SHE’S never flown before, but 17-year-old Sian Stevens is jetting out to Kenya to be an ambassador for those with cerebral palsy.

Sian and her mother Ruth are joining the Brecon Molo Community Partnership (BMCP) when they visit the Kenyan Valley community of Molo in February

Led by Dr Rachel Lindoewood, five volunteers who all have experience of cerebral palsy, are travelling to Kenya to highlight how those with a disability contribute positively to community and family life.

The group, made up of health professionals and service users, first visited Molo in 2007 and have paid several visits to the Kenyan Town to share experiences, knowledge and skills to which benefit both communities.

They have secured funding from Welsh Government, through Hub Cymru Africa and Susila Dharma Britain to carry out two training programmes to help people understand more about cerebral palsy.

Dr Lindoewood said the first training programme is known as Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy.

"There’s no better way of showing how these therapies have worked," said Dr Lindoewood. "Than getting them to meet the people who have benefitted."

Sian and her 38-year-old mother have never been on a plane before, but jumped at the once in a lifetime opportunity of sharing their positive experiences of working with Dr Lindoewood and her husband Paul.

Sian said: "We have had our injections to go so I’m starting to get really excited now."

Ruth said dispelling myths about cerebral palsy is one of the key aims of the visit.

"There is still some superstition in that region about why people are born with disabilities," she said. "What we can show the community is that with the right support, people with disabilities can lead a meaningful life."

"The group is using a model called 'Training the Trainers’ which is often used in community development work in Kenya," said 49-year-old paediatrician Rachel. "It is crucial to get the message across that children who experience Cerebral Palsy can contribute to community and family life. Who is better to share this message than parents of children experiencing Cerebral Palsy and disabled people themselves?Ó

In order to share their knowledge, the trained parents and Community Health Workers will develop Parents’ Support Groups, which will also serve as a system of mutual support and a catalyst for further development.

The training is being led by Paul Lindoewood, who also coordinates Disability in Wales and Africa.

The 59-year-old said: "We have had some success in Brecon Molo regarding the development of disability services. However, the advocacy role of disabled people and their organisations has been largely overlooked. This initiative is designed to enable people to share their experience of what it means to be disabled in Kenya (and Wales), empowering them to discuss this with the wider community and to promote the concept of Nothing About Us Without Us,"

Once trained, the Disability Community Trainers will work in schools, churches, community groups and with Disabled People's Organisations to spread the message that those with Cerebral Palsy contribute to positively to society.

Mr Lindoewood added: "Disabled people and their families face struggles, the world over, to be accepted as full, equal and participatory members of society. It is hoped that this initiative will develop into greater solidarity between the disabled communities of Brecon and Molo and will be a small step in the promotion of global progress."