On Tuesday, November 5, USIU-Africa, in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, hosted the Futuremakers Mentors Den. This collaboration, organized with Futuremakers, Sightsavers, and Light for the World, was designed to engage young individuals with disabilities from universities, including USIU-Africa and Kenyatta University, in discussions on job readiness, employability and to help them advocate for inclusive employment. The program focused on empowering participants by enhancing employability skills, self-confidence, and career aspirations through career mentoring. The event provided students a platform to discuss their Futuremakers journey, which has helped many participants build essential skills and envision clear paths toward entering the workforce.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mwenda Ntarangwi expressed gratitude for the collaboration, underscoring USIU-Africa’s commitment to fostering inclusive education and creating opportunities for students with disabilities. The Vice Chancellor emphasized the importance of recognizing the diverse abilities within academic institutions and highlighted key strategies for fostering inclusive recruitment, accommodations, and professional development for individuals with disabilities. In addition, he stressed that building an inclusive workplace culture involves empathy, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to providing accessible learning and professional development opportunities.

Robin Lawther, CBE, an Independent and Non-Executive Director from Standard Chartered Bank, shared her remarks, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to the Futuremakers program. She expressed that Standard Chartered believes in empowering Futuremakers participants and is dedicated to supporting them in building their confidence. Lawther encouraged participants to develop their personal brands and to take practical steps to prepare thoroughly for their career paths—whether in employment, entrepreneurship, or any other professional venture. She highlighted the importance of being meticulous when applying for opportunities, urging Futuremakers participants, particularly those with disabilities, to carefully review job applications to ensure they meet the qualifications and are fully prepared. Lawther concluded by underscoring that self-belief is crucial to success, and that the foundation of self-belief is thorough preparation.

Two Futuremakers participants, Joseph Kaikai and Josephine, shared their success stories, reflecting on how the program helped them transition into career-ready individuals. Joseph shared how Futuremakers provided him with a platform to present his ideas and to begin his entrepreneurial journey. Josephine spoke about how the mentorship helped her embrace self-employment, despite facing biases in traditional employment settings due to her physical appearance. She expressed her belief in the potential of persons with disabilities as valuable employees, highlighting the importance of employers focusing on abilities rather than appearances.

The mentorship sessions, structured as group discussions, fostered meaningful engagement between participants and senior bank leaders in small circles. The discussions covered self-advocacy, resume-building, job interviews, and the importance of disclosing disabilities to access reasonable accommodations. Many participants shared that these discussions equipped them with practical insights into standing out professionally and developing negotiation skills.

Feedback from the group sessions revealed a significant impact, with many students feeling empowered to advocate for themselves and envision more inclusive workplaces. Mentors underscored that inclusive employment practices should go beyond policy implementation to foster a workplace culture that values collaboration with individuals of diverse abilities.

A representative from Standard Chartered shared a poignant takeaway from a Futuremakers participant who remarked, “Everyone has scars—some visible, some invisible.” This reflection captured the event’s essence, underscoring the need for a holistic approach to inclusivity that acknowledges both visible and invisible disabilities. The Futuremakers Mentors Den exemplified how partnerships can foster inclusive environments and equip young people with disabilities with the confidence, skills, and resilience to succeed in their careers.