Great Opportunities, Burundi

The centre was established in September 2020 by speech and language therapist Marie Misarova. Together with a small group of dedicated parents, she established the AFAPA association, an organisation that champions the interests and well-being of families and friends of individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The centre aims to provide therapies that meet international standards, creating a better future for autistic children in Burundi.

Since its establishment, the centre has made remarkable progress and now provides a range of services, including ABA therapy, ESDM, specialised education, occupational therapy and speech therapy. However, despite this progress, these approaches are not widely used in Burundi. There is a shortage of qualified professionals and appropriate training programmes to meet the long-term demand.

To date, the centre has screened 170 children for autism, 90 of whom have been diagnosed. Unfortunately, only 23 of these children are able to access the urgently needed services, as many families are burdened by financial constraints. With the support of help alliance, this problem is now set to be addressed: more children will be able to access care, and the centre plans to train the much-needed local professionals. Existing staff will also undergo training in behavioural therapy (ABA) and special education, in line with international standards.

This project is an important step in improving care and therapy for autistic children in Burundi and building long-term expertise in the country, creating a sustainable future for affected families.