When communities speak, and organizations listen, programs transform. In Jomvu, Mombasa, a disability support initiative led by Maji na Ufanisi and partners showed how genuine community feedback can turn challenges into solutions—and solutions into lasting impact.
At first, therapy folders were too complex. Kits didn’t fit every household. Weekly support calls felt overwhelming. But instead of dismissing complaints, program leaders listened. And through that listening, they co-created a model that works—not just in theory, but in homes, schools, and streets.
This blog explores the power of listening in disability programs, why it matters for sustainability, and how it inspires donor trust by proving that communities aren’t just beneficiaries—they are co-designers of change.
Also Read:How Community-Led Disability Programmes Are Transforming Lives In Mombasa
A Detailed Explanation: Why Listening Matters in Disability Programs
Community participation has long been emphasized in development work, but feedback without action is meaningless.
In Jomvu, listening meant:
- Respect – Recognizing that families know what works in their daily lives.
- Responsiveness – Adjusting tools and methods to local realities.
- Resilience – Building programs flexible enough to adapt over time.
By weaving feedback into design, programs become more effective, trusted, and sustainable.
The Jomvu Model: Feedback in Action
The disability support program in Jomvu included therapy pathways, home-based activities, and family training. But as families began using the tools, challenges emerged.
Instead of ignoring them, facilitators paused mid-seminar and asked: “What’s working? What’s not?”
The answers reshaped everything.
1. Simplifying the Folders: From Overload to Clarity
The challenge: Families found the initial therapy folders too detailed, with technical language that was difficult to follow. Many parents said they felt overwhelmed rather than empowered.
The feedback: “We need something simple. Something we can use daily without fear of making mistakes.”
The solution:
- Folders were redesigned with simple illustrations, fewer words, and step-by-step instructions.
- Instructions were translated into Kiswahili.
- Pages were color-coded for quick reference (e.g., red for posture exercises, blue for speech activities).
The impact: Parents began using the folders confidently, turning them into real tools rather than intimidating manuals.
2. Flexible Therapy Kits: From One-Size-Fits-All to Personalized Support
The challenge: Some therapy kits included tools that didn’t fit household realities. Families couldn’t always use certain equipment due to lack of space or resources.
The feedback: “We need things that we can actually use at home—things that fit our lives.”
The solution:
- Kits were redesigned to include locally available materials—water bottles as weights, mats for posture, elastic bands for stretches.
- Families were given the flexibility to swap items based on their needs.
- CHPs (Community Health Promoters) helped customize kits during follow-up visits.
The impact: Instead of collecting dust, therapy kits became part of everyday family routines.
3. Adapting Weekly Support Calls: From Burden to Lifeline
The challenge: Weekly follow-up calls from health promoters sometimes felt too rigid or time-consuming. Families juggling work and caregiving struggled to keep up.
The feedback: “We want support, but we need it to fit our schedules.”
The solution:
- Calls were shortened and adapted to family availability.
- In some cases, support shifted to WhatsApp voice notes or in-person quick check-ins.
- Families could choose the communication channel that worked best for them.
The impact: Instead of being seen as an obligation, follow-ups became genuine lifelines of encouragement and guidance.
Real Stories of Listening and Change
Aisha’s Confidence: Learning from Simplified Guides
Aisha, a mother of a boy with cerebral palsy, once struggled with the technical folder. After simplifications, she proudly said:
“Now I can follow the steps without fear. I even teach my husband and neighbors.”
Omar’s Family: A Kit That Fits
Omar’s small home couldn’t accommodate bulky equipment. After switching to locally adapted tools, his father shared:
“Before, therapy felt like something foreign. Now it feels like part of our life.”
Salma’s Relief: Flexible Calls
Salma, a single mother, used to miss calls due to work. When CHPs shifted to WhatsApp updates, she said:
“It felt like they respected my life. I didn’t feel guilty anymore—I felt supported.”
Why Feedback Builds Donor Trust
For philanthropists and impact investors, feedback-driven programs show three things:
- Transparency – Communities are heard and valued.
- Effectiveness – Solutions are adapted to work in real-life contexts.
- Sustainability – Ownership ensures continuity even after external funding ends.
Programs that listen are programs that last.
The Science Behind Listening
Research in development and health programs shows that community feedback loops improve outcomes significantly:
- A World Bank study found that projects with feedback mechanisms had 20% higher success rates than those without.
- UNICEF reports show that parent-driven therapy adaptations reduce dropout rates by 40%.
- Trust between communities and organizations increases long-term program adoption.
In Jomvu, these statistics are not abstract—they are lived realities.
How Maji na Ufanisi Leads with Listening
Maji na Ufanisi has embedded feedback as a design principle in all its programs. In Jomvu, this means:
- Hosting mid-program feedback sessions
- Training CHPs to collect and respond to family feedback
- Adapting tools and methods based on lived experience
- Sharing results openly with partners and donors
By doing so, Maji na Ufanisi ensures that communities are not passive recipients but active architects of change.
How You Can Support Feedback-Driven Change
Listening may be free, but acting on feedback requires resources. You can help scale this model of responsive disability support by:
- Donating – Fund the redesign of therapy kits and feedback workshops.
- Partnering – Join as a corporate ally to expand inclusive programs.
- Advocating – Share this story and highlight the power of community voices.
Listening as a Path to Lasting Change
The Jomvu experience proves that listening is not a soft skill—it’s a survival skill for programs. By respecting families’ voices, simplifying tools, adapting support, and customizing kits, Maji na Ufanisi has shown that disability programs can truly work in real life.
Listening turns recipients into co-creators, challenges into innovations, and aid into agency.
👉 Support Maji na Ufanisi today and help amplify community voices in disability inclusion.
FAQs
1. What is a feedback loop in disability programs?
A process where communities give input and organizations act on it to improve support.
2. Why were therapy folders simplified?
To make them easier for families to use daily without confusion.
3. How are therapy kits customized?
By swapping items for locally available tools and family-specific needs.
4. Why were weekly calls adapted?
To respect family schedules and reduce stress.
5. Who collects the feedback?
Community Health Promoters trained by Maji na Ufanisi.
6. How is feedback used?
It directly shapes program design and resource allocation.
7. What’s the biggest benefit of feedback?
Programs become more relevant, effective, and sustainable.
8. Does this slow down program delivery?
No—it improves efficiency by avoiding wasted resources.
9. How do donors benefit?
They can see transparent results based on community-defined success.
10. Can this model be scaled?
Yes—feedback-driven design works across different regions and programs.
