By Deus Kamanyire | Head of Program Advocacy and Capacity Building
“I used to visit Joe* in the orphanage but every time I visited, he was always sad and quiet, and he had difficulty walking” Joe’s grandmother explained. Joe’s mother died during his birth, and he was placed in an orphanage just five days after he born. Having lived nearly all of his life in the orphanage, and with limited interactions outside of the institution, the types of developmental delays experienced by Joe are common.
The Ishema Mu Muryango (IMM) Program, implemented by Global Communities, has observed many cases like Joe’s since they began in April 2013. To date, the program has safely reintegrated 160 children living in institutions into families and communities.
The reintegration process, in Joe’s case, was very challenging. Limited information in his file and limited knowledge of the family’s whereabouts presented major obstacles to the Social Workers and Psychologists in IMM. However, after meeting with the family and explaining the factors contributing to Joe’s developmental delays, his grandmother was keen to bring him to stay with her. Joe’s grandfather was also determined to give him a better life. “For as long as I am alive, I will make sure Joe receives care, goes to school and gets the best education I can possibly afford.”
Preparing the family and child for reintegration was made much easier due to the existing relationship established through the grandmother’s visits to the institution, and the eagerness of the grandparents to welcome him into their home.
Three months after reintegration, the IMM staff visited the family and found that Joe was enrolled in a nursery school and was able to move, play, and interact well with both children and adults. There were no signs of the previously observed developmental delays. His grandmother confirmed the transformation, “His behavior has really improved, he can greet us when he comes from school, pray before he eats, and walks to and from school on his own. When he is hungry, he knows how to ask for, or find, food”.
Through the experience of a normal family and community life, Joe is thriving. The placement is rated as highly successful by the Social Workers and Psychologists.
* Not his real name.
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