The Impact Compass
Welcome to the Impact Compass Podcast. In this podcast, we explore opportunities in the nonprofit and social impact space and amplify the impact of their leaders. We do this by finding amazing nonprofit and social impact organizations and their leaders, we share their stories, their triumphs, and their struggles in this dynamic, complex, and competitive space. By doing this, we hope to,
· Showcase how the work of these amazing leaders and their organizations is impacting and changing their communities.
· Second, Inspire a new generation of nonprofit and social impact professionals determined to create an even better world.
· Third, inform the sector of new and emerging practices from nonprofits and social impact practices in Africa. And,
· Make them findable so that they can be fundable.
The Impact Compass
Episode 9: Inclusive Health and Education with Maria Omare
More than a billion people live with a disability globally, and this number is increasing. In this episode, we talk to Maria Omare, who is the Founder and Executive Director of The Action Foundation. Maria founded The Action Foundation as a college student and has dedicated her life to working with and improving the lives of people with disabilities. Founded 15 years ago, The Action Foundation today serves communities across Kenya working closely with the government at national and sub-national levels to create systems that enable people with disabilities to participate in public life, receive essential public services and live more fulfilling lives.
The many successes have come from building allies in government, increasing community awareness and participation, and building a movement of disability advocates from the ground up. Maria is transforming disability work in the region and creating systems that deliver for people with disabilities.
Acknowledging the challenges that come with founding an organization and leading the work, she advises people embarking on this journey to be fully aware of their “why”. It is the “why” that will carry you through moments of loneliness, times when money is not coming through, and when you are just about to give up, your “why” shall remain your true North Star. As Nietzsche said … “he who has a why to live for can bear almost any how”
With stubborn optimism, she concludes that….
“It is possible to change our communities and fix some of the challenges that we are experiencing within our lifetimes. We are the ones the world has been waiting for. No one is coming to solve any problems for us. Let’s not allow cynicism to disillusion us or believe that nothing can change and that things will always remain the same. With the right attitude, the right dream, knowing why you are doing what you are doing and with the right kind of support, we can create a better world”.
To learn more about the incredible work that Maria and The Action Foundation are doing, you can connect with Maria on LinkedIn or visit their website www.https://theactionfoundationkenya.org/