Love and care are essential needs

Before the crisis, Chimène and her family lived peacefully in Bria in the Galabadia neighborhood. In 2017, Bria, like most towns in the Central African Republic (CAR), has been attacked by armed groups. The violence and the atrocities committed by the armed groups forced Chimène and her family to flee from their neighborhood. They found refuge in the camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) located 3 km from Bria center near the MINUSCA military base.

Life in the IDP camp was not easy for Chimène. Because of her disability, she was a victim of stigmatization by the community. The other children around her did not include her in the recreational and leisure activities in the camp because of her difference. “There were times when I didn’t want to leave the house because other children of my age made fun of me for being different, and that really affected me. It made me very angry. Sometimes I fought with them” she expresses by gestures as she doesn’t speak. Even within her family, Chimène was neglected and did not receive adequate care, love and affection from her parents. Chimène really wanted to go to school and have friends with whom she could play, but since there is no specialized school for deaf-mute children in Bria, she couldn’t go.

Chimène’s family does not have a large source of income, they depend on assistance from International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO) operating in the IDP camp. Her father was just a small farmer who did not have the means to send her to Bangui in order to study in a specialized school for deaf-mute children. ‘’The money I earn from farming doesn’t really allow me to support my family. We lost everything when we came here in the IDP camp” says Chimène ‘s father.’’

Following the arrival of the Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies (JF CPiE) project in the IDP camp in 2022, Chimène ‘s situation considerably changed. The project team has been able to support her in strengthening her resilience and in making her family and community a protective environment for her. The educational talks carried out with Chimène ‘s family on the care of vulnerable children and the various awareness raising sessions conducted
on children’s rights and rights of children living with disabilities increased her acceptance within the family and the community.

Moreover, Chimène benefited from several services provided by the project. Chimène signals “I regularly take part in sports and recreational activities within the Child Friendly Space (CFS) which has enabled me to socialize with other children my age, to make friends, to come out of my isolation and fit in’’. Chimène was registered with the case management team, where she received regular follow-up through sychosocial support and home visits twice a week to check on her family situation (good care, attention and affection from her parents, siblings and neighbors).

Chimène also benefited from dignity kits and her parents received cash to enable them to buy her food and clothes for their children.

Thanks to the support of the JF-CPIE project, Chimène is now accepted by her family and the community without discrimination or stigmatization. Thanks to the support she received, Chimène has rediscovered the joy of living and being with her peers. Chimène, who used to be very angry and aggressive, has become calm and sociable. The financial support provided by the JF-CPIE project has enabled her parents to look after her and get her out of a situation of neglect.

Thanks to the JF-CPIE project, Chimene’s parents and community leaders have realized that a disability is not a sign of failure in life, but rather an opportunity to succeed thanks to the many talents a child may possess. Before the project began, Chimène ‘s parents and the community had never imagined that Chimene could fulfil her potential. She is now cheerful, smiling and has friends. Chimène ‘s parents said: “Our child received a lot of support from the project. After she joined the Child Friendly Space (CFS), her attitudes and behavior changed. She is no longer in
her angry and isolated state. We never thought we’d ever see her like this. We even call it a miracle, and we thank JF-CPIE project for everything it has done for us and her well-being. As her parents, we never realized that she could become someone in the future and look after us in our old age.’’

Although the project strengthened her resilience and contributed to her acceptance within her family and the community, Chimène is still unable to go to school due to the lack of a specialized school for deaf-mute children in Bria. However, she wants to succeed in life like other children her age. She would like to benefit from vocational training (in sewing) so that she can have a job in the future and look after her parents.

According to the head of her neighborhood in the IDPs camp, “I know that Chimene has the skills. She just needs the means and the opportunities. Success is a possibility for her”.

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