Special needs Instructor

Keza Nea Vanelli’s project, called Light of Life, aims to support children with mental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, and ADHD in Rwanda. The project’s main goals are to integrate children with disabilities into the community through education that improves literacy and math skills, develops life skills for independence, and raises awareness about disabilities. Activities include researching the number of vulnerable families with children with disabilities, raising awareness about mental health issues, advocating for these families, mobilizing funds, establishing a center for support and advice, training educators on handling special needs students, and creating individualized education plans. The project helped Keza develop skills in communication, project management, research, advocacy, and decision-making. It relates to her psychology major, as the work involves understanding human behavior and promoting social inclusion. She believes her experience can be used to advance human rights and contribute to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals by ensuring access to education, healthcare, and employment for people with disabilities. She expresses enthusiasm for the future growth of the project, aiming to make a bigger impact.