RISE COHORT 3 GRADUATION CEREMONY HELD
AT CHANZEYWE TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL COLLEGE ON 7TH NOV 2025
Core Mandate of Light for the World (LFTW)
Light for the World is an international disability-inclusive development organization whose
core mandate includes:
1. Promoting Disability Inclusion
Ensuring persons with disabilities are fully included in education, employment, and
community life.
Removing barriers that prevent participation.
2. Strengthening Equal Opportunities
Advocating for equal rights, access to services, and meaningful participation in
society.
3. Improving Access to Quality Education & Health Services
Supporting inclusive education systems.
Enhancing access to eye health and rehabilitation services.
4. Empowering Persons with Disabilities Economically
Supporting skills development, vocational training, and economic empowerment
programs.
Partnering with institutions and employers to create inclusive workplaces.
Core Mandate of the Read for Inclusive and Sustainable Employment
(RISE) Project
The RISE project aims to:
1. Equip Young People with Employability Skills
Provide practical skills, professional training, and mentorship for both youth with and
without disabilities.
2. Promote Inclusive & Sustainable Employment
Work with training institutions and employers to ensure inclusive hiring practices.
Support young people to transition into decent and fulfilling work opportunities.
3. Strengthen Inclusive TVET Programs
Ensure vocational training centers accommodate learners with disabilities.
4. Support Registration & Disability Certification
Guide trainees with disabilities to register with bodies such as the NCPWD for
recognition and access to opportunities.
Guest Speaker Speech for RISE Cohort 3 Graduation Ceremony
(observe protocol)
Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen
And most importantly, our Graduands of the RISE Cohort 3 Program —
Good morning.
Today is a truly special day. We gather here to celebrate hard work, resilience, and the bright
future of young people who have completed the Read for Inclusive and Sustainable
Employment program — the RISE project. To all our Graduands, I congratulate you. You
stand here today as proof that commitment, focus, and determination can open doors to
opportunities that once seemed far away.
I would also like to acknowledge Light for the World and its unwavering dedication to
championing disability inclusion. Their mandate — to ensure that every person, regardless of
ability, has equal access to education, health, and dignified work — continues to transform
communities across Kenya and beyond.
Through the RISE project, Light for the World and CTVC have done more than train
students. They have empowered young people to believe in themselves, to build
employability skills, and to prepare for a future filled with hope and possibility. This program
is a clear example of what happens when institutions choose inclusion, when partners choose
collaboration, and when society chooses equality.
To our Graduands:
Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. You are stepping into the
world equipped with knowledge, skills, and the confidence to contribute meaningfully to your
communities. Whether you plan to seek employment, start a business, or continue with
advanced training, remember: the only limitations you should accept are the ones you
choose for yourself.
To our students with disabilities, I want you to know this:
You are not defined by your disability. You are defined by your courage, your talent, your
voice, and your vision. As you progress into the world of work, you have every right to
equal opportunity, dignity, and respect.
I also encourage all trainees with Special Needs Education to take a key step that will help
unlock more opportunities — registration with the National Council for Persons with
Disabilities (NCPWD). This registration not only recognizes your status officially, but it also
gives you access to benefits, workplace accommodations, assistive devices, training
programs, and employment support. The process is straightforward, and CTVC together with
Light for the World are ready to guide you. (The procedure of registration to be provided
by the end of the speech)
To parents and guardians:
Thank you for standing beside your children. Their success today is your success too. Your
support, encouragement, and sacrifice have played a major role in making this moment
possible.
To the trainers, staff, and partners:
Your dedication has shaped the future of these young people. You have planted seeds that
will grow into careers, businesses, and leaders who will impact our nation.
Graduands, as you step forward, always remember these words:
Be confident in your abilities.
Be resilient in the face of challenges.
Be inclusive wherever you go.
Be the reason someone else believes in their own potential.
Today, you leave here not just with a certificate, but with a responsibility — to go out into the
world and shine. To prove that opportunity, when combined with hard work, creates
transformation.
Congratulations, RISE Cohort 3.
May your future be bright, fulfilling, and full of promise.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
____________________ Friday 7th Nov 2025
Amudavi David Alulu
