Elizabeth and Chantal receive the visit of Kenneth Kulumba, HI’s Occupational Therapist, at their home. | © Adul / HI
Chantal, a strong and determined mother, shares the remarkable story of her 7-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. Born in Bunagana, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Elizabeth has faced challenges from the beginning of her life. Her birth was difficult, and she didn’t cry until 30 minutes after she was born. Soon after, she began experiencing seizures and only reached her developmental milestones slowly: when she was one, Elizabeth still couldn’t sit, roll over or feed herself.
Despite these challenges, Chantal never gave up. She cared tirelessly for her daughter, celebrating Elizabeth’s progress as she began sitting at the age of two, or moving around using her legs and arms to propel herself when she was four.
But life in DRC became increasingly unsafe. In 2019, tragedy struck when Chantal lost her husband in an attack. Injured herself and seeking safety for her children, she made the decision to flee to Uganda. The family arrived at the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, in western Uganda.
There, Chantal and Elizabeth found a community of support. They were referred to Medical Teams International (MTI), which referred them on to Rukunyu General Hospital for therapy. However, transportation costs made regular hospital visits difficult for the mother and daughter.
Determined to provide Elizabeth with every possible opportunity, Chantal enrolled her in Nteziryayo Primary School, supported by Finn Church Aid. There, they were introduced to HI, a turning point in their journey. The HI team provided physiotherapy sessions to Elizabeth to help her develop her mobility and learn to stand on her own. They also taught Chantal exercises to do with her daughter at home, and provided essential mobility devices, including a wheeled walker and a pressure-relief mattress.
With this support, Elizabeth’s progress has been nothing short of inspiring. Today, she can walk short distances with minimal support, attends school regularly and has blossomed socially, forming friendships and participating actively in class.
Chantal is very grateful for the life-changing support they have received. She thanks HI and the INCLUDE III project funded by the European Union, for giving Elizabeth the tools to overcome her challenges and a chance at a brighter future.
“Seeing Elizabeth walk, smile, and interact with others gives me so much hope,” Chantal says. “She has come so far, and I know she will continue to grow and thrive. I will forever be grateful to the people who have helped us along the way.”
INCLUDE III is funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid and aims to ensure that, in Western Uganda, conflict-affected refugee and host community children and adolescents, including out-of-school children, have access to quality and inclusive formal and non-formal learning opportunities, are protected, and have improved well-being and learning outcomes. This project has supported 50 primary schools, and 171 children have been able to go back to school.
