Annual report 2018

Handicap International FederationRwanda Programme

Annual report 2018

Handicap International Federation

Rwanda Programme

Table of contents

Remarks from the Country Director….....….1Figures in 2018…………………………………......… 2Key moments…..…………….................................3HI projects in 2018..…………………………......….4HI partners in 2018….……………………….....…13

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Remarks from the Country Director

Dear partners, beneficiaries, colleagues, friends,

In the previous edition, I announced our brand change, effective in January 2018. Our new operational name, Humanity & Inclusion, is now familiar.

The year 2018 was a year of continuity during which we consolidated our interventions and the structure of our programme.

Important financial partners have reiterated their trust in 2018, and therefore concluded new agreements with HI. These supports allowed us to continue our activities in refugee camps, but also in the areas of inclusive education and the fight against gender, age and disability based violence. Also, we need to note that a new project on promoting access to inclusive services and economic opportunities for people with disabilities was launched in October 2018.

The year 2018 also ended up with the closing out of the second phase of the Ubuntu Care project, a project fighting against sexual violence perpetrated against children. The year 2019 will however see the launch of the third phase of this project. I let you discover in more details the HI achievements in the following pages. May I take this opportunity to close by sincerely expressing my thanks to all our donors and partners, as well as all HI staff. Without your support and involvement, our work would not have been so.

Jean-François MICHEL

Country Director

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2018 in figures

€

106 Staff Budget 2018

2 972 828

Geographical coverage: 30 districts

Beneficiaries

Total of beneficiaries: 205.496

52% 48% 9% 9%

Rehabilitation

4 475 people

Refugees Camps

64 384 people

Health and Prevention

30 326 people

Support to civil society

475 people

Insertion

105 764 people

Total of Beneficiaries: 205.496

52% 48% 9% 9%

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HI projects in 2018

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Inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities

In 2018, through its Community Based Rehabilitation project, HI has raised awareness and increased knowledge on disability inclusion and rights of people with disabilities for the Rwandan community.

HI is convinced that this is a prerequisite for the inclusion of people with disabilities. Various themes, including the rights of PwDs, the Disability Creation Process (DCP), inclusion practices, access to services and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) were discussed. This awareness is reinforced by the direct involvement of the PwDs themselves, as key players of change. Thus, through Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (DPOs), HI has supported people with disabilities to build their capacity. The ultimate goal was to build their self-esteem, make them aware of their rights and able to conduct their own advocacy.

Also, through a new project of Promoting inclusive access to services and economic opportunities for people with disabilities (PIASO), HI conducted an organizational capacity assessment of DPOs for 9 cooperatives in the 4 intervention districts namely Kayonza, Rutsiro, Nyamasheke and Kicukiro. For each district, a capacity building plan has been developed.

Through the Community Based Approach, parents learn how to fabricate mobility assistive devices with local materials.

A capacity assessment exercise allows DPOs to identify their needs.

Concretely in 2018:

52.400 people including 4.384 PH sensitized, 501 members of elected NCPD committees trained, 34 new

groups of PwDs created, and 118 of their members trained, 58 Personalized Social Support (PSS) agents recruited

and trained on PSS, 76 personal project developed through this approach, 13 projects funded by HI, 75 people are

being supported.

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With the Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) project, HI ensures the capacity building of the PwDs through the Personalized Social Support (PSS), by providing them with support in the development of personal projects. Since PSS is a relevant approach to social inclusion, empowerment and self-determination, HI uses it to stimulate the participation of PwDs in their self-development, to build their self-confidence and their ability to work and achieve.

Also through the CBID project, HI promotes inclusive sport in the districts of Kayonza, Rutsiro and Nyamasheke

Recognizing that access to sports allows PwDs to ease their mind and enhance their functionality, HI provided 2 accessible and mobile playgrounds to the districts of Rutsiro and Kayonza. HI also donated sportswear to the Nyamasheke district women’s football team.

