Ethan was one of many children in Burundi living with physical disabilities who faced unnecessary barriers simply because they lacked access to appropriate mobility equipment. Since receiving an adapted wheelchair from Bridges to Inclusion, Ethan has gained greater comfort, mobility, and independence, enabling him to participate more fully in everyday life while easing the physical burden on his family.
His story is a powerful reminder that the right mobility solution can transform a child’s life. At Bridges to Inclusion, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to move, learn, play, and participate fully in their community. By providing individualized mobility solutions, we are not just delivering wheelchairs—we are opening doors to dignity, inclusion, and opportunity for children like Ethan.
When Ethan was born, his mother imagined a future filled with first steps, school days, laughter with friends, and all the ordinary moments that parents dream of for their children.
Instead, the days that followed were filled with uncertainty.
Ethan had suffered a neonatal brain injury. He experienced seizures, struggled to feed, and faced challenges that would change the course of his life. While other children were learning to crawl and walk, Ethan’s family found themselves navigating hospitals, medical appointments, therapies, and difficult questions for which there were no easy answers.
For his mother, Irakoze Magnifique, every day became a battle between fear and hope.
“There were moments when it was not easy,” she recalls. “But he is my child. Giving up was never an option.”
At only eight months old, Ethan began physiotherapy. What started as a recommendation from doctors soon became a lifelong journey of rehabilitation and perseverance.
The progress was slow, sometimes almost invisible to others. Yet his mother learned to celebrate victories that many people take for granted.
The day Ethan could sit independently.
The day he began chewing and swallowing more easily.
The day he could communicate better.
The day he managed to take a few steps.
Each achievement represented countless hours of therapy, patience, encouragement, and unconditional love.
Over the years, Ethan attended different rehabilitation programs while continuing his support at Akamuri Centre. His family invested everything they could in helping him grow stronger and more independent.
But one challenge remained particularly difficult: mobility.
As Ethan grew, carrying him became increasingly demanding. Simple daily activities such as moving around the house, joining family gatherings, sitting with friends, or going to the bathroom required significant physical effort and assistance.
His world was becoming larger, but his ability to move within it remained limited.
That is when Bridges to Inclusion stepped in.
Through its commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to appropriate mobility equipment, Bridges to Inclusion provided Ethan with an adapted wheelchair.
For many people, a wheelchair may seem like a piece of equipment.
For Ethan and his family, it represented something much greater.
It represented freedom.
It represented dignity.
It represented participation.
It meant being able to move more comfortably, interact with others more easily, and take part in everyday life with greater independence.
Most importantly, it reminded Ethan and his family that they were not alone.
Today, when his mother speaks about her son, she does not begin by describing his disability.
She speaks about his kindness.
His compassion.
His determination.
His courage.
“He never stops trying,” she says proudly.
And when she imagines his future, she sees much more than the challenges he faces today.
She sees a young man contributing to his family, his community, and his country.
She sees possibility.
She sees hope.
Her message to other parents is simple but powerful:
“Love them. Support them. Encourage them. Put yourself in their place and remember that they, too, have dreams, abilities, and potential.”
Ethan’s story reminds us that inclusion is not only about accessibility or equipment.
It is about ensuring that every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to participate, belong, and thrive.
Because sometimes, changing a life begins with something as simple as believing that everyone deserves a place in the journey.
And sometimes, a wheelchair is much more than a wheelchair.
It is a bridge to inclusion.
