Humanity & Inclusion in Rwanda
Our Humanity & Inclusion team in Rwanda works to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities in daily life, including ensuring that all children have access to education.
Rwanda was seriously affected by the genocide in 1994 which left more than 800,000 people dead and many with disabilities and trauma. Nearly 30 years later, many individuals still have extreme mental trauma as well as physical disabilities. In 1996, two years after starting up its work to assist the victims of the genocide, Humanity & Inclusion launched its first mental health project.
Humanity & Inclusion's 118-person staff works toward the protection and social inclusion of people with disabilities, including in refugee camps.
Areas of Intervention
- Mental health and psychosocial support
- Maternal, newborn or child health
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Inclusive governance
- Inclusive education
- Inclusion humanitarian action
Humanity & Inclusion undertakes mental health actions with Rwandans who are experiencing psychological distress.
The organization works with the Ministry of Education to guarantee access to education for all children, training teachers on inclusive education and making buildings accessible for children with disabilities. Humanity & Inclusion carries out awareness-raising and advocates for the strengthening of child protection processes, with the aim of protecting children from sexual violence. Teams also promote the involvement of girls and women who are survivors of conflict in the Great Lakes region in education programs and vocational training centers.
Humanity & Inclusion also implements actions to improve the prevention and care of epilepsy, especially for mothers and children, through the supply of anti-epileptic medication to hospitals and the training of health professionals in the prevention and management of epilepsy.
Teams provide quality and accessible rehabilitation services, support the Rwanda Occupational Therapy Association and help improve the quality of training for occupational therapists.
Lastly, Humanity & Inclusion promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in society, to access health care, education, sports and more at the community level. Teams offer support to organizations run by and for people with disabilities to help them pursue actions to promote the rights and civic participation of people with disabilities.
Our Past Work
Humanity & Inclusion has been in Rwanda since 1994, initially providing assistance following the genocide. Over time, we have evolved our work to meet the dynamic needs of the communities where we serve.
Read on to learn more about our past work in Rwanda, and consider investing in our future.
Genocide response
From 1994 to 1996, Humanity & Inclusion worked alongside many other NGOs to provide emergency assistance to a population plunged in extreme distress and poverty.
HIV/AIDS prevention
From 1996 to 2000, the country experienced a period of relative social, political and administrative stability, during which Humanity & Inclusion engaged in long-term activities and aimed at improving the living conditions people facing extreme hardship, particularly those with mental health disorders and HIV/AIDS by providing them with appropriate support.
Development
Since 2001, Humanity & Inclusion has been contributing to the development of the country, expanding its activities and developing projects to prevent violence through a community-based mental health approach, promoting education for all, offering community-based rehabilitation and occupational therapy, and caring for people with epilepsy.