64 057 people

benefit from this project

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With the support to the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS), HI saw the first undergraduate intake (Bachelor’s degree) of occupational therapy graduate in June of the academic year 2018. Also, during the year 2018, the UR-CMHS revised the curriculum of the occupational therapy faculty after 4 years of implementation Still with UR-CMHS and other key players in rehabilitation, a guide on multidisciplinary mobile visits has been developed and validated. This guide will allow mobile teams to work in a harmonized way during their field trips.

Murunda hospital’s rehabilitation professionals, in collaboration with those of Masaka Hospital, conducted a parent group training on children with disabilities’ home based care.

Functional rehabilitation

Parents learn different types of exercises, including the posture of children with disabilities and understand its importance in the life of a child with a disability.

4 475 people

benefit from this project

Functional rehabilitation in 2018

53 rehabilitation professionals trained, 1368 orthopedic devices fabricated, 1 089 persons with disabilities provided with assistive

devices, including 671 children with disabilities, 19 parental groups trained, 6 first laureates received their Bachelor’s degrees in

Occupational Therapy.

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Promotion of maternal and child health and fight against epilepsy

In 2018, with the Maternal and Child Health Promotion and Fight Against Epilepsy project, HI

has focused on raising awareness on epilepsy, building the skills of health professionals in MCH and epilepsy management, psycho-social counseling for people with epilepsy (EAP) and providing support to the local partner Global Epileptic Connection (GECO).

Réadaptation Fonctionnelle

The MCH/EPI project in 2018

2 215 patients with epilepsy accompanied 119 psycho-

educational groups 163 health professionals trained on epilepsy detection and management, 84

health centres and 8 hospitals supported, 1254 community health

workers trained on identification and referral mechanisms.

At the national level, HI has supported the Ministry of Health in strengthening coordination strategies and mechanisms aimed at harmonizing the implementation of the national epilepsy management policy throughout the Rwandan territory.

With the HI’s support, people with epilepsy can work and support themselves. They are no longer dependent.

4 415 people

benefit from this project

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Promotion of Mental Health and Fight Against Gender, Age and Disability Based Violence (VBGAH)

In 2018, through this project, HI continued to raise awareness and support for victims on gender, age and disability based violence.

Students were sensitized on the prevention of VBGAH in several Rwandan schools.

HI has accompanied victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence and supported violence risk reduction activities through literacy sessions and support for economic initiatives. .

The project's professional psychologists were trained on Conversational Hypnosis Therapy by a team from the Milton H. Erickson Institute of Belgium (IMEB). This training has had effects on the healing of trauma and the reconciliation of couples in conflict.

Children were involved in raising awareness for peers on the protection of children against violence.

Economic initiatives contribute to reducing the risk of gender based violence

24 831 people

benefit from the project

VBGAH in 2018

3.505 vulnerable people supported

194 groups, 275 new couples in conflict have benefited from healing activities, 347 candidates learned

to read and write. 14.368 children sensitized in 28 schools. 2.144

responsible persons leading parents’ evenings in 964 villages.

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Ubuntu Care: Protection against sexual violence perpetrated against children with or without disabilities

In 2018, as part of the implementation of its Ubuntu Care project, HI's main interventions

focused on the activities preparing for the closure of the project: capacity building of service providers to address sexual violence against children and the realization of the inclusive child protection net. HI has also conducted community outreach on protecting children from sexual violence through the "Tango Talk" approach. It is a practice from Kenya and contextualized in Rwanda, which allows the population to have information on the different forms of sexual violence and on existing care services. Evaluation and capitalization workshops closed the year. To evaluate the results of protection actions, child participation has been at the heart of this process, to strengthen their role as actors of their own protection.

Representatives from the local communities, schools, and parents, work together to develop inclusive child protection nets.

Children were also involved in the capitalization process

1 080 people

benefit from this project

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Intervention in the refugee camps

With its project of promoting inclusion and access to services for persons with specific needs, HI continued to build the capacity of service providers (public and private sector agents, NGOs) working in refugee camps to provide inclusive services. Also, the refugee community has been sensitized to allow a change of attitudes and perceptions towards people with special needs, particularly disabled and elderly people; and encourage it to play an active role in protecting the latter.

