The densely populated landlocked country is considered one of the poorest countries in the world. It ranks 185th out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. In 2018, the small country had the lowest GDP in the world. Overexploitation of the soil, the effects of climate change and, in particular, serious shortcomings in governance are preventing any recovery.
Political instability, a lack of rule of law and ongoing human rights violations ensure that the population remains in misery and poverty. Life expectancy is only 60 years.
The plight of the population
At 70 percent, Burundi has one of the highest poverty rates in the world according to the World Bank. This means that 1.4 people have to live on less than one dollar a day. The vast majority of people are starving. Around 2 million people are at risk of starving to death.
The children suffer in particular. Burundi is a very young country. 46 percent of the population is under 15 years old. It is all the worse that the illiteracy rate is 40 percent. Children are the poorest section of the population. Around 11 percent of all children born alive do not live to see their 5th birthday. They die of emaciation or preventable diseases.
Thousands of girls and boys have to do child labor. A quarter of 10 to 14-year-olds are engaged in hard physical labor. The violent and sexual assaults on girls are particularly bad. They often fall into the clutches of human traffickers, are enslaved, sold and forced into prostitution.
Project work
In three locations, we are committed to improving the living conditions of children and young people. We fight hunger, promote food security, support education and generate income-generating measures. We replace despair and hopelessness with comfort and hope.
Gihanga
Gihanga lies to the north of the capital Gitega. We run an agricultural project there. Around 130 families benefit from sowing, harvesting, eating and selling part of the harvest together. Beans, maize, manioc and various other vegetables are regularly planted and harvested. The nutritional situation and health of the children in particular have improved greatly since then.
We have also set up a goat and pig farm. 150 families have already received one or more animals. The families share the care of the goats and pigs.
In the literacy courses, participants not only learn to read and write, they also learn things such as housekeeping, planning and how to handle food properly. Hygiene training is just as much a part of the program as sharing news and listening to God's word.
Musaga
The nutrition center, which started with few resources, has developed into a major project. Children who are severely malnourished and undernourished continue to be provided with a special high-calorie diet made from natural ingredients. Their parents receive courses on healthy eating. They learn what vitamins are, what ingredients there are and what the body needs to keep it healthy. The success of the treatments is ensured by subsequent home visits to the children and families.
In addition, treatments for mothers have been established at the nutrition center. Sick mothers are treated with worm cures and other treatments. For pregnant women, there are also worming treatments, folic acid tablets, supplementary foods for mothers-to-be who are dangerously underweight, as well as courses on nutrition and maternal and child health. Help in dealing with the authorities is also included; since we have been doing this, significantly more children have received a birth certificate.
The leisure center offers numerous activities for children, teenagers and young adults. Homework help, dance or English courses are great fun for the participants.
We help particularly poor families with chickens, goats and seeds. More than 400 families now own chickens and goats. The number of chickens bred has increased to over 2,500 (as of October 2020).
There has also been a bakery since 2019. The bread and cakes produced there are sold to the mothers of the ora sponsored children for the purchase price. They in turn sell the baked goods to customers. The proceeds help the families to improve their situation.
We have been running a transit center in Musaga since autumn 2021. Street children are taken in and cared for there. They receive human warmth, psychological support and initial equipment.
Debris flow
In the interior of the country, we Murenge also run a jointly organized agricultural project. There, too, fruit and vegetables are sown and harvested together and used as food aid and for sale. The proceeds go equally to the participants.
Pig and goat farming has greatly improved the overall situation in the village. Not only do the people get healthier milk and meat, but looking after the animals also has a positive impact on the village community.
In addition to the literacy courses, which are similar in content to those in Gihanga, there are also several drumming courses for children and adults. The musicians enjoy making music together; the groups perform their skills at all public gatherings and events.
Our project partner
You will soon find out more about our project partner, the Stamm Foundation in Burundi.
Sponsorship program
We would like to help even more.
Help us!
Fight poverty in Burundi together with ora Kinderhilfe!
We are active in the spirit of Goal 2 of the global Sustainable Development Goals: Zero hunger.
Your donation changes children's lives.
With your donation, we can give children a good start to a fair future - no matter where they were born or what their family situation is. With your donation you can support our projects in one of our 11 project countries, or you can choose a specific project, e.g. health, nutrition, education, disaster relief, school materials, etc. With a free donation, we can use your support where help is needed most.