New hope: caring for vulnerable children in Rwanda
Children like Sifa – a deeply traumatised infant who lived alone in Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest before being taken into care – were once a source of shame. Thanks to the work of VSO volunteer Antonia Eastman, who demonstrates that simple socialising techniques and sensitivity can make a real difference, they can now look forward to a place in society.
Cruel beginnings
Sifa had a traumatic start in life. She was found abandoned in Nyungwe, a dense forest in the far south west of Rwanda. It was clear she had spent much of her short life surrounded by animals rather than humans. She walked on all fours, ate grass and sticks, and was terrified of people.
Sifa was taken to a centre for disabled children, but there her life barely improved. As is the case in many such centres in Rwanda, staff had received no training in caring for vulnerable or disabled children, so did not know how to look after a child with such complex problems. She was locked in a room – fed and clothed, but with little other care or attention.
Sifa remained in that room until the centre closed three years later. She was transferred to a similar centre, Ngwino Nawe, where the situation was repeated. Now about seven years old, she still walked on all fours and was regarded as a lost cause.
Human contact
It was at this point that VSO volunteer Antonia Eastman met her. She had come to Ngwino Nawe to carry out a needs analysis as part of her research into centres caring for disabled children. She remembers first seeing Sifa: “She was huddled in the corner, very afraid. It was pitiful.”
Ignoring the staff’s insistence that she was beyond help, Antonia began to spend time sitting with Sifa each day. She sang to her and, after a time, began massaging her arms and legs to soothe and relax her. “It was human contact,” says Antonia, “something she wasn’t at all used to”.
To everyone’s amazement, Sifa began to respond. When Antonia left the centre a few weeks later, she urged staff to continue what she had started. “The fact that they had seen progress was great – they were so excited,” she remembers.
Spreading hope
“It’s a miracle!” says Rosaline, one of girls who has been working with Sifa. “Antonia realised Sifa needed time dedicated to her, and she taught us how to behave with her.” Antonia has now finished her placement, but the impact she has had on Sifa – and, indeed, on the other children at Ngwino Nawe – endures. “Sifa is not atypical; she’s an extreme case,” insists Antonia. “Disability has had a lot of stigma in Rwanda and there are very few people with the skills to care for the most vulnerable children.”
VSO has now identified the need for a long-term volunteer to continue working with the staff at Ngwino Nawe and at other centres for disabled children in the area. “The new volunteer will build on what I’ve started,” says Antonia.
As the staff develop a deeper understanding of working with vulnerable and disabled children, Sifa’s future gets brighter. She is a gifted drummer and the smile that lights up her face as she plays shows just how far she, and the staff at Ngwino Nawe, have come.
Challenge
Rwandan society is still struggling to come to terms with disability, and care for vulnerable children is rudimentary.
Catalyst
VSO volunteer Antonia Eastman demonstrates that simple socialising techniques and sensitivity can make a real difference.
Result
Raising awareness and sharing knowledge with healthcare workers is changing attitudes towards disability.
