Why Our Work Matters
In rural Rwanda, many children with disabilities cannot access the care they need. Rehabilitation services are largely concentrated in urban centres, assistive devices remain limited, and specialised support is often far beyond the reach of rural families.
Without timely intervention, children are at risk of preventable complications, reduced mobility, and exclusion from education and community life.
At Bienfait Rwanda, we believe that a child’s disability should never define their opportunities or future. We also believe that access to health and rehabilitation services should not depend on where a person lives, their financial situation, or whether they live with a disability. Our work is guided by one principle: to leave no one behind.
Our multidisciplinary teams bring essential services directly into remote communities. We provide rehabilitation, orthopaedic support, primary eye care, counselling, nutrition support, and social protection for children and families who would otherwise have no access to these services.
Working closely with caregivers, community health workers, schools, and local authorities, we ensure continuity of care beyond each outreach visit and strengthen local capacity over time.
Every child deserves the opportunity to move, learn, participate, and live with dignity.
Multidisciplinary Mobile Team
Many people in rural Rwanda face significant barriers to accessing healthcare: long distances, limited infrastructure, lack of specialized services and low awareness. Our multidisciplinary mobile team is designed to overcome these barriers.
We bring together professionals from different fields, including:
- Physiotherapy
- Psycholgy
- General health care
- Nutrition
- Orthopedic technology and assistive devices
Through regular outreach visits to remote communities the team provides:
- Assessment and treatment for kids and youth with disabilities
- Provision and fitting of assistive devices
- Rehabilitation services tailored to individual needs
- Family counseling and caregiver support
- Referral to specialized services when needed
- Providing health insurance and socio-economic support when needed
This integrated model allows us to address not only medical needs, but also the social and environmental factors that affect a person’s well-being. By working closely with families, communities, community health workers and local health structures, we ensure continuity of care beyond each visit.
Eye Care & Vision Services
Good vision is essential for education, work and participation in daily life – yet access to eye care remains limited in many parts of Rwanda. Our eye care program is designed to close this gap by embedding eye care services into primary health care and community outreach.
Outreach and Early Detection
We bring eye care directly to health centers and communities through:
- Vision screening and basic eye examinations
- Identification of common conditions such as refractive errors, infections and cataracts
- Early diagnosis and referral for specialized treatment
- School and community-based screening campaigns
By integrating eye care into our outreach activities, we ensure that visual impairments are detected early – before they lead to long-term consequences.
This approach strengthens frontline services and ensures that eye care continues beyond our direct involvement.
Training and Capacity Building
Sustainable impact requires strong local systems. That is why we invest in training for Primary Eye Care (PEC) nurses, Community Health Workers (CHWs) and parents,
Our training focuses on:
- Early identification and basic management of eye conditions (PEC)
- Early identification of disability (CHW)
- Referral pathways within the national health system
- Prevention and community awareness
- Physiotherapy
- Nutrition Knowledge
- Early Childhood Development
This approach strengthens frontline services and ensures that primary (eye) health care continues beyond our direct involvement.
A Holistic and Inclusive Approach
At Bienfait Rwanda, we do not treat conditions in isolation. We look at the whole person within their environment.
Our programs are designed to:
- Integrate health, rehabilitation and social support
- Prioritize early detection and prevention
- Strengthen local capacities and systems
- Ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in all services
By combining multidisciplinary outreach with targeted programs such as eye care, we create a model that is accessible, inclusive and sustainable.
Because quality care should reach everyone – wherever they are.
Bringing Healthcare to the Last Mile
Bienfait Rwanda is one of the few organisations in Rwanda providing comprehensive mobile rehabilitation services for children with disabilities in rural communities.
Rather than expecting families to travel long distances to hospitals or rehabilitation centres, our teams bring services directly to villages, reducing barriers related to poverty, transportation, and accessibility.
This holistic model ensures that children receive the support they need not only to improve their health, but also to participate in family life, education and society.
