Rwanda
In Rwanda, HI works to improve the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools, and that of girls through sport. The organization also runs activities to improve the quality of life for children with disabilities or at risk of developmental delays and is developing 3D printing technology to provide prosthetics and orthotics to as many people as possible.
Longini here playing football in the courtyard at school after he received his new prostheses. | © S. Wohlfahrt / HI
Our actions
In Rwanda, HI works with national partners to foster a more inclusive environment for children with disabilities. As part of this project, HI supports its partners in identifying and removing barriers that hinder children with disabilities’ access to education and provides materials to ensure more inclusive teaching methods. At the same time, in three districts of the country, HI is working to promote gender equality through sport. Implemented in schools and community clubs, the project aims to promote inclusive sport for all children, particularly girls, and strengthen their protection.
HI also provides support to children under the age of 12 who have a disability or are at risk of developmental delay, by implementing activities designed to improve their development and quality of life. These activities are carried out in four of the country’s poorest districts, which have the highest rates of malnutrition. The project builds the capacity of healthcare professionals in antenatal and postnatal care, as well as rehabilitation, to detect disabilities and raise awareness among families to help newborns thrive. HI also supports families through activities designed to improve their well-being, mental health and skills to support their children’s healthy development.
Finally, HI is implementing activities to improve access for refugees and members of host communities to high-quality, affordable assistive devices. This primarily involves developing 3D printing technology to produce prostheses and orthoses.
- Number of HI staff: 28
- People directly supported by HI in 2025: 37,104
- People indirectly supported by HI in 2025: 181,500
- Program launch date: 1994
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
Working towards education for all children in Rwanda
A consortium of organizations is working to combat school dropout in Rwanda’s primary education system. HI focuses on supporting children with disabilities.
A Rwandan Girl's Journey: Breaking Down Stigma Around Albinism
Born with albinism, Sifa has faced numerous challenges. Her life changed when the Uburezi Iwacus Project began supporting her. The Uburezi Iwacu is a USAID-funded Project that supports children with disabilities and contributes to Rwandan children's literacy.
Healing Against the Odds: Isaac’s Story from Rwanda
Isaac, a nine-year-old Rwandan boy, defeated disability with the support of the Uburezi Iwacu Project. The Uburezi Iwacu is a USAID-funded Project that supports children with disabilities and contributes to Rwandan children's literacy.
a life
Background
A small, landlocked country, Rwanda is hilly and fertile, with a dense population of around 12.5 million people. Rwanda’s political, social, and economic context was profoundly shaped by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, during which more than 800,000 people lost their lives. Since then, the country has enjoyed a period of political stability and general security, as well as sustained economic growth, with gross national income per capita having increased by 130.9% between 1990 and 2019. Rwanda aspires to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035, thanks to ambitious development and poverty reduction strategies.
However, structural challenges remain: infrastructure is still limited, access to electricity is unequal, and the economy is dependent on international aid. Despite progress in health, education, and housing, many impacted people, particularly those with disabilities, struggle to access basic services and to integrate fully into society.
On the humanitarian front, Rwanda hosts more than 135,000 refugees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed conflicts have caused massive population displacement and a major humanitarian crisis. Integrating this particularly at-risk population and ensuring its access to basic services and humanitarian aid are major challenges for the country.
- Population: 14.8 million
- HDI: 0.578 (2023)
- GDP per capita: approximately USD 999 (2024)
Reports
The latest publications
> Beyond Access Ensuring the continuity of education for adolescent girls with disabilities (pdf, 1.93 MB)> Avoiding Harm, Respecting Rights: Facilitating Person-Centered Disability-Inclusive Informed Consent in Sexual and Reproductive Health Settings (pdf, 1.36 MB)
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