Cooperation with the association „Axum mental retardded and intelectual disabilities association”

Doing good for others is not a duty. It is a joy, because it increases your own health and zest for life.

(Zoroaster, 1. – 2. Jahrtausend v.Chr.)

During our six-month stay in Aksum in 2017, we had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people. Many people in the region have great challenges to overcome themselves, but they also selflessly help others.

One of them is Frezgi Teklu. He is the highly committed founder and chairman of the Ethiopian-registered association ‘Axum Mental Retarded and Intellectual Disabilities Association’. This association supports people with autism and intellectual disabilities.

We were told everywhere we went that ‘inclusion is practised’ in Ethiopia. For example, all schools have contact persons for children with various disabilities. As is the case everywhere else in the world, the reality in Ethiopia is different, as many parents and affected individuals told us. Even in schools, principals and teachers often do not know who these contact persons are.

Our perception was that visually impaired, blind and physically disabled people participate in everyday life in Aksum. It is much more difficult for people with intellectual disabilities. We spoke at length with Frezgi, members and helpers of the association and were able to form our own impression.

Like almost all members, Frezgi himself is affected: one of his brothers is severely mentally disabled. There is no question of inclusion here and, as Frezgi tells us, in many families it is often not even possible to speak of humane conditions. Those affected live with families who are often completely overwhelmed and become completely isolated. As I said, we were also able to gain a very personal impression of the situation.

Frezgi and his association are committed to ensuring that the people affected are each assigned a ‘caregiver’. Another main goal is to raise public awareness of this issue. To this end, the chairman travels at his own expense to many different parts of the country and tries to address and win over politicians, the press and celebrities.

In addition, he is working on qualifications; Frezgi wants to use these to train (or have trained) more people who are familiar with the special needs of this target group and can help them. Above all, however, he is working on a vision: he wants to build a home where those affected can work, play and live together, rather than being isolated, as is currently the case.

We think the members’ commitment is fantastic and have therefore decided to enter into a partnership with the association. We are well aware that we are not the experts needed to help ourselves, nor can we afford to pay specialists. However, there is something we are very happy to do: ‘advertising’. And perhaps we will succeed in finding helpers through our networks who can assist Frezgi and his association, above all with their expertise and additional networks.

Project update 2021:

Although this is a very important project, we were unfortunately unable to provide the networks and support we wanted.
We ourselves do not have the expertise to help directly.

Together with the association in Aksum, we have therefore decided that cooperation is not helpful at this time and are ending it for the moment. Nevertheless, this very important issue remains on our agenda and we will continue to try to help.