Let the world see your potential

For Jimmy Mumo, AMID Trainee at Liliane Fonds, one thing is clear: young people usually know very well what they want to do with their lives. Sometimes, however, they just need a small push in the right direction. Something he is glad to provide, for example through vlogging trainings for young entrepreneurs with disabilities in Kenya and Tanzania.

These trainings are part of The Wheel of Livelihoods programme. Through this initiative, Liliane Fonds supports young people with disabilities on their path towards meaningful work, offering tailored guidance and addressing barriers in the labour market. This support is urgently needed, as people with disabilities still face limited and unequal access to employment opportunities in many countries. The approach was developed in close collaboration with partners in Kenya, Indonesia, Cameroon, Vietnam and Rwanda.
“Young people learn how to take control of their own lives,” Jimmy explains. “They develop skills and gain experience that align with their dreams, talents and interests.”

What makes The Wheel of Livelihoods distinctive is its holistic approach. “Alongside professional development, we look at participants’ entire working environment — and, importantly, their inner world as well.” The vlogging trainings fit naturally within this approach: participants learn how to present themselves professionally through video content on social media, while also reflecting on their personal development and self-image.

Participants are supported in moving away from situations of dependence and exclusion. “It is inspiring to see how young people begin to view themselves differently and grow into a new version of who they can be.”

“The holistic approach enriches me as well; it broadens my perspective and offers continuous learning,” says Jimmy, whose outlook has been shaped by his studies at universities in both Kenya and the Netherlands. “It also helps that I relate easily to the participants, I was born in 1997, part of the first generation of Gen Z.”

“What I tell participants in The Wheel,” Jimmy concludes, “is not to let the outside world define their limits, their potential is far greater than they are often led to believe.”

Learn more about the programme: The Wheel of Livelihoods