In the refugee camps in Rwanda, HI facilitates access to care and protection for vulnerable people, including people with mental health problems and physical and functional rehabilitation needs. By providing access to technical aids, such as wheelchairs or canes, as well as psychosocial support, the programme works to eliminate existing inequalities and the barriers faced by certain people. It also supports people with specific needs, such as people with disabilities, older people or people with psychosocial disorders to help them to understand and exercise their rights.
In addition, HI works with children, particularly children with disabilities, on inclusive education projects. The programme works with the national authorities to ensure access to education for all by training teachers or making buildings accessible to children with disabilities. Our teams create handbooks and educational tools adapted to different needs, such as Braille textbooks.
HI also runs projects to improve the care and development of very young children. The programme facilitates access to care in the first days after their birth, with a focus on accessible services for babies with disabilities. Our teams support and train parents and guardians to provide a safe and appropriate environment for children, thereby promoting their development and learning.
To help fight sexual and gender-based violence, HI carries out awareness-raising and advocacy activities with the communities. The programme accompanies survivors of sexual violence and trains medical, psychosocial and legal actors to provide appropriate holistic support. It also works with perpetrators of violence to prevent recurrence.
Finally, HI promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in society by supporting organisations of people with disabilities and civil society actors. The programme helps them to identify levers of change and supports their advocacy actions in favour of the inclusion of disability issues in national strategies and the life of citizens.
