About Us

4 CHILDREN AND FAMILY RESPITE was established in October 2023 by Founder and trustee Brigitte Tombalbaye.

Brigitte herself has a child with special needs, she can empathise with those dealing with the challenges individuals and families face based in Chad. Because of this she is able to relate directly to those who have SENS children. She understands what type of support and guidance both families and children need. From her direct experiences with her own child and being able to see the positive results and effects having support and stabilisation in this area can bring to child and parent.

The Journey begins

Born in raised in Africa, key factors behind my motivations in life, start to unfold at the age of 11, and upwards.

Dealing with grief due to a loss of life at any age can have a profound effect on any one. Losing my mother at the age of 11, after already losing my father at the age of 3, caused a major change in my life, which lead to change of location and upbringing by my elder sister and her Husband.

My experience of growing up with my step father was positive experience ,he was like a real father to me. I lost my step father at 23, this brought back the many years of bottled pain from my earlier loss in life. Another emotion that I had to suffocate in my stages of life growing up in Africa.

Chances captured in life are destined and governed by the changes we make. The choice of making a positive change from a less positive situation makes for a better ending to any journey in the lives that we live.

Journey to Europe

My destination from Africa lead me to Europe, London in 2000.

The struggle within

Leaving my old life behind to start new in the U.K in 2000 was also met with new challenges. Raising two children with my partner who was diagnosed with depression, this clinical form of mental illness is not discussed or treated in Africa. On discovery is discovered that I also was going through depression. The echos of past pain and cemented feelings resurfacing themselves without my actual knowing the full process and extent of what was happening.

It was at this stage of my life that I learnt more about myself and values of life than ever before. Past trauma of childhood, now as an Adult seeing directly how this was having impact on my children and having to be strong for myself, partner and children. This opened a window of research, study and investigation into the practical side of learning about depression and pathology.

New direction

Despite all, God has been good to me, I manage to do computer course, HND in business and later on a university degree (BA)in international relations.

'4 children and Family Respite'

I then came to realise that the environment where we live had a big impact on our life, my son underwent various medical and psychologist tests. I then realise that in Africa where I come from, we go through a lot but the message we are receiving from the society is that we must cope and to accept that it is ok since it is not a physical pathology, it is ok. Regarding all my experience I can affirm and confirm that it is not ok`. This is also on the motivation behind the organisation, it will be a platform where children and family can meet and express their feeling and we can support each other

TRUSTEE AND FOUNDER

Brigitte Tombaye

Founder and Trustee