Mrs. Jane Wasiya, a caregiver from Vheneka village in Zimbabwe’s Chipinge district, has experienced a profound change in her life through the REPSSI project, Inclusive Communities. As a caregiver living with a physical disability, she has seen firsthand the positive impact the initiative has had on her family and the wider community.

Before the project, Mrs. Wasiya recalls how her life was shaped by isolation and misconceptions surrounding disabilities. “In our community, caregivers like me used to hide our children with disabilities because people were ignorant. There was a lot of suspicion about witchcraft and unnatural beliefs,” she said. With these misconceptions, she felt uncomfortable bringing her child into the open to seek help.

The turning point came when the Inclusive Communities project was introduced in Vheneka village. The program urged caregivers to come forward with their children and seek support. “I felt the time had come to seek help,” Jane recalled. She enrolled her child in the program and began attending sessions focused on mental health and psychosocial support.

Through these conversations, Jane learned how much her child’s situation was affecting her own mental health. “I started realizing the toll my child’s condition had on me,” she shared. The knowledge she gained empowered her to not only care for her child better but also prioritize her own wellbeing. “I learned how to take care of my child without neglecting myself,” she added.

Jane observed, “There is now more acceptance and understanding about disabilities in my community, even in schools and health facilities.” The attitudes of community members have improved, breaking down long-standing barriers and misconceptions.

Looking ahead, Jane is deeply grateful for the support she and her child have received through REPSSI’s intervention. “It wouldn’t have been possible for my child and me to get this support without the project,” she remarked, reflecting on the progress she has made.

Through this project, Mrs. Wasiya has become a symbol of strength and resilience, helping to create a more inclusive and accepting community for people living with disabilities.