Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 185 out of 189 in the 2019 Human Development Index. The project in Burundi empowers communities to take charge of their own development, and also builds strong community leaders. The project in Burundi is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
What
Community Integrated Development Project (CIDP)
Where
Cankuzo and Ruyigi provinces
Who
16,506 people
Partners
Lutheran World Federation Burundi
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Help people in Burundi today!
Where goats become houses
In Burundi, goats are sometimes known as a 'Savings Bank on the Hoof'! This is because they can help a family in so many ways.
Minani Evelyne received a goat from you through ALWS, which she was able to breed with another goat in her village. (Goats are excellent breeders – the male can start breeding at age 7 weeks! The female goat produces 1-5 kids per litter, after a pregnancy of 5 months. She can produce kids for her entire 10-12 years of life!)
The goats provide Evelyne with milk for her family, as well as manure to keep her veggie garden growing. Goat meat is also important for feasts for marriages and funerals.
Evelyne worked hard to care for her goats, grew them to a herd of 13 – and sold 5 goats to build a mud brick house!
Pineapples farms are another way your support grows.
The LWF team you support in Burundi showed Luc Rushiho how to grow pineapples, and set him up with a small quantity of plants.
Luc has now made enough profit to buy a bicycle to transport his pineapples to market, and start a pig-rearing business. Now, his children can go to school, and the family have enough money for food and clothes!
ALWS acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Find out more about...
- 746 Community Empowerment sessions
- School materials for 720 children
- 80 households supported to acquire decent shelter
- 7 community centres refurbished
- 6 bridges refurbished
- Support to establish 7 new Accumulative Savings and Credit Associations (ASCA)
- Support kits provided for the new ACSA
- Support of agro-pastoral groups
- Agricultural input support
- Construction of a storage shed and a block of 2 latrines.
Thank you!
LWF Burundi plays a leading role among NGOs in eastern Burundi. They have experience in both relief and development work, LWF having served Burundian refugees in Tanzania since 1993. This work has given LWF a strong understanding of the issues faced by Burundian returnees and established the foundation for intervention in Burundi.
Now working in a development context, LWF Burundi continues to empower disadvantaged communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods. LWF Burundi builds a community-based structure and ensures local ownership by employing community members and training village leaders.
Families are now meeting their basic needs without having to travel to Tanzania to provide very low-waged labour. Project participants were supported to grow seasonal and market gardening plants to fight against famine following the closure of borders and the
resulting disruption to imports.
Results are sustained beyond the life of the project when stakeholders in the community get involved and take ownership. Group work helps to strengthen communities so they can pool their resources. This collaboration also helps strengthen social cohesion and reduce inequalities.
The program focuses on increased achievement of human rights, stronger leadership and improved livelihoods.
Human rights activities:
- Literacy and enumeration
- Women’s empowerment training
- Community empowerment course
- Child protection training
- Community strengthening activities
- Skills building
- Public construction
Leadership activities include:
- Leaders’ empowerment course
- Leaders’ meeting
- Leadership training
Livelihoods activities include:
- Agriculture and livestock support
- Income generation
- Rotating savings and credit associations
- Accumulative savings and credit associations
The goat and pig rearing association started with seven goats, then used the money from selling three of the goats to buy a pig. Now they have thirteen goats and seven pigs.
Goat and pig rearing has improved their access to food which has enabled the children to focus better at school. The animals provide their gardens with fertilizer and they grow beans, maize, cassava, banana and sweet potatoes. Parents and children enjoy the social cohesion that sharing responsibility has brought.
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