Ariane Umuhoza
Founder, The Oasis Inclusive Centre, Formerly Know Autism Africa Foundation
Originally from Congo and currently residing in South Africa, Ariane founded The Oasis Inclusive Centre, formerly Know Autism Africa Foundation in 2020, with a mission to advocate for and raise awareness of autism across the African continent.
While raising children is considered tough, the needs of an autistic child born to a refugee mother can be a source of significant responsibility, resulting in stress, trauma and frustrations.
In 2017, struck by the language barrier faced by refugee parents on their integration efforts with their host communities, access medical attention and cope with the irregular sleep patterns brought on by their autistic children, Ariane started helping these parents, driven by her personal experience and passion to make a difference.
In 2020, The Oasis Inclusive Centre was born, offering training programs and support to caregiving for refugee mothers.
On a mission to advocate for and raise awareness of autism on the continent, she looks to set up a respite center. A place where mothers can leave their autistic children for caregiving as they acquire valuable skills or simply take a break.
Ariane looks to a future where every autistic child can thrive and their families feel supported. She has in the past collaborated with organizations like the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Autism Western Cape, seeking to develop custom programs that answer to the varying needs of autistic children and their families.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications