Small beginnings…

Sr Josephine Nyiranzanwayimama, a sister from an order of Rwandan Franciscan Sisters called Les Sœurs Pénitentes de Saint François d’Assise au Rwanda, had been co-ordinating sewing activities to empower local women since 2005 in the remote village of Muganza, Nyaruguru District, Rwanda. She then took over co-ordinating outpatient services for children with disabilities in 2008 serving a population of approximately 300,000 and managed both projects from a tiny room with no electricty at the sisters community (convent) in Muganza.

The needs were many and with the support of Margie Salem and donors, in partnership with Global Development Group Australia,  ASFA Centre (Amis de Saint François d’Assise/Friends of St. Francis) opened its doors in January 2014 to provide a multi-purpose hall with guest accommodation, an office and a dormitory room where families could stay so they could get the early morning bus to town to receive medical treatment for their children at distant hospitals.

In July 2014, we joined forces with Sister Josephine and her team to help train two newly qualified Rwandan physiotherapists. Over the course of 10 days, 100 patients were assessed in three rural clinics. We are often amazed by the distance people travel to see us, with patients walking up to 20km – or being carried on a stretcher. We met a wonderful father who walked for six hours carrying his 20-year-old daughter and a mother who held her child on a motorbike journey for five hours. There are many humbling stories like this…

This trip confirmed the pressing need to establish a physiotherapy centre in Muganza where we could provide early intervention for disabled children. Highly experienced nurse and physiotherapist Sister Josepha Uwumuremyi moved to Muganza in September 2014 to welcome the first patients at ASFA Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre and was overwhelmed from day one with the acute demand for physiotherapy services.  Read more about ASFA today.