In the refugee camps in Rwanda, HI promotes access to care and protection for vulnerable people, particularly those with mental health issues and rehabilitation needs. By facilitating access to technical aids, such as wheelchairs and walking sticks, and to psychosocial support, our programme is working to eliminate existing inequalities and the barriers some people encounter, and to make their daily lives easier. HI is also developing an innovative project to print custom-made orthoses and prostheses using 3D printers. As well as supplying equipment, our teams are training Rwandan actors and enabling them to develop their skills in these technologies and make the service offer sustainable. The programme also supports people with specific needs, such as people with disabilities, older people or people with psychosocial disorders, to help them learn about and assert their rights.
HI’s teams also work with children with disabilities on inclusive education projects. They support the national authorities to ensure access to education for all by training teachers or making buildings accessible to these children. They also develop handbooks and educational tools such as Braille textbooks to cater to their different needs. And they organise awareness-raising sessions for local players and communities, and facilitate the dissemination of good practices, notably within working groups.
HI’s programme also runs projects to improve the care and development of very young children. These projects facilitate access to care after 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 also carries out awareness-raising and advocacy activities with the communities. Our teams accompany survivors of sexual violence through art therapy sessions, for example, and train medical, psychosocial and legal actors to help them provide appropriate support. They organise awareness-raising campaigns, particularly in schools, and work to break down the barriers that prevent women and children who are victims of violence from accessing the necessary services. They also work with men, particularly community leaders, to raise awareness and prevent violence.
