Rwanda, located in the eastern part of sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the countries that has achieved remarkable economic and social growth in the 21st century. Through active economic activities, it recorded a steep average annual economic growth rate of 7.2% for ten years until 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, with the government's active efforts for social integration, it has achieved stable security centered around the capital Kigali and ranked in the top 6 in the Global Gender Gap Index in 2022, demonstrating social progress as well.

However, behind Rwanda's remarkable development, there are painful histories and scars. According to the 2019 Rwandan census, there are over 450,000 persons with disabilities in Rwanda, and a significant number of them are survivors of the painful history of the country, the genocide. The indiscriminate and ruthless genocide against the Tutsi and moderate Hutu in 1994 caused the death of nearly 800,000 people.Moreover, the surviving survivors live with disabilities due to severe physical injuries and psychological trauma.

The survivors have to wait for more than six months to receive prosthetics or artificial limbs. According to a survey by the Rwandan Ministry of Health in 2020, there are only 16 rehabilitation centers with artificial limb facilities throughout the country, and more than half of them are concentrated in Kigali, the capital. Considering the growing demand for amputees due to recent diseases and accidents, the accessibility of relevant facilities is very limited indeed. It is necessary to supply artificial limbs and support their self-reliance as soon as possible so that they can return to the community.

Angelique, the first female prosthetic engineer in Rwanda, started her self-reliance project, Ortho-Promed with a desire to help people with disabilities. Growing up with the tragedy, she witnessed her parents, brothers, and children living without one leg or arm, struggling to find stable jobs due to their disabilities. With a strong desire for their self-reliance and rehabilitation, Angelique became the first female prosthetic engineer in Rwanda and established Ortho-Promed in 2016, a rehabilitation center that promotes prosthetics for people with physical disabilities.

“Disability is not inability. Ortho-Promed will continue to grow into a leading rehabilitation center, helping them to walk again and regain hope.”