provide us with one of their tailors to come to our office, and also visit some of the schools. They took measurements for all the identified learners, so that we didn’t disrupt learning or tire out the parents and children. Since each school has a distinct design and color, our fieldworker collected samples from each to assist tailors in creating the appropriate uniforms.

When preparing the uniforms, the company's tailors took into account the unique needs of each child. For example, they made dresses and trousers for the young children with cerebral palsy who are unable to walk, skirts and blouses for the older girls, and shirts, shorts, and trousers with elastic so the older boys won't have to struggle to button them. The children were happy when they received their uniforms on time, indicating that Coast Tailoring Store did a wonderful job in preparing the uniforms.

You are welcomed to support the work we do to:

1. Ensure that every year we not only provide uniforms, but also shoes and bags for our kids because they grow out of them so quickly.
2. Ensure that our special children have access to school supplies and other learning, so that they can engage fully in classroom activities.

This year the Kenyan team said goodbye to Mr. Peter. Although by Dutch standards he could have retired a long time ago, he has been part of the fieldworkers since the start of Why Not.

In 2010 we got to know Mr. Peter Kimani as "the man with the crutches". You could hear him coming from afar, by the clicking of his crutches. Mr. Peter is a village elder and Why Not's eyes and ears in the villages. He keeps Why Not informed of what is going on in the villages and arranges home visits and activity days. He is a jack-of-all-trades, but also a very important and respected man, who keeps in touch with the chief. This kind, caring and humorous man is the key between the community and Why Not. Because he himself has a physical disability (he walks with crutches), he is very involved in the mission of Why Not. And thus he is also the example of how someone with a disability can indeed fulfill an important task. To Mr. Peter we owe the good connection and communication with the community! We are forever grateful to him.

As of this year he will be enjoying his well-earned retirement. We, Why Not, are pleased to be able to contribute to his retirement and hope that we will hear him from time to time, to visit Why Not and the children who have become so dear to him.