Vunja Unyanyapaa Break the Stigma
Magonjwa ya kifafa na Parkinson yana tiba. Epilepsy and Parkinson's are treatable diseases.
Many people living with epilepsy and Parkinson's disease face challenges that go far beyond their symptoms. Misunderstanding, fear, and stigma shape how communities respond — affecting families, livelihoods, education, and access to care. This campaign uses the power of community theatre and real human stories to open honest conversations, challenge harmful myths, and put lived experience at the centre. Watch. Learn. Join the conversation.
What Is This Campaign?
Vunja Unyanyapaa — Break the Stigma — is a community-led campaign rooted in Kilifi, Kenya. It brings together filmed community theatre, health education, and public dialogue to challenge stigma around epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. The campaign is part of Canvas for Change, a research project exploring how the creative arts can contribute to reducing stigma and improving public health awareness. At its heart are two theatre productions — created with and by people with direct lived experience of these conditions. Their stories, their words, and their performances are the foundation of everything you will find here.
Key Messages
Key Statistics
Epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide.
Medication can control seizures in 70% of people when treated.
In low-income countries, the treatment gap can reach 90% — meaning 9 in 10 people do not receive the care they need.
Parkinson's disease is one of the fastest-growing neurological conditions globally, and is expected to affect 25.2 million people worldwide by 2050.