Soeurs Amies des pauvres (Friendly Sisters of the Poor), Founding Community Leaders & History:
Sixteen years ago, on May 14th 2000, the Superior General for an unincorporated Congregation of Catholic nuns colloquially translated as ‘Friendly Sisters of the Poor’ (Soeurs Amies des pauvres), founded The Inshuti Zaca, a rehabilitation center for profoundly, mentally and physically disabled children, in the Gahaga sector of Kigali. The center’s opening would answer the unexpressed pleas and silent prayers of the mothers and families of disabled children in a way that was unheard of in Africa, let alone in a post-conflict state.
The idea for The Inshuti Zaca center evolved as the Rwandan Sisters of Soeurs Amies des pauvres strove to meet the needs of the women who came to them for advice and assistance on how to best care for the overwhelming needs of their severely mentally and physically disabled children. In an environment of scarce resources, families found it exceedingly challenging to cope with the time, energy and resource demands of raising healthy children, let alone the complications of profound disabilities. The sister’s learned from mother’s that added demands of a profoundly disabled child took a lion’s share of a mother’s time, energy and emotional resources; leaving healthy siblings and dependent extended or, elderly family members at a greater risk of hunger, illness and isolation from a mother’s attentive care.
The stories of the mothers and plight of the helpless children moved Mother___ and Sisters to a degree that required action. Like Mother Theresa in her early days in Calcutta, the Sisters decided to act without official sanction, or “official Catholic orders” and have determined their “order” is from a higher calling that providence will support. The Friendly Sisters of the Poor manifested their personal calling to work with the children and their families and decided to open a center dedicated to caring for the needs and rehabilitation of profoundly, mentally and physically disabled children, in a perfect way. The center opened with 35 children, who are profoundly disabled, both mentally and physically. Each child requires around the clock attention, which is achieved by a staff of 4 nuns and a large number of Novice aides and caregivers. Care is one-on-one, for the most part. The majority of the children do not know how to control their mobility, bodily functions and are not responsible for their actions. The staff of Novices has taken over the function of mother and family for each child, attending to them, calming them and showing them lots of affection. Nearly all of the children have been abandoned by their families after the center’s opening.
Sixteen years ago, on May 14th 2000, the Superior General for an unincorporated Congregation of Catholic nuns colloquially translated as ‘Friendly Sisters of the Poor’ (Soeurs Amies des pauvres), founded The Inshuti Zaca, a rehabilitation center for profoundly, mentally and physically disabled children, in the Gahaga sector of Kigali. The center’s opening would answer the unexpressed pleas and silent prayers of the mothers and families of disabled children in a way that was unheard of in Africa, let alone in a post-conflict state.
The idea for The Inshuti Zaca center evolved as the Rwandan Sisters of Soeurs Amies des pauvres strove to meet the needs of the women who came to them for advice and assistance on how to best care for the overwhelming needs of their severely mentally and physically disabled children. In an environment of scarce resources, families found it exceedingly challenging to cope with the time, energy and resource demands of raising healthy children, let alone the complications of profound disabilities. The sister’s learned from mother’s that added demands of a profoundly disabled child took a lion’s share of a mother’s time, energy and emotional resources; leaving healthy siblings and dependent extended or, elderly family members at a greater risk of hunger, illness and isolation from a mother’s attentive care.
The stories of the mothers and plight of the helpless children moved Mother___ and Sisters to a degree that required action. Like Mother Theresa in her early days in Calcutta, the Sisters decided to act without official sanction, or “official Catholic orders” and have determined their “order” is from a higher calling that providence will support. The Friendly Sisters of the Poor manifested their personal calling to work with the children and their families and decided to open a center dedicated to caring for the needs and rehabilitation of profoundly, mentally and physically disabled children, in a perfect way. The center opened with 35 children, who are profoundly disabled, both mentally and physically. Each child requires around the clock attention, which is achieved by a staff of 4 nuns and a large number of Novice aides and caregivers. Care is one-on-one, for the most part. The majority of the children do not know how to control their mobility, bodily functions and are not responsible for their actions. The staff of Novices has taken over the function of mother and family for each child, attending to them, calming them and showing them lots of affection. Nearly all of the children have been abandoned by their families after the center’s opening.