HELPING AFRICANS TO HELP THEMSELVES

Burundi

Burundi is recovering from 11 years of civil war. There is a great need for reintegration and rehabilitation activities to assist Burundians to rebuild their lives after the conflict. During 2005 refugees have started to repatriate to Burundi putting increasing pressure on the already insufficient infrastructure and social services.

Conflict and displacement have interrupted and reduced the quality of education for many children in Burundi. Only an estimated 50% of children have access to primary education and in rural area 70% of teachers do not have minimum qualifications.

Rutana Province is in the South East of Burundi has a population of approximately 220,000 and was heavily affected by displacement of people fleeing across the border into Tanzania. School attendance and literacy rates are particularly low in Rutana province, due to insufficient infrastructure, lack of teachers and traditional beliefs that do not place a great deal of importance on education.  There is a need to promote education and literacy, particularly among girls and women.

Our project in Burundi does just this, focusing on improving girls’ education, adult literacy and learning of vocational skills in the Giharo commune in the Rutana Province. 

The aim is that:

• 3 schools in Rutana will be rehabilitated and 27 new classrooms will be built;
• 11 Literacy groups in Rutana will be formed;
• 30 young people will have a chance to learn a vocational skill;
• Teachers will be trained in collaboration with the Educational Authority and there will be an ongoing campaign to encourage girls’ education and adult literacy.

Our focus to start with is at the Kiramvya Primary School, where we will build a block of classrooms, a toilet block, a school office and 60 desks.