Burundi, nestled in south-central Africa between Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is becoming a hot-bed of Connector activity.
Led by their National Coordinator Emmanuel Baranizigiye, the number of volunteers in the country has already grown to 46 and these are now divided up into 13 different groups spread across the country.
Emmanuel has steered these groups towards three main activities.
One of Emmanuel’s particular passions is to support older people. Older communities in Burundi face discrimination and isolation and, in a country where the poverty rate is 85%, often extreme poverty and malnutrition. Emmanuel and his Connectors have made it a central aim to not only provide aid to older people but also to change hearts and minds and motivate others to offer help where they can.
Drives have been organized to provide older people with food – mainly corn, beans, flour, and salt – as well as soap and other sanitary products. This has been an initiative that Emmanuel has been able to inspire multiple Connector groups to undertake.
Next, groups have been trying to offer support and encouragement to orphans. More than half a million children in Burundi are orphans. These children very often struggle to find food and clean water let alone attend school and work. Emmanuel’s teams have been trying to organize for educational resources to be made available to orphans, helping them return to school.
Lastly, the Burundi Connectors have increasingly been looking to do more work to protect the environment. Between 2017 and 2020 more than 1% of Burundi’s land experience severe degradation and it is estimated that the country loses 38 million tonnes of soil per year. There is an urgent need to replenish the ground and biodiversity – both as a bulwark against climate change and to provide soil for crop growth.
Emmanuel and his Connector’s efforts in these hugely challenging environments is a testament to their deep compassion and their commitment to their communities and people. By organizing these three clear focuses, they will be able to offer an avenue for action for more and more Connectors who join their nationwide efforts.