© Annie’s Charity Shops 1997 - 2022 - UK Reg Charity 1063036
Making a difference in
Burundi
Burundi
What we are doing with your help
Annie’s Orphans has been working in the central Africa country of Burundi since 2001, conducting seminars to help bring healing, reconciliation and future hope after the bloody Civil War waged in the 1990's. Two of our current developing works in the country are for Street Children and for Sovu Village.Street Children
In 2013, while we were in the northern province of Kayanza, we were followed by boys in overcoats. We asked them why and their response was they are street boys, with no home and they scavenge to stay alive. On understanding the reality, we knew we had to do something to help these boys. By September, Annie’s Orphans had organised a home and had roughly furnished it. 10 boys moved in and Annie’s Orphans began to look after them, paying for their food, clothing, schooling, medical and other needs. A year later we were able to take another 10 (younger) boys off the street and move them into the home. Rev Pauline Edwards (with red bag) was joined by a team from ARC Communities Colwyn Bay that went out to help do some work on the house. Bishop Jerome Ininahazwe (far left), of Cornerstone Community Church, who was given a scholarship to be trained in Nigeria by Annie’s Orphans, has now returned to his country and is our co-ordinator on the ground. This house was only given to us for three years and is now being sold by the Landlord. The boys all live in the house shown in the second picture. We’ve just visited the boys (September) taking them new bedding and football gear! Everything is very expensive in Burundi, because it’s a landlocked country and nothing is produced locally. Foreign currency is scarce for political reasons. We are already seeing big differences from just a little help. One of the older boys (in black trousers) will start University next year. All the boys are doing great; mostly top of their classes. They still have basic needs and during the visit, with great dignity, they made speeches requesting a little comfort: Blankets, a Mac (it’s rainy season), leather shoes, another house (the houses is cramped with 20 boys in 4 bedrooms), bunk beds (for more space), more toilets (as they have only one bathