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Joy Kanana
- Group:Staff
Joy Kanana
Deputy CEO & Director, Deaf Women and Girls Empowerment
Joy Kanana serves as the Deputy CEO and the Director of the Deaf Women and Girls Empowerment Program at the Deaf Empowerment Society of Kenya (DESK). A specialist in marginalized community development, Joy is the driving force behind DESK’s efforts to reach the most underserved and "Hard-to-Reach" and " Hard to Include" populations across the Republic of Kenya.
Outreach & Research Excellence
Joy’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to social justice. She specializes in identifying the priority needs and rights issues of extremely poor Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons through:
- Field-Based Research: Conducting outreach evaluations to identify the systemic barriers facing marginalized Deaf women and girls.
- Context-Specific Design: Utilizing her research findings to inform the development of high-impact projects that address the unique intersection of gender, poverty, and deafness.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Maintaining and enhancing critical relationships with government agencies, schools, media, and businesses to ensure DESK’s programs are integrated into national development efforts.
Professional Background & Expertise
With over 7 years of experience in community mobilization and Deafness-centered development, Joy brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the organization.
- Africa Yoga Project: Previously served as a teacher for the Deaf and a Trainer of Trainees (ToT), empowering adults with disabilities in self-advocacy and self-reliance.
- Skills Training: Expert in stakeholder mobilization and vocational skills development for vulnerable populations.
- Academic Foundation: Holds a Diploma in Community Development from Mountain View College, Kenya.
Leadership at DESK
Working closely with the CEO, Joy constantly improves and enhances the service delivery of the organization. Her leadership ensures that the SRHR and SGBV programs remain responsive to the needs of the community, fostering a future where Deaf women and girls lead lives of dignity, independence, and power.