Child rehabilitation in Mauritania

In Mauritania, disability is still a taboo subject. The state does not see it or include it in its statistics or support programs, and society pushes it into the shadows. Mothers live with a sense of guilt, convinced that a sick child is their personal failure or a punishment. The shame is so strong that many children never leave their homes in the neglected districts of Nouakchott.

For them, our center is the only crack in this wall of misunderstanding.

What does rehabilitation at the Foyer look like?

• 9:30 – Energy to start the day: We begin with feeding. The children receive enriched seven-grain porridge. Without a proper meal, their bodies would not have the strength for any physical effort.
• 10:30 – Individual physiotherapy: In the therapy room, the physiotherapist works with the child and the mother at the same time. We teach women how to hold, support, and exercise their children so they can safely continue rehabilitation at home every day.
• Medical room: A nurse regularly monitors the children’s weight. We catch every sign of malnutrition that could undo the progress made in the therapy room.
• A “made-to-measure” workshop: Because there are no stores selling rehabilitation equipment in Mauritania, our therapists cut custom seats and stabilizers from foam themselves. Every aid is tailored to the child’s specific condition and body.

More than just exercises

In Mauritania, almsgiving is often a religious duty – given “without looking someone in the eye.” Here, it’s the opposite. At noon, when mothers drink tea and the children sleep or play, we build relationships these women cannot find anywhere else.

Sharing tea is a time when mothers stop being seen as “those with cursed children.” They embroider, sew, and talk. Wednesdays are special – the large hall fills with music. Children and mothers dance, and for a moment, disability stops being a burden.

Why is support essential?

We care for a group of 150 children, but due to logistics and having only two buses, about 30 of them can be at the center each day. We divide the children into groups so that everyone gets a chance to exercise.

Funding a day of rehabilitation covers the physiotherapist’s work and the materials needed for specialized seats and rehabilitation aids. It is a chance for these children to stop being prisoners of their own homes – and for their mothers to regain a sense of dignity.