Get Involved

Together, we can build a more inclusive Rwanda.

APEH welcomes collaboration with organizations, institutions, professionals, communities and families working toward greater inclusion and opportunity for children with disabilities.

Work with APEH

Partnership built around shared purpose.

APEH works with partners who share a commitment to creating opportunities for children living with disabilities and strengthening support for their families.

Collaboration can bring together knowledge, resources, professional expertise, community connections and practical support to strengthen inclusion and participation.

Partnership opportunities

Ways to work with APEH.

There are different ways organizations, professionals and communities can contribute to APEH's work.

Individuals

Volunteer Your Time: Assist teachers and caregivers at the Heroes Day Centre (Kicukiro)/ Heroes Inclusive School (Gasabo) with daily activities, recreational play, and classroom support. Provide Professional Expertise: Offer specialized skills as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, special needs educator, or speech therapist to help children develop physical and cognitive capacities. Support Outreach and Home Visits: Accompany teams on community and home-based outreach visits to help combat local stigma and encourage families to bring hidden children into supportive learning spaces. Donate and Fundraise: Contribute financial support or needed equipment (such as specialized learning materials, nutritional program supplies, or mobility devices like wheelchairs)

Organizations

Organizations of all types—including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith-based organizations, international development agencies, and civil society groups—can collaborate with the APEH to strengthen disability inclusion in Rwanda.

Universities

Universities, both local and international, can collaborate with APEH to improve educational, therapeutic, and social inclusion outcomes for children with severe disabilities in Rwanda.

Government Authorities

Government agencies in Rwanda can form vital partnerships with the APEH to advance national strategies for social protection, healthcare, and inclusive education

Companies

Companies in Rwanda can create powerful social impact while advancing their corporate goals by partnering with the APEH.

Parents

Parents and guardians are the foundation of the Association des Parents et Amis des Enfants Vivant avec le Handicap Sevère (APEH). They are not just beneficiaries; they are active partners crucial to the success of the Heroes Day Centre& Heroes Inclusive School.

Our priorities

Where partnership can make a difference.

APEH seeks collaboration around practical priorities that strengthen opportunities, services and inclusion.

Research

Severe disability care requires data and evidence, especially in a localised context like Rwanda. Partnering on research helps track which therapies or interventions actually work for children with severe physical and cognitive impairments. It moves the organisation from simply "providing care" to demonstrating what works, which is exactly what international donors look for before funding large grants.

Education exchange

Special education and specialised therapies are rapidly evolving fields globally, but access to advanced training can be limited locally. Bringing in international academic insights while sharing local, contextual knowledge creates a two-way street. This ensures APEH’s educators and local university students stay up to date on the latest inclusive pedagogies and neuro-rehabilitation techniques, preventing the centre’s methods from becoming outdated.

Advocacy

APEH cannot solve systemic issues alone; true change requires shifting laws, budgets, and cultural mindsets. Advocacy partnerships amplify these families' voices, reaching government ministries and policymakers. It turns a localised effort into a national movement for inclusion, pushing for systemic changes such as subsidised medical equipment and accessible public infrastructure.

Quality Improvement

Children with severe disabilities require highly precise, safe, and standardised care protocols. Partnering with external experts to evaluate and refine internal processes ensures that APEH maintains high institutional standards. This approach optimises therapist-to-child ratios, improves safety protocols, tracks clinical outcomes accurately, and enhances the overall professionalism of the centre.

Volunteering

Specialised care is highly labour-intensive, and operational budgets are almost always stretched thin. Volunteers—whether they are local corporate teams, international students, or community members—provide the essential human power needed for daily operations. Beyond free labour, professional volunteers bring specialised pro bono skills (such as IT, legal, or accounting) that the centre otherwise could not afford.

Let's work together

Every child belongs. Partnership helps make inclusion possible.

If your organization, institution or professional network would like to explore collaboration with APEH, we welcome the opportunity to connect and understand how we can work together.