Disability Rights Congo, Democratic Republic of the Project #35430

Balou: support 200 kids with disability in Congo

by ALEIMAR - Voluntary Organization

Balou: support 200 kids with disability in Congo

Summary

The project is located in Lubumbashi, the second biggest city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main goal of the project is improving health and well-being of 200 children with physical and/or mental disabilities in Balou Center, where they can receive medical cares, rehabilitation sessions, education, safe food and accommodation. Moreover, promoting their inclusion is fundamental in a local context where disability is often perceived as a calamity for the family and the entire community.

$30,000
total goal

$14,491
remaining

49
donors

1
monthly donor

6
years

Challenge

In the Democratic Republic of Congo 62% of the population lives below the poverty line and children have to face the biggest obstacles: the greatest part has to work, suffers from malnutrition and children with disabilities are even more excluded by the social and school life. Disability is still perceived as a fatality for its bearer and a calamity for the family and for the entire community. These traditional beliefs lead to social marginalization or abandonment of the disable children.

Solution

The project involves the local center of Balou, in the city of Lubumbashi, where 200 children with disability are hosted. Aleimar, in collaboration with the local partner, wants to support the center, providing medical cares and rehabilitation sessions according to the different disability of the child. In addition, the project wants to improve food security thanks to the development of the canteen of the center and aims at increasing their inclusion and education.

Long-Term Impact

Thanks to GlobalGiving donors, Aleimar has been able to previously install a photovoltaic system in the center. After the needs analysis undertaken with the local representative and on the basis of the positive impact of the preceding project, a more general support to the center is really fundamental. Balou is one of the very few centers dedicated to disabilities in the entire country and it is the only reference point aimed at improving health and well-being of children in the long-term.