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Activities carried out in the refugee camps have helped to positively change the lives of the beneficiaries and enable them to access inclusive services that meet their needs (nutrition, livelihoods, education, health, rehabilitation, etc.).

It should also be noted that in 2018, HI opened a community-based rehabilitation center (CBR) in Mahama refugee camp, where rehabilitation sessions are organized and where parents learn how to do rehabilitation exercises for the care of children with disabilities while they are at home.

Concrete actions in responding to the needs of refugees with

specific needs in 2018:

HI reinforced capacities of 84 service providers and 249

community leaders, 91 people accessed to specialized services and

medical care. 305 elderly people were provided with assistive devices. 526 children with

disabilities were provided with rehabilitation services, 396 children with disabilities accessed inclusive education, and 492 children with disabilities accessed child friendly

spaces.

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Testimony

Her name is Gretta NYENIMIGISHA, and she is one of the children with disabilities who benefited from rehabilitation services due to the HI’s support in 2018.

She is a 16 year-old girl who has been in Rwanda since 2016 with her family.

Gretta was born just like other, but growing up, her two legs gradually arched and she developed a knee varum.

With the HI’s support, she underwent a surgery, which corrected her disability. Today, she can walk normally, and independently.

She can run and especially play with other young people of her age, joyful moments she had dreamed of.

27 095

refugees benefit from the HI

interventions in the refugee

camps

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In refugee camps, HI is also implementing a psychosocial support project for refugees suffering from psychological distress and mental illness. In 2018, prevention and management of mental health and psychosocial issues focused on mental health, well-being and resilience in vulnerable people exposed to traumatic events. Support and care have helped them reduce their level of distress and feel more empowered and protected.

With Library Without Borders, HI organized training on information and communication technologies for 63 young refugees and equipped them with technical skills to produce and edit videos and reports.

Also, through its portable library "Ideas Box", HI has taught 73 people how to read and write. Ideas Box is a multimedia tool designed to help refugees rebuild their lives and re-establish social bonds and build resilience.

Due to the training received, young refugees launched the « Mahama TV » which broadcasts events that take place in the refugee camp.

Concrete actions that took place in 2018 to meet the needs of refugees with mental health and psychosocial support needs:

31 649 people sensitized on mental health, 99 service providers reinforced on service

delivery and 32 community mobilizers on mental health 425 resource people trained. 3 788 people with mental health problems have been identified and received psychosocial

support either individually or through group therapy.

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Promotion of Inclusive Education

In June 2018, HI closed the project titled « Promoting Inclusive Learning for Children with Disabilities in Rwandan schools » (PIL) which started in July 2015 with funding from UNICEF. Achievements were noted in 18 inclusive model schools located in 16 districts of the country, and many successes were capitalized, including mainly the following: development of teacher guiding documents, teacher training, management of the school environment to make it accessible to all, empowering parents to play an active role in their children's education and increasing children’s participation in learning.

In July 2018, due to the new funding from UNICEF, HI has started a new project titled « Expanding Access to Inclusive Basic Education for Children with Disabilities in Rwanda (EXACTE) » in 30 districts and 16 Teacher Training Colleges of Rwanda.

Le projet a visé à l’élaboration de documents pédagogiques nationaux, au renforcement des capacités des enseignants et autorités éducatives ainsi qu’au renforcement du rôle joué par la communauté dans l’identification et la scolarisation des enfants handicapés non-scolarisés.

Inclusive education in 2018:

7.588 local education activists

trained 1.084 villages, 689 teachers trained, 922 children with

disabilities enrolled in 2019, 88

teachers trained in 5 special schools, on how to deliver the curriculum

adapted for children with intellectual disabilities, 217 children with

disabilities benefited of this programme, 18 parental groups

counting about 728 members are active and operational.

6 977 people

benefit from this project

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KICUKIRO, KK 10 Ave, IMELA HOUSE – 2nd FloorTél : (250) 0252 570533 - B.P.747 - KIGALI- Rwanda

E-mail : secretariat@hi-rwanda.orghttp://www.hi-rwanda.org

Legal name : Federation Handicap International