Sylvain Ndegeya is a dedicated physiotherapist and social entrepreneur who founded Stand Together for Change (STC) in 2020 with a vision to transform the lives of children with disabilities from low-income families in Rwanda.

With extensive experience in rehabilitation services, Sylvain witnessed firsthand the stark disparities between children with disabilities living in care centers and those in poor families. This observation sparked a passion that would eventually lead to the creation of STC—an organization committed to bringing comprehensive rehabilitation, education, and empowerment services directly to communities in need.

As a physiotherapist, Sylvain brings professional expertise in rehabilitation therapy, combined with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families caring for children with disabilities in rural areas. His approach is holistic, addressing not just the medical needs of children, but also educational access, family empowerment, and community integration.

"Disability is natural. We must stop believing that disabilities keep a person from doing something. Instead, we must believe that everyone can do something."

The idea of Stand Together for Change emerged from Sylvain's work with people with disabilities in various care centers. He observed that while children in centers received adequate food, clothing, education, and medical care, children with disabilities living with their families in rural areas suffered from poverty, lack of access to rehabilitation services, stigma, and discrimination.

This comparison motivated Sylvain to think deeply about how he could contribute to improving the lives of children with disabilities from poor families. The result was Stand Together for Change—an organization that doesn't wait for families to come to services, but brings services to families.

Starting in January 2020 with no funding and only the dedication of family members and professional knowledge, STC has grown to become a beacon of hope for families across rural Rwanda. The organization now provides:

• Community-Based Rehabilitation: Bringing physiotherapy and rehabilitation services directly to families
• Inclusive Education Support: Ensuring children with disabilities can attend and thrive in regular schools
• Family Empowerment Programs: Training parents in income-generating activities and savings groups
• Medical Advocacy: Helping families access proper healthcare and assistive devices
• Early Childhood Development: Providing inclusive ECD services through the Bethlehem Center

Sylvain's leadership is guided by four core values that define STC's approach:

Under Sylvain's leadership, Stand Together for Change has achieved remarkable milestones:

• Established community-based rehabilitation services reaching rural areas across Rwanda
• Launched the Bethlehem Inclusive ECD Center providing early childhood development services
• Created family empowerment programs including income-generating projects and savings groups
• Facilitated inclusive education for dozens of children with disabilities in regular schools
• Provided assistive devices and orthopedic materials to children in need
• Built partnerships with local and international organizations
• Raised awareness about disability rights and inclusion in communities

Sylvain is currently leading STC's most ambitious project yet—securing a permanent home for the organization through the Bethlehem Center of Rehabilitation. This center will provide:

• Comprehensive rehabilitation facilities
• Inclusive early childhood development classrooms
• Training spaces for families and community health workers
• Medical consultation rooms
• Recreational therapy areas
• Administrative offices for sustainable operations

The vision is to create a hub of excellence in disability services that serves as a model for community-based rehabilitation across Rwanda and beyond.

Sylvain is available for:

• Conference presentations on disability advocacy and community-based rehabilitation
• Panel discussions on inclusive education and social entrepreneurship
• Media interviews about disability rights in Rwanda
• University guest lectures on physiotherapy and community health
• Podcast appearances discussing social impact and development
• Workshops on family empowerment and income generation

Topics of Expertise:

• Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR)
• Disability Rights and Advocacy
• Inclusive Education Strategies
• Family Empowerment and Poverty Reduction
• Social Entrepreneurship in Healthcare
• Sustainable Development in Rural Communities
• Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services