TUNAFASI Program: IMPACTION/TUNAFASI Netherlands Director Visits Bagira

From May 11 to 13, 2026, the Bagira Municipality in Bukavu hosted the visit of Ms. Betteke, Director of IMPACTION/TUNAFASI Netherlands, as part of the TUNAFASI Program. Implemented by ADED in collaboration with the Bagira Municipality, the program aims to promote social inclusion and empowerment of children and young people with disabilities. The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress made during both the preparatory phase and the implementation of the program, strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, and provide observations and recommendations to support the successful implementation of the TUNAFASI Program in Bagira. The visit began with a working session bringing together the teams of ADED and AJEPAD to review the progress of the program. Discussions focused on achievements made so far, challenges encountered, and strategies envisioned to ensure the sustainability of program outcomes. Subsequently, a meeting was held between the Director of IMPACTION/TUNAFASI Netherlands, the Mayor of Bagira Municipality, and the ADED team to discuss local authorities’ ownership of the program. Participants highlighted key achievements, operational challenges, and mechanisms for sustaining the program's interventions. The day continued with a visit to Bagira General Referral Hospital. During this visit, the IMPACTION/TUNAFASI Netherlands team, ADED, and their partners met with the Health Zone Chief Medical Officer, community facilitators, and community health workers to discuss the progress of program activities in the field of community health. On the second day, the ADED team and its partners met with the Steering Committee (COPIL) of Bagira to assess the level of program ownership, identify challenges encountered, and discuss sustainability strategies. An exchange session was also organized with the Bukavu III Educational Sub-Division (PROVED) to evaluate the inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in schools. Discussions focused on challenges related to inclusive education and opportunities for improving educational support for this vulnerable group. The delegation then visited the South Kivu Provincial Governor’s Office, where they met with Mr. Freddy Ndongozi, Advisor to the Governor in charge of Humanitarian Affairs and Health. He commended ADED for its efforts in implementing the TUNAFASI Program, particularly its approach of involving local and government authorities in planning and implementing activities in accordance with existing legal frameworks. To assess the tangible impact of the program on beneficiaries, a home visit was conducted to a mother whose child with a disability is receiving medical support through the TUNAFASI Program. This support includes access to specialized medical care provided by a health facility partnering with ADED and managed by an Italian specialist based in Rwanda at Gikonko Hospital. The day concluded with a visit to Burhiba Health Center to assess the level of understanding and implementation of program activities within the facility. The third day was dedicated to an exchange session held at ADED’s offices in Bukavu. During this meeting, AJEPAD presented the main achievements recorded under the TUNAFASI Program between 2022 and 2025. Discussions focused on results achieved, challenges faced, lessons learned, and opportunities for improving and sustaining the program. The session also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share field experiences, innovations developed during implementation, and strategies adopted to strengthen the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities within their communities. At the end of the visit, Ms. Betteke, Director of IMPACTION/TUNAFASI Netherlands, congratulated all stakeholders on the achievements made despite the challenging context facing the region. She particularly praised ADED’s resilience, creativity, and innovative capacity, as well as the commitment demonstrated by local communities and other stakeholders involved in implementing the program. Following the visit to Bagira, the partners traveled to Goma to join other partner organizations from Tanzania (CBIDO), the Netherlands (Benjamin Foundation), and UGEAFI. Together, they participated in a regional experience-sharing workshop held in Gisenyi, bringing together teams from ADED and AJEPAD. Due to the health situation related to the Ebola outbreak, participants were unable to cross the border from Gisenyi to Goma to physically meet stakeholders involved in the TUNAFASI Program in Nyiragongo and Goma or conduct the planned field visits. However, discussions continued through videoconferencing, ensuring continuity in dialogue and experience-sharing among partner organizations. This visit strengthened collaboration among partners, provided an opportunity to review the achievements of the TUNAFASI Program in Bukavu and Nyiragongo, and reinforced discussions on the sustainability of ongoing interventions. It also contributed to promoting the long-term integration of the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approach within the sectors of health, education, and governance for the benefit of children and young people with disabilities.