"A NATION WHICH DOES NOT INVEST IN THE EDUCATION OF ITS YOUTH IS A NATION IN DISAPPEARANCE"- Program Manager
The children proud and happy to receive their school equipment after their distribution.
FVS-AMADE BURUNDI is engaged in the academic support to Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC) since 1992. This activity has evolved over time and the approach itself.
Until 2010, FVS-AMADE mobilized every year hundreds of millions of Burundian francs to buy the necessary school supply for more than 30 thousands children. We then moved to a joint contribution between FVS-AMADE BURUNDI and the solidarity groups (created through the rotational credit and savings groups to support OVC called “N’awe n’uze”) from 2011-2013.
Since 2014, the communities became 100% autonomous; these solidarity groups are now able to supply OVC without FVS-AMADE’s interventions. We are now in the second year of the community autonomy in Supplying School kits to OVC.
This year, the activity has taken place despite the difficulties encountered by the country due to the crisis that occurred last April, which has not spared the members of the solidarity groups because there are some who are downright missing because all members have fled the country; others remained with very small numbers both from members and from the OVCs as well.
Despite the situation, the community network organized the distribution and welcomed us to be part of this important event in this time of the year for them.
Ultimately, 40.287 OVCs received complete school kits from the solidarity groups on their hills. An amount of 237.308.315 BIF was used, including 25.406.000FBU of contribution from FVS-AMADE BURUNDI especially for towns in the municipality of Bujumbura and the town of Nyanza Lac in Makamba province, which was hardly hit by the social political crisis.
This result showed us that despite the political problems, communities remained committed to the good values of solidarity for vulnerable and that community support is a real and lasting solution satisfactory for OVC.
Our sincere thanks go to the communal networks and solidarity groups who spared no effort to ensure that all children can enjoy their right to education. We also thank AMADE MONDIALE who supported these efforts of communities deeply affected by the crisis in Burundi.
Long live the "innovative partnership" in Burundi.
Gordien Iradukunda.
Chief of Programs
FVS-AMADE Bujumbura
