Sheila opiyo

My name is Sheila Opiyo, a Human Rights and Justice Advocate committed to advancing equality, dignity and access to justice for Deaf people, particularly women and girls. My journey as a Deaf woman has shaped my understanding of exclusion and strengthened my determination to challenge barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society. I have turned my experiences into a purpose: to advocate for a society where disability is never used as a reason to deny anyone justice, protection, opportunity or a voice. My advocacy focuses on human rights, access to justice, Deaf-centred justice, child protection, safeguarding, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls with disabilities. I work with communities, families, human rights organisations and institutions to raise awareness, influence systems and promote practical solutions that make services more accessible and inclusive. My Impact and Achievements A major part of my advocacy has been advancing access to justice for the Deaf community in Kenya. I have engaged with justice-sector institutions and stakeholders to highlight the barriers Deaf people face, including communication challenges, limited access to legal information and difficulties navigating justice processes. I have advocated for stronger collaboration between the Deaf community and justice institutions, including promoting the use of sign language interpretation and more accessible legal and court services. My goal is to ensure that Deaf people are not simply present within the justice system, but are able to understand, participate and be treated equally. I have also advocated for the rights and protection of Deaf women and girls, particularly those facing gender-based violence, discrimination and barriers to accessing justice. Through regional and international human rights engagements, including participation in spaces connected to the African human rights system, I have contributed to bringing the experiences and concerns of women and girls with disabilities into broader human rights discussions. My work also includes child protection and safeguarding, where I engage parents and communities on how to better protect children, understand their rights and improve access to justice and support services. I have participated in human rights, leadership and advocacy programmes at national, regional and international levels, using these platforms to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities and advocate for meaningful inclusion. For me, impact is not measured only by positions, certificates or recognition. Impact is when a Deaf person knows their rights. Impact is when a survivor is able to access justice. Impact is when a parent understands how to protect their child. Impact is when an institution listens to the Deaf community and takes action. These are the changes that continue to drive my work. Why I Am Applying for the Wezesha Awards I am applying for the Wezesha Awards because I believe recognition can be a powerful platform for amplifying work that is often invisible. My journey is not only about personal achievement. It is about transforming challenges into advocacy and using my voice to create opportunities for others. I want to demonstrate that Deaf women can lead, influence systems, advocate for justice and create meaningful change at national and international levels. Being recognised through the Wezesha Awards would give greater visibility to the issues affecting Deaf women, girls and persons with disabilities. It would also inspire other Deaf girls to see leadership as something they can achieve rather than something that belongs to others. If selected, I would use the platform and recognition to strengthen my advocacy for accessible justice, protection, safeguarding, equality and leadership opportunities for Deaf women and girls. I want to continue building bridges between Deaf communities, government institutions, justice actors and human rights organisations to ensure that inclusion becomes a reality rather than simply a promise. My Vision My vision is to contribute to a Kenya where every Deaf person can access justice, understand their rights, participate in decision-making and live with dignity without discrimination. I believe my greatest responsibility is not simply to open doors for myself, but to leave those doors open for the people coming after me. The Wezesha Awards would therefore not only recognise my individual journey. It would recognise the resilience, courage and potential of the Deaf community and amplify a message that I strongly believe in: “Nothing about us should be decided without us, and no one should be denied justice because they are Deaf.”