At 20, Amina Kassim champions autism awareness in Mombasa through poetry and purpose

At just 20 years old, Amina Kassim is championing autism awareness and inclusion in Mombasa, inspired by her younger brother Abdul, who is autistic.

Through her initiative, Lovingly Abled, the young poet and caregiver is transforming how communities perceive and support neurodiverse children.

Raised in modest circumstances in Kitui before moving to Mombasa, Amina—the eldest of two—began her advocacy journey driven by lived experience, deep love, and concern over society’s treatment of autistic individuals.

“The greatest inspiration behind my work is my younger brother, Abdul. Watching him grow in a world that often misunderstands, misjudges, or overlooks children like him pushed me to become the voice he never asked for but needed. I saw how stigma and silence can isolate not just autistic individuals, but entire families, and I refused to stay quiet,” she said.

Her activism began in 2024, first through poetry, storytelling and social media engagement. Realising the power of her voice, she launched an online webinar, inviting autism professionals to speak on the subject.

The success of that first session led to the creation of Lovingly Abled, a community-based initiative focused on providing consistent and structured advocacy.

“That first webinar helped me realise the power of my voice. I then launched an Instagram page and established Lovingly Abled to provide consistent, structured advocacy,” she said.

Family funday

Among her flagship projects is the Autism Family Funday, held on April 26, 2025, which brought together families, teachers, and residents to celebrate and understand autism. The event featured games, performances, and educational sessions for both parents and children.

“When I stood on that stage and looked into the crowd, I saw parents holding their children with pride, not shame. In that moment, I felt like I had built a bridge between silence and voice, fear and love. It was overwhelming in the most beautiful way,” she recalled.

Beyond public events, Lovingly Abled engages in extensive community outreach. Amina organises workshops for parents, awareness talks at schools, and caregiver empowerment sessions.

She also runs a WhatsApp group called The Safe Space, where parents of autistic children share their experiences, challenges and success stories.

“I also do awareness talks and use digital platforms to spread education and compassion. Poetry and public speaking remain central to how I reach hearts,” Amina said.

However, Amina’s journey has not been without its hurdles.

Age challenge

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• Amina Kassim champions autism awareness in Mombasa through poetry and purpose

“One of the biggest challenges I have faced is being underestimated because of my age. Some people questioned my credibility or dismissed my work simply because I’m young, without realising that passion and lived experience can carry just as much power as age or titles. That doubt hurt, but I have turned it into fuel,” she said.

She also highlights the deeply rooted stigma surrounding autism in many Kenyan communities.

“Another major challenge has been the lack of awareness and deeply rooted stigma surrounding autism. In many communities, autism is still misunderstood, misjudged, or even feared. I’ve had to engage with families who’ve been made to feel ashamed of their children, and that emotional burden can be incredibly heavy,” said Amina.

“Also, limited financial, institutional, and structural resources have made it difficult to reach as many families as I want to. There’s so much need, but often so little support from systems meant to serve people with disabilities. Still, I move forward with faith, with fire, and with the belief that even small acts of change can ripple outwards.”

Emotional toll

According to Amina, there’s also the emotional toll of being both an advocate and a caregiver, mentioning it has not been easy balancing her personal connection to autism, especially through my brother Abdul, with the public responsibility of advocacy. Sometimes I carry the weight of too many stories, and it can be overwhelming.”

Amina says her advocacy has helped many families move from isolation to openness.

“Some now speak publicly about their experiences, while others have started volunteering with her initiative. Living with Abdul has taught me that autistic children aren’t disabled, they’re differently abled. They do things we can’t, and they do what we do at their own pace, given the chance. I love reminding parents of this.”

Amina appreciates how the community has welcomed her work.

“The reception has been heartwarming. Many parents have reached out to share their stories, express gratitude, or simply say, 'I no longer feel alone'. During the Autism Funday, seeing families come together with open hearts reminded me that society is capable of change, it just needs guidance and love.”

Pride, not shame

One moment that made her feel proud and emotional, she said, is when she stood on stage at the Autism Funday and looked into the crowd and saw parents holding their children with pride, not shame.

“I saw the autistic children smiling. In that moment, I felt like I had built a bridge between silence and voice, fear and love. It was overwhelming, in the most beautiful way.”

Currently, Lovingly Abled is working on several impactful projects, including a free medical camp that will offer therapy consultations and general health services to autistic children and their caregivers.

The initiative will also launch a registration campaign to help families enrol with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), a vital step in accessing assistive devices, therapy subsidies, and legal protections.

Online engagement

Amina is also initiating outreach programmes in schools, expanding online engagement, and laying the groundwork for long-term collaborations with healthcare providers and education stakeholders.

“My dream is for Lovingly Abled to grow into a national movement. I want to see autism-friendly schools, sensory-safe therapy centres, and policies that support neurodiverse individuals in every corner of this country,” she said.

Her message to young people aspiring to be advocates is clear: “Start where you are, with what you have. Advocacy isn’t about being perfect, it is about being present, persistent and passionate. You may be young, but your voice is powerful. Most importantly, understand that change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when you show up day after day with love, purpose, and faith. You may be young, but your voice is powerful. Use it to shift the world.”