Small Funds, Big Hearts-Disability in Uganda
Disability is a major problem for children
in developing countries. Up to five percent are born with
a disability or become disabled during their childhood.
Being a volunteer on a Ugandan school for children with
special needs (Entebbe Children's Welfare Unit) I experience
every day many health workers, teachers, parents, politicians,
NGO's and aid-programmes, working hard for a better living
for the disabled.
 In
Uganda, with its high rate of illiteracy (45,8% women, 25%
men), one might think that parents are not aware of the
special needs of disabled children and leave the children
without the stimulation of family love and support. This
is far from my experiences. Especially mothers are well
aware that their disabled child needs special care. But
there is an urgent need for counselling and appropriate
schooling of children with physical and mental handicaps.
In 1997 the government implemented a new
education programme aiming at ensuring free primary education
for all children in Uganda, also those mentally disabled.
However, as most schools - especially in rural areas -have
50-100 pupils in one classroom with one teacher, the advantages
for disabled children are doubtful. But school attendance
does positively affect the disabled - they enjoy going to
school. Interactions with other children give them a feeling
of being socially accepted. Actually, this is a major step
for disabled children in Uganda.
Good intentions and initiatives often face
economic constraints, giving slow progress of the development
for disabled. Yet I experience from my daily work at the
school that in many people's hearts there are no limits
of what they will do - I find caring and encouraging teachers
(some not on payroll!) and children with all kinds of disabilities
exploring school work and everyday life activities.
The driving force of the school staff is
the urge to help and develop these children more than economic
incentives. The Ugandan schools need more people with big
hearts, yet there is also a desperate need for financial
means for the daily running and for further development
of the situation for the disabled in Uganda.
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