The foundation A.V.E.H. Umurerwa asbl is a Rwandan non profit organization that cares and promotes the rights of children with disabilities and their families. We operate in Nyamata, Bugesera district of Rwanda’s Eastern Province. Founded in March 2005 by members of the local community, the organization now supports 16 children who live in the center permanently and many more kids who live at home
with their families. The main activities include:
- Providing permanent, residential care to currently 16 severely disabled children. This includes playing, feeding, personal care, physiotherapy. Those living at the centre either come from families who cannot cope with a disabled child, are orphaned or have been abandoned and brought to AVEH by soldiers or the police.
- Providing free medical care and follow-up home visits. Transportation to health centres and ensuring children access to required long-term drugs.
- Training families, neighbours and the wider community how to care for children with disabilities. Information on feeding, washing, playing and sourcing local necessities takes place both at the centre and through community visits. Staff and volunteers work hard to dispel myths about disability.
- Advocacy and awareness-raising about the rights of disabled children to local community groups, educators and district authorities in the Bugesera district.
- Our Mission: ‘Ameliorer les conditions de vie des enfants et des familles des enfants ayant un handicap du district de Bugesera’
‘To better the life and conditions of disabled children and their families in the Bugesera district’. Our Vision: ‘Voir le droit des enfants ayant un handicap du district de bugesera respecter’
‘To ensure the rights of disabled children in the district of Bugesera are respected’. Our moto: ‘On ne croise pas nos bras devant la misere’
‘We never cross our hands before suffering’. This are the people who are at the center regularly:
Cecile, she is the President of the organization and runs a health center on the same compund. Adriane, she is the Executive director and deals with bureaucratic and organizational aspects. Three caregivers who live at the center permanently and ensure the physical and mental health of the children. Also two guards. A care-assistant, who is giving the children a physiotherapy. Sometimes there are volunteers coming to the center to play small games with the kids. If you are interested in our work you are welcome to visit us. We are always happy about a new volunteer who is willing to spend time with the kids and amuse them. If you don't have time to come but you are want to support our work you can sponsor us. As our budget is very low we are happy to recieve some additional funds. For more information contact us on the phone number or email-adress given.
