Hello and Welcome to Sarah AFi’s podcast!
Today, I will talk to you briefly about my professional project. But first let’s get to know each other!
My name is Sarah AFI, I am a Congolese student from DRC doing my final year of Master degree PEADID at the University of Nantes.
I have been living in France for 5 years now for my studies, and I did my 3 years of Bachelor’s degree in Angers.
So, Let’s jump to our main subject!!!
I am interested in child development and disability or neurodevelopmental disorders, which have a negative impact on the daily life, school and social integration of children. I would like to work as a psychologist specialized in care structures for children, adolescents and young adults. Moreover, being from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I wish, once I have acquired the skills, to work in existing local institutions in order to help them to set up adequate therapeutic care. For which I will also talk about the place of the psychologist and the representations of disability in DRC.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, as in several African countries, disability in general is a real public health problem. In African cultures, the care of children with disabilities, especially mental disabilities, is a real health, socio-economic and cultural problem. Children with disabilities are victims of stigmatization because in the socio-cultural context, an atypical child is perceived as a non-human, a genie or a curse.
Children with disabilities
This child, who is different, has no access to schooling and is totally excluded from society. He often suffers rejection from his relatives and within his family because he would be a disgrace to them and thus becomes a victim of abuse.
He is seen as a persecutor by his parents who are nevertheless “obliged” to take care of him and keep him at home all day long. There is also a “street child” phenomenon. Briefly, these are children, most of whom are orphans of father, mother or both; others have been abandoned by their parents because of family insecurity or disability. As a result, they find themselves homeless and are therefore on the street, due to the lack of a reception facility.
WHAT ABOUT PSYCHOLOGIST
In France, the profession of psychologist is governed by a code of ethics which establishes the professional rules relating to the general principles, professional practice and training of psychologists. This is not the case in the DRC. The profession of psychologist is little known and not well understood. It is often stigmatized and seen as a “white people profession”. And the psychologist, whatever his field of expertise may be, struggles to find his place.
Moreover, there are few care solutions and the issue of disability is largely unknown. Furthermore, despite the existence of a few specialized establishments, the profession of psychologist is hardly recognized in this context. As far as the profession of psychologist is concerned, it has been noted that psychologists are almost non-existent in the Congolese job, particularly in specialized institutions and hospitals.
The challenge is even greater, as it means to have this profession recognized and thus ensure the psychological care and support of children in need.
I believe in it and I will make it happen !!!!
Thank you for listening !