Student Thesis

This picture was taken this afternoon, August 23, 2023, at the Sugira Muryango office in Rwanda, Kigali City, Kimihurura Sector, Rugando Cell, Gasasa village.

While waiting for the IRB modification’s approval, I pose with the local Sugira Muryango project team. From the left to the right:

1. Grace Umulisa: Gender and technical specialist of Sugira Muryango project

2. Jean Marie Vianney Havugimana: local program manager of the Sugira Muryango project

3. Alain Ahishakiye: Master of Medical Science in Global Health Delivery in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School

4. Joshua Bogus: Associate Director for Research for the Research Program on Children and Adversity at Boston College's School of Social Work.

5. Gabriela Phend: RPCA (Research Program on Children and Adversity) Program manager of Sugira Muryango

6. Pacifique Uwamahoro: Program Research Advisor.

The FXB Rwanda staff and the Rwanda RPCA are both really kind individuals. They welcomed me with open arms. The formal structure and practical organization of Sugira Muryango in each district were explained to me by Jean Marie. He also agreed to assist me in getting in touch with the community-based volunteers.

Participants in the study include parents of children who have disabilities such as emotional disturbances, cerebral palsy, speech and language disorders.

The above image on the left shows a girl helping her twin sibling, who has cerebral palsy, ride a bike. The next image on the right I am talking to the parents of the boy with disabilities. All my time working with the strong youngster helped change both of their lives. He keeps getting better despite his disability. He declared that his ambition was to work as a pilot.

In this picture a mother of a 6-year-old boy with a disability is ascending a hillside, carrying a jug of water uphill to her house. 

The photo represents the positive outcomes and empowerment achieved through the Sugira Muryango intervention, showcasing the caregiver's determination and capability to address her child’s needs.

While the image may depict the caregiver's resilience, it also sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by families dealing with disabilities, even after undergoing interventions like Sugira Muryango. The family's struggles to secure enough food, healthcare, and specialized schooling for their child.

Inside, the single mother (pictured above) was seated on the empty rice bag, and I was offered a chair to sit on to conduct this interview. The inside of her house, andthe houses of other study participants, was very modest. 

Neither cement nor paint were applied to the walls. When they slept, soil motes might fall on them. Raindrops could potentially infiltrate the house through gaps in the roof. Under these circumstances, it was challenging to prevent the childrens' school notebooks from getting wet.

There was no cement on the floor of the living room. Furthermore, there was no furniture – no beds, desks, tables or chairs. Due to the absence of these materials, the children could not study the teachings they had learned in school. These items are typically kept in a home or other facility to make them appropriate or comfortable for living or working.

A piece of cloth was used as a door for some rooms. The windows were closed by a thin wooden pane, resulting in limited access to the sun.

Some children use wooden scooters to play outside after school (left picture). However, it appeared that children with disabilities who moved with walkers were left alone (right picture).

These images display the contrast between the lives of children with and without disabilities. In the Nyanza District there is only one rehabilitation facility for children with disabilities.

Read more about the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery program here.