In West Africa, millions of children don’t complete elementary school. Some have never been to school. HI estimates that a third of these children have a disability. Our inclusive education program, which runs in nine West African countries, aims to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn, play, and make friends at school and feel valued in their communities.

Malnutrition is endemic in Africa’s Sahel, an arid region in between the Sahara desert and the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, which is often affected by drought. Due to a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, children with malnutrition suffer from restricted growth and develop after-effects, which can be disabling in the long term. The result is not always fatal, but the impact on their quality of life can be devastating.

Seeing the invisible: Sexuality-related knowledge, attitudes and behavior of children and youth with disabilities in China (2019)

Young people with disabilities have the same right to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) as their peers without disabilities, but their needs and rights are often overlooked. The findings of this study, which was initiated by UNESCO and Humanity & Inclusion, aims to provide evidence to support decision-making by government agencies, educators, development workers and other relevant stakeholders regarding developing and implementing disability-inclusive SRH and sexuality education policies and program for young people in China. View the report here.

Community mental health: Theory, practices, and perspectives (2018)

Mental health problems are commonplace and affect more than one in four people worldwide. They are responsible for a quarter of all disabilities. This document aims to provide a basis for exploring these concepts as part of more in-depth work, including an update of the 2011 mental health framework document. View the document here.

Protection Against Violence Based on Disability, Gender, Age (2019)

Humanity & Inclusion works to prevent violence based on disability, gender and age and its disabling consequences in development and fragile settings, as well as to provide holistic care for survivors of violence, exploitation and abuse. HI’s goal is to ensure that people with disabilities and other at-risk groups are less exposed to violence and can live in dignity, independently, and with control over their own lives. View the flier here.

Disability Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health (2019)

Humanity & Inclusion promotes Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of people with disabilities and vulnerable populations in development and fragile settings. View the flier here.

Non-communicable diseases: Prevention and Detection (2019)

Humanity & Inclusion promotes the awareness raising, prevention, early detection, and care management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes in development and fragile settings View the flier here.

AIDS and disability: Just not good enough (2015)

People with disabilities are living with HIV. This paper explains why they must be included in virus prevention education, provided access to treatments, and rehabilitation. What's more, people living with HIV are not receiving proper rehabilitation care as the virus causes impairments. View the article here.

Road safety: Focus on vulnerable users (2015)

Road safety is a growing development and public health issue. Globally, road crashes are close to becoming one of the first five causes of death, and non-fatal injuries heavily impact on disability. Indeed, each year, road crashes kill 1.25 million people and injure as many as 50 million others. View the briefing paper here.

Diabetes and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors (2012)

This document is intended to provide guidance and a framework for each stage of the project cycle for projects tackling the theme of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors. View report here and brief format here.

Inclusive and integrated HIV and AIDS programming (2012)

This policy paper describes Humanity & Inclusion’s mandate and values as applied to the theme of inclusive and integrated HIV and AIDS programming. View report here and brief format here.

Santé mentale communautaire et violences liées au genre dans la Province Ouest du Rwanda (2012)

A report on community mental health and gender-based violence in Rwanda. View report here and brief format here. (In French)

Mental Health in Post-Crisis and Development Contexts (2011)

This policy paper describes Humanity & Inclusion’s actions, choices and commitments towards mental health in post-crisis and development contexts. View report here and brief format here.

Diabetes Prevention and control projects in countries with limited resources (2009)

This analysis paper presents the ‘know-how’ acquired by Humanity & Inclusion in its diabetes prevention and control projects. View report here.

Policy Paper on Psychosocial Interventions in Lebanon (2008)

A policy paper that presents a design for a national plan on psychosocial interventions, aiming to develop and promote the national plan established during the July 2006 war. View report here.

As It Is: Research Findings on the Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Access to HIV and AIDS Information and Services Amongst Persons with Disability (2007)

Scientifically gathered information concerning the knowledge, attitude and practice among people with disabilities in areas surrounding HIV and AIDS. View report here.

MANDATE

Humanity & Inclusion’s priorities in Burkina Faso are to positively impact the lives of disabled and vulnerable people by improving access to key services and promoting greater societal inclusion. The organization has been present in Burkina Faso since 1990 and now employs 57 national staff and three expatriates.

BACKGROUND

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. The most marginalized members of the community, including people with disabilities, frequently live in poverty and have no access to education or healthcare. A recent study showed that 85% of people with disabilities have received no education, 56% are unemployed, with a lack of professional qualifications cited as the main reason, and 43.7% feel socially excluded.

ACTIONS

• Rehabilitation
• Inclusive education
• Child abuse prevention
• Promoting peace by supporting women's organizations

Rehabilitation

Humanity & Inclusion supports the training of health and functional rehabilitation professionals. The organization provides people living in the Center East (Tenkodogo) region with information on rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and works with the ministry to ensure functional rehabilitation is taken into account in national health policies. Over 120 nurses and health staff, eight rehabilitation assistants, and one orthopedic-fitting assistant were trained as a result of this project. 

Inclusive Education

Through a regional West Africa project, Humanity & Inclusion works to mainstream children with disabilities into public schools, provide training for teachers and other stakeholders within the education sector, and raise awareness about the importance of including children with disabilities in all aspects of society. As a result, over 3,900 children with disabilities have gained access to long term quality education and special support and 530 teachers have been trained to meet their needs.

Child Abuse Prevention

In partnership with Terre des Hommes, Humanity & Inclusion's "Struggle Project" reduces child abuse by strengthening protection systems at the national and local levels. This project uses a participatory approach involving children, communities, and state services to develop a chain of actors that work together in local networks of protection.

Promoting Peace By Supporting Women's Organizations

Humanity & Inclusion works to reduce inter- and intra-community conflict by supporting women's organizations engaged in inclusive peace and social-cohesion initiatives in the provinces of Séno and Oudalan. The projects undertaken by these organizations include both economic activities, such as fostering gardens for growing vegetables, and cultural activities, such as street theater performances. One of the objectives of this work is to ease tensions between Malian refugees and local host communities.