The work in Burundi continues to push ahead, and we are delighted to share with you some recent updates on the work being carried out by our partners, including Claude Hakizimana and the team at Comfort Burundi (directed by Comfort Rwanda), who oversee the Street Kids Rescue Projects at Kamenge and Nyabunyegeri, and Gerard Rukerandanga at Elim Ngozi church, who facilitates the relationship with the Batwa people and also runs the CIMS (Comfort International Ministry School) programme, which is covered in another report.
Street Kids Rescue Projects
Introduction:
Comfort Burundi’s Street Kids’ Rescue projects have been transforming lives in the Bujumbura area, particularly in the Kamenge and Nyabunyegeri communities. We are incredibly grateful for the progress and impact made in 2024. In this report from Comfort Burundi below, we share the key activities, achievements, challenges, and success stories from this year.
A General Review of the highlights of the year:
- Health and Nutrition:
- Over 13 children who fell sick were taken to the hospital for medical care and treatment.
- Monthly food distribution was carried out to fight malnutrition and hunger, greatly benefiting the children.
2. Education:
- 25 children attended school this year with the project providing school materials, tuition, and support.
- The project awarded the best-performing students to motivate others.
3. Project Gatherings:
- Weekly gatherings helped develop emotional resilience, life skills, and self-confidence through prayers, bible readings, life skills lessons, and playtime.
- Activities such as football, tennis, and skipping rope contributed to emotional development.
Achievements:
1. Education Progress:
- 2 children were promoted to secondary school.
- 4 children graduated from the project and were successfully reintegrated into their families.
- 9 children are preparing to graduate and transition out of the program.
2. Business Training for Families:
- Specy (right), the mother of Bonnette and Bryan, was trained in business and started her own vegetable business, which is thriving.
3. Health Improvements:
- This year, there were fewer health challenges due to improved hygiene practices and provision of hygiene materials.
4. Wellbeing Improvement:
- The children in Nyabunyegeri and Kamenge have seen improvements in their health and wellbeing due to regular food and other essential support.
Challenges:
- Delays in business start-ups:
- Nyabunyegeri parents who completed farming training have been waiting for start-up support to engage in business due to a lack of funding.
- Irresponsible Parents:
- Some children continue to struggle with unhelpful or irresponsible parents.
- Increasing Demand:
- Many more children on the streets are requesting support, but the project has limited resources to meet the growing need.
Success Stories:
- Specy’s Journey:
- Specy, a widow from Kamenge, has been supported by the project with food, clothing, and school fees for her children. Her son, Bonnette, is excelling in school and is among the best-performing students in his class. Specy’s vegetable business is thriving after receiving training and start-up support.
- Thomas’s Transformation:
- Thomas, abandoned by his father, joined the project with no hope for education. With the support from Comfort Burundi, he is now excelling in school and is in secondary school. His performance has consistently improved, and he is now among the top five students in his class.
Thank You Message from Comfort Rwanda and Burundi:
We extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors for your unwavering support in transforming the lives of children and families in Kamenge and Nyabunyegeri. Your contributions make a significant difference in the community, and we appreciate your commitment to creating a better future for these children.
Batwa Community Projects
Gerard Rukerandanga continues to facilitate the relationship with the Batwa community, a traditional people group who, thanks to the support of the project, have managed to purchase new land to cultivate alongside their cattle project, following being displaced from their homes due to deforestation and other factors. The community is growing in their fellowship together and their communal care of the land and animals.
At Christmas time, the project was able to distribute food to its members, helping them celebrate the joy of Christmas and the fellowship and purpose they have together. It was a special time for all involved.
The Batwa community recently gathered to dig and plant their maize crop which will be harvested in March. Bosco, the head of the Batwa community and leader of the project, encouraged the whole community to come together and take part in cultivating the ground, as well as caring for the cows, previously donated to the community, and motivated them with the knowledge of the coming harvest. The new land was bought for the community and allows them the stability of planting and harvesting and securing food for the coming months where previously food insecurity was very high. The community still has the challenge of where they will store the food when it is harvested, and are working on the infrastructure of this. Life is far from easy for the Batwa community, but their security and confidence is growing, and they continue to bless us with their joy and strength.
Thank you for your support of the projects in Burundi, making a huge difference in the lives of real people in one of the poorest countries in the world.