ABOUT US
Rural Empowerment Action for Community Healthcare (REACH) project in rural region of Burundi was initiated and launched by Modeste HATUNGIMANA in June 2014. Recently, completed both Social Work and International Relation degree at University of South Australia, I have ambition of supporting individuals experiencing health wellbeing and mental health problems/illnesses.
After visiting my native country in June 2013, I found that people are suffering from mental health problems/illnesses due to various causes related to war aftermath. I left my country when I was 15 years old and returned there after 15 years living in exile. Then, I had this idea of starting this project in order to make these services available in rural country of Burundi.
Many people in Burundi think that only people who are foolish or crazy are experiencing mental illness. This is a challenge as many people are getting mentally ill and do not seek for help or support.
In order to successfully help those people, I decided to start small centre which will offer health care and mental health service. People will go to see health professionals. In case the health worker finds that such person is experiencing mental health problems, he/she will be referred to mental health worker for counselling or treatment.
The project has started with support from Stephen Odorcic (Salisbury Northern Mental Health Clinician). Stephen and I went to Burundi where we observed and explored the needs of implementing that project in rural region of Burundi.
For the sustainability of the project, people like Stephen are needed to provide any king of support. Support may include volunteering, work experience, donation, medical equipment, medicines, trainings, teaching English…
After visiting my native country in June 2013, I found that people are suffering from mental health problems/illnesses due to various causes related to war aftermath. I left my country when I was 15 years old and returned there after 15 years living in exile. Then, I had this idea of starting this project in order to make these services available in rural country of Burundi.
Many people in Burundi think that only people who are foolish or crazy are experiencing mental illness. This is a challenge as many people are getting mentally ill and do not seek for help or support.
In order to successfully help those people, I decided to start small centre which will offer health care and mental health service. People will go to see health professionals. In case the health worker finds that such person is experiencing mental health problems, he/she will be referred to mental health worker for counselling or treatment.
The project has started with support from Stephen Odorcic (Salisbury Northern Mental Health Clinician). Stephen and I went to Burundi where we observed and explored the needs of implementing that project in rural region of Burundi.
For the sustainability of the project, people like Stephen are needed to provide any king of support. Support may include volunteering, work experience, donation, medical equipment, medicines, trainings, teaching English…