Irene Kerubo started the Grey 2 Green Women's Empowerment Group to bring together women with disabilities and provide a platform for them to network, learn valuable skills and earn a living.

Her goal is to change the perception of people with disabilities, especially women.

Irene Kerubo is the founder of Grey 2 Green Women Empowerment Group.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

"We started in April to support each other, build partnerships and empower ourselves economically. We are learning skills that will help us start businesses that don't require a lot of capital," says Ms Kerubo.

Liquid soap, disinfectant and fabric softener sold by Grey 2 Green Women Empowerment Group.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

The group consists of fifteen members - twelve women and three men - who have learnt how to make liquid soap, disinfectant, fabric softener, bags and shirts. They also buy and sell scrap metal.

"Each member knows how to make these products, which they can produce at home and sell at a profit. You can earn about Sh300 by selling these items," says Kerubo.

Display of bags sold by Grey 2 Green Women Empowerment Group.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

This has boosted members' confidence and self-esteem, enabling them to provide for themselves and move away from a culture of begging.

June Akoth, 18, says her confidence has improved since joining the group. As someone with a low-frequency hearing loss, she now feels more comfortable expressing herself.

"When I interact with my peers, I gain confidence in speaking. I've also learnt how to use a computer," she says, adding that she hopes to acquire more skills to achieve financial independence.

Beatrice Oles has been training other persons with disabilities to sew.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

Beatrice Oles says that learning to sew has not only provided her with an income, but also earned her the respect of her husband.

"Now that I can contribute financially, I've gained a sense of freedom and my husband no longer sees me as a burden. I'm also showing my children that you can earn a living despite your condition," she explains.

Beatrice remembers feeling ashamed of her condition growing up, which led to low self-confidence. She almost missed the opportunity to learn to sew because she doubted she could use a machine with a short leg.

But with encouragement from her trainers, she overcame this fear and now teaches others how to sew.

Livingston Ndungu is one of the three men at the Grey 2 Green Women Empowerment Group in Nakuru.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

Livingston Ndungu, one of the three men in the group, says that being part of Grey 2 Green has helped him to accept himself after a long struggle with self-acceptance.

The regular meetings allow him to talk openly about his challenges, and through these conversations they find solutions together.

Ndungu now sews bags and shirts, which has kept him away from begging, and is working to change stereotypes about people with disabilities and their ability to earn a living.

The Grey 2 Green group aims to expand its business by selling the chemicals used to make soap, disinfectant and fabric softener in larger quantities to the local community.

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Muthoni Wanjiku