Fairouz, the lawyer who chose to defend the rights of children with disabilities
She could have earned a living as a lawyer, but instead she chose to defend the rights of the most vulnerable children. After studying law, Bouhdjila Fairouz changed careers "out of passion" and became an educator for children with disabilities.
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A senior educator specializing in mental disabilities at the Constantine 3 Psychosocial Center, Fairouz made this choice “out of love for humanitarian work,” she explains with a big smile. “I joined the Training Center for Staff at Institutions for People with Disabilities in Constantine at the same time as I was studying law to become a lawyer, and I already had many professional opportunities,” she continues.
At this specialized institution under the supervision of the Ministry of National Solidarity, Family, and Women's Affairs (MSNCF), Fairouz devotedly cares for young children between the ages of 5 and 7, all of whom have Down syndrome.
“The most important thing is to teach them to be independent, both here at the center and in society,” says Fairouz, explaining the different activities the children with Down syndrome do. “These are children who arrive at the center with reduced motor skills, and we work to improve that, teaching them basic hygiene, for example.”
In Algeria, UNICEF supports the training of child protection actors and provides technical assistance for the development of action plans and strategies for child protection services, such as alternative care, local case management, and care for children with disabilities. Technical support is provided to social workers to strengthen their capacities and develop appropriate socio-educational tools and techniques to monitor children and young people with a view to improving their social and professional integration.
In addition to promoting the inclusion of these children by teaching them independence and basic daily skills, one of the first activities of the day is to assess the child's general condition and psychological state. “We always spend the first half hour checking the child's general condition, whether it's their clothing, or making sure they have no injuries, that they have not been abused or had any accidents, either here at the center or at home, so that we can take the necessary measures if necessary,” she says.
“We also assess the child's physical and psychological condition so that we can refer them to the center's doctor if necessary. These are important protective measures that we take before even starting the educational activities,” she emphasizes.
In her class, which consists of six girls and boys, the mornings are devoted to learning primary colors through fun drawing and shape recognition activities. “These activities allow me to assess the child's cognitive abilities, and we only do them in the mornings because the children are more physically and psychologically available,” she explains.
Afternoons are devoted to empowerment activities, which Fairouz considers to be the “most important” part of her work.
Accept your children as they are
When asked why she prefers working with very young children with disabilities, Fairouz's face lights up instantly: “It's true that it's harder to work with younger children who need so much support and who are just starting out, but I'm still young and I have a lot to give,” says the educator, who is barely 40, with emotion.
“I'm very attached to my students, even if it's difficult. Look at Arezki, he's turbulent, but as soon as he's absent, I worry,” she says affectionately of her 6-year-old student. “I even find it hard to let them move to another class, to the point of crying,” she confides.
"My message is primarily for parents: accept your children as they are. We are here to support them, to help them grow and excel, but a child should not feel excluded in their family. This creates psychological pressure that prevents them from learning. And to society: we need to change the way we look at children with disabilities. They are sensitive children with feelings just like everyone else. They are not sick, they are just different. We must respect them as they respect adults," concludes Fairouz.
My key message for parents is simply this: accept your children, love them unconditionally, and help them to blossom! We are here to support them, to help them grow and excel, and to make sure that no child feels excluded in their own family. This creates psychological pressure that prevents them from learning.
