FVS-AMADE promotes access to education and psychological support for OVC.
In 2013, FVS-AMADE provided the following services,
Citations:
i. "Burundi: Statistics." UNICEF, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 2 Sept. 2014. <http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/burundi_statistics.html>.
ii. Guarcello, L.; Lyon, S.; Rosati, F.C.. 2004. Orphanhood and child vulnerability : Burundi. Understanding Children's Work Project working paper series. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/09/9476364/orphanhood-child-vulnerability-burundi
iii."About Burundi: Country Profile." Sister Connection, 2014. Web. 2 Sept. 2014. <http://www.sisterconnection.org/burundi.php>.
iv. ibid, UNICEF.
v. ibid, Sister Connection.
vi. ibi, UNICEF.
vii. "BURUNDI - A SCHOOL TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO A QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION." Amade Mondiale, n.d. Web. 2 Sept. 2014. <http://www.amade-mondiale.org/en/our-actions/secondary-school-in-matana-district.html>.
The Need
Burundi is home to approximately 680,000 orphans and vulnerable children.[i] 17% (nearly 1 in 5) of children between the ages 0-14 are orphaned.[ii] The primary issues that contribute to this elevated number include: the civil war that ravages the country for over a decade, the AIDS epidemic, other common diseases such as malaria and the general poverty of the population.
These orphans are faced with a number of obstacles when it comes to accessing education. Although the government introduced free primary school in 2005, there is not sufficient infrastructure to welcome this influx of students.[iii] Only 50 % of students complete primary school. Students are responsible to purchase their own school supplies, a major barrier for orphans who are 20% less likely to attend compared to their peers.[iv] Furthermore, they often carry psychological scars from losing their parents or trauma from the war. These psychological needs must be taken care of before the children are truly able to access an education.[v]
The rate of attendance in secondary schools is 10.6% for girls and 12.1% for boys.[vi] When it comes to orphans and vulnerable children, these percentages are even lower. By this age, they often become become heads of their households and need to work to provide for their younger siblings. There are also three times less secondary schools in the country compared to primary schools, the majority of which are located in the capital, making it difficult for students from other regions to attend school unless they are able to find and afford a boarding school.[vii]
