Kenyan woman in US seeks to raise autism awareness through pageant

She is young, beautiful and well educated.

To a casual observer, Kora Hardy can easily pass for an African American woman thanks to her two exotic names and a matching North American accent. She however insists she is as Kenyan as it can get.

Ms Hardy, 27, is representing Kenya in this year’s prestigious Miss Africa USA contest whose grand finale will be in Maryland early next month. But although that in itself is a great feat, it is the reason she is doing it that caught our attention, making us seek an interview with her.

The stunning young woman has been making headlines for seeking to use her Kenyan heritage for a noble cause.  “I’m using this platform to sensitize Kenyans – especially the ones in the rural areas – on the existence and dangers of autism and other developmental ailments,” she told the Nation on Wednesday. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction.

KENYAN VALUES

Having graduated from St. Francis University with a B.A. in psychology and later a Masters Degree in Moderate and Severe Disabilities from Simmons College, Ms Hardy feels that the vision she has for disadvantaged children in Kenya is not misplaced.

Born in Kisumu to a Kenyan mother and an American father, Hardy moved to the United States when she was four. After graduation, she worked in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for two and a half years as a therapist helping local students diagnosed with autism.

Asked why she feels the urgency of setting up a centre and disseminating information about autism in Kenya, Hardy paused for a while and then said; “It has always been my dream to do something philanthropic and give back to a society that gave me a mother,” she said adding; “the opportunity to represent Kenya at this pageant is godsend.”

“My mom instilled some values which I am very proud of today. When we moved to Baltimore 23 years ago, she enforced strict “Kenyan” rules and I remember finding it difficult to explain them to my friends,” says Hardy.

“She always reminded my sister and I that we were, first and foremost, Kenyans. It was for this reason that I developed a strong love for Kenya. I later learnt that some children were suffering through no fault of their own and this informed the urge to do something beneficial to my people back in the village,” she said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed Kenya as one of the countries in which Autism has for a long time been misdiagnosed as mental illness. In some communities, the disorder has been widely associated with witchcraft, leaving many children condemned in the believe that nothing can be done to effectively manage it.

MORE THAN BEAUTY

Hardy says the cultural misconceptions have been detrimental to the development of African children with disabilities. She says that winning Miss Africa USA will help her realize her dream of establishing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) therapy centre in Kenya. ABA therapy is a form of treatment which has helped many children with Autism in the United States.

“I wish to replicate the same in Kenya,” she said adding, “I’m very grateful for the incredible support I have received so far due to the publicity that goes with the pageant.”

Miss Africa USA Pageant is one the biggest pageants that featuring African women in the United States of America.

“I believe a pageant should bring out something which is more than just beauty. I urge Kenyans to help me realise my long held dream by taking a moment to vote for me,” said Hardy.

One can vote for Kora Hardy by visiting their website here

Voting multiple times is allowed in intervals of two minutes.

The gala will place at Strathmore Theatre in Rockville Maryland on August 7th this year.