I was born and raised in Ethiopia and I am now living in Germany. This means that I am at home in two cultures, which is very helpful when carrying out development projects. Otherwise, misunderstandings are pre-programmed. The projects our organisation carries out are never one-sided. There is always a mutual flow of experiences and know-how. I have also learned a great deal – especially from our autism project through which I met amazing children with versatile talents and extremely strong mothers.

Ermias Belai, founding member of Art of Buna

In Ethiopia, there are currently four centres dedicated to supporting autistic children. These centres serve a population of over 120 million people. Due to the high demand, they have extensive waiting lists, with many children seeking support. The centres were established through the initiative of mothers of autistic children, who took it upon themselves to create these vital resources.

Currently, there is a notable gap in practical training for psychologists, remedial teachers, social pedagogues, and educators in Ethiopia, particularly in the area of autism. The most significant need is for professional qualifications and continuous training for the staff of the four existing centres. This is where the diaspora organisation Art of Buna comes in. It organises long-term exchanges between experts from Germany and Ethiopia, thus enhancing professional knowledge on supporting children with autism, their caretakers and families.

In this project, Art of Buna collaborates with the public-benefit organisation Autismus Köln/Bonn e.V., which has more than 30 years of experience in treating children with autism. The organisation runs four autism centres in Germany, which, like the four centres in Ethiopia, were also founded by mothers of children with autism. Art of Buna organised and facilitated an exchange between professionals of the German and Ethiopian autism centres on site in Ethiopia which continues today in a digital format. Online sessions address key questions such as how autistic children learn best or the tools they prefer or need for their development. German and Ethiopian specialists also discuss challenging cases and provide mutual coaching. Additionally, Art of Buna has introduced a digital learning programme in Ethiopia and developed educational material in Amharic, which was used to raise awareness on World Autism Day and beyond.

Autism in Ethiopia is no different from autism anywhere else in the world. However, when autism occurs in combination with poverty, it becomes an unbearable burden for the families affected. Many parents of autistic children in Ethiopia separate – the mothers usually remain single parents, are stigmatised and often fall even deeper into poverty, sometimes even into depression.

Ermias Belai