De A.R.B. interviewde de ouders of verzorgers van 8 van de 24 cliënten die begeleid worden vanuit het F.B.R. project. Zo stelden zij vragen als “Wat is verandert tot nu toe sinds de cliënt geholpen werd door de sociaal werkers?” en “Wat is veranderd aan de gemeenschap sinds de start van ons project?”
Name: Gislaine NISHIMWE
Age: 13 Years
Diagnosis: Down syndrome, Mental Retarded
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
Gislaine is a child with fear. She was not standing facing strangers before ARB Social workers started to visit her. Today, she is open; she doesn’t talk much but do her best to communicate either by sign language when it is hard for her to express herself. More ever, she does participate in household activities.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
Just encourage ARB commended work towards handicapped.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Selling commodities in market and farming.
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
Anything that ARB can request from me.
5. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
First of all is to see beyond their ignorance towards handicapped issues. Then learn to leave in harmony regardless of abnormalities that people have. Education is always the best in this case. We commend ARB work and request that this should be extended to other people in the community.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
ARB should avail accurate information to people regarding mental illness.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
My wish is that ARB should involve as much as possible local authorities so that they can as well participate fully.
Name: Daniel IRAKUNKUNDA
Age: 16 Years
Diagnostic: Mental retarded, Autism
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
Easy contact with everyone.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
Yes, I appreciate the approach that ARB use to help our child but I think it could be better if he stay at the center and come to visit us in weekends only. This can enable us to take of other things including his brothers and sisters.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Farming.
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
This shall depend on what ARB wants me to do. Personally I don’t have any idea.
5. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
People used to laugh at me and my child including other family members. Now it has ceased.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
I don’t think they can change. I don’t see how…
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
If my child can go to school like other children but he is too old for that. Let see if he will keep improving his behavior at least.
Name: Rodrigue DUSENGIMANA
Diagnosis: Epilepsy, Autism
Age: ?
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
In the past Rodrigue was a turbulent child and was not listening to anyone. He was a kind of rebellious child. But since ARB social workers started to come here, talk to him, teach him how to do things, he has now started to follow instructions, listen to people and carry out small tasks at home as requested.
Another thing is that now we know how to help him when he is facing crisis. Before it was not easy for us as we were totally ignorant on how to deal with mental deficient people.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK?
Yes indeed. We do ask if the approach being used by ARB social workers can be associated with medication. We have to buy medication against epileptic crisis every month. Considering our financial state, it is too hard to provide for this demand. Sometimes we do get money, and most of the time we don’t. This tends to worsen Rodrigue situation. We ask for ARB assistance.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Farming and small hand craft activities.
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
Considering what I am getting from ARB to my child, I cannot hesitate to avail myself to do any work that ARB can judge necessary for me to do. This shall depend of course on my skills and knowledge.
5. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
Rodrigue is normally a turbulent kid who is most of the time agitating. People know him as a difficult child, aggressive with bad character. Since ARB social workers started to work with him, many things has changed. Thought he might be facing crisis, Rodrigue shows that he can control his emotions and follow instructions. People in the community now understand that mental deficiency can be handled as any handicap.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
They should be educated on mental handicapped problematic.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
My wish is that ARB can help my child to heal and get better as other children.
Name: Joséphine CIMPAYE
Age: 30 years
Diagnostique: Psychose
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
Cimpaye Josephine was born as a normal child. She did lose both her parents when she was a grown up person and this has affected her a lot. She started then to manifest strange behaviour which resulted to aggressivity, withdrawal to any external contact and extreme passivity as she was not willing to carry out any activity. Tentative to administer her medications have failed as no changes were observed.
With assistance from ARB Social workers, the client has now step by step recovered the joy of life. Cimpaye can now take care of some daily activities. She is becoming open to the outside world, but she still needs a constant coaching so as to avoid backsliding.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
First of all is to thank ARB officials to have initiated this project. I appreciate the fact that Josephine gets help from home and not in an institution. We as her family members, we do participate in the well-being of our relative. For us, home based rehabilitation approach does fit our demand. This is why we do avail ourselves to collaborate with ARB Social workers whenever they visit Josephine.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
We are farmers.
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
We don’t see exactly what we can contribute as we have limited financial means. But in case ARB needs physical assistance like manpower, we are willing to bring in our help as much as we can.
5. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
In the past people in our community did consider mental handicapped as a curse or an incurable illness. Since they did perceive changes in Josephine behavior, they now understand that mental deficiency is a handicap that can be dealt with. To others, they are still perplexed and wonder how ortho-pedagogic method can also be efficient to the detriment of medications.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
We think that ARB should organize sensitization campaign to let people learn about mental illness and all the problematic involved. People should understand that mental handicap is not a curse but an illness that can affect anyone in the community and not a particular family only. This is much possible through ARB Social workers involvement together with local authorities.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
My wish is that ARB should go on with its activities as planned without any obstacles, secondly, we do wish that ARB extend its work to extend that clients would benefit a vocational training and be able to work on a full time basis at the center.
Name: Noella NGABIRE
Age: 4 Years
Diagnosis: Epilepsy, Autisme
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
Not much has changed in Noella’s life and behavior. She’s still experiencing crisis and cries a lot. The medications do not help her very much neither and besides, she does not get it regularly due to financial problem.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
Yes, I wish ARB can provide medications for clients as parents do not have a purchasing power to cover for it.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Farming
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
My time and force/hands.
5. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
According to my observation, people tend to understand and accept Fides as she is.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
It is a matter of time to see people get involved in mental handicapped issues. Here I mean, seeing more people support this noble initiative started by ARB.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
To get more means and support handicapped people fully.
Name: Jeanne MBONIMPA
Age: 19 Years
Diagnostic: Epilepsy, Mental retardation
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
Nothing much has changed to the client as she is still having seizures at almost the same frequencies. The medication she is taking does not help a lot. Her family is happy as they now know how to handle the client during the crisis. The only improvement is that she can easily perform some duties at home or outside her home.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
No.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Farming
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
My time! I can avail myself to do any kind of work for ARB as they are assisting my child freely.
5. BASED ON THE PERSEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
I can say that people know what happens when my child is in crisis. Before they tended to run because they thought epilepsy can contaminate them. Now they know that it is not the case.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
Just to inform them about the illness.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
I pray God to provide ARB people with much courage to perform their job as planned.
Name: Claver NYANDWI
Age: ?
Diagnosis: ?
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
Before, Claver (my husband) was aggressive to people around him. He used to get irritated by small things and especially when getting in contact with strangers. Through ARB social workers, Claver has changed. He can now contain himself and tolerate strangers around him.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
Not really. I appreciate the work that is being done.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
As I don’t own enough land, I work for other people for a salary.
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
I can avail my hands and time as this is what I do own.
5. BASED ON THE PERSEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
Not much as far as I am concerned. I have a feeling that I am not very much accepted. People need to change and understand that Claver problem can happen to anyone.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
May be by inviting them to see the work that ARB is doing and experience the changes by themselves.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
My wish is that ARB keeps up serving handicapped people.
N
ame: Enock INGABIRE
Age: 8 years
Diagnosis: Down Syndrome, mental retarded
1. WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE THE CLIENT STARTED TO GET SUPPORT FROM ARB SOCIAL WORKERS?
In the past Enock was isolated in his world. He used to play alone and was not listening to people around him except when someone was inviting him to eat or drink.
Since the ARB social workers started to visit him many things changed. Now he pays attention to what people say to him, has obviously improved his behavior and is active. He tries to talk some words, he is no more trying to hide himself when someone comes at home and he can take a walk alone in the suburb and come back by himself.
2. DO YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS REGARDING ARB WORK
Yes indeed, I thing that if my child gets some medication, he can be better and hopefully he can go to school.
3. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Farming, and sometimes selling various things at the market.
4. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ARB
Honestly I don’t have much to offer but I can do anything in my possession for the betterment of my child.
5. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF MENTAL HANDICAPPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE CHANGED SO FAR SINCE ARB GOT INVOLVED
Many things have changed in people’s mentality towards mental handicapped. My child is accepted, myself I am not considered to have given birth to a curse child. People understand better mental handicapped problematic than before.
6. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY ON MENTAL HANDICAPPED PROBLEMATIC
Education; people need to be informed.
7. WHAT IS YOUR WISH TOWARDS ARB OBECTIVES
My wish is to see my child grow as other children and become useful for himself and eventually for the community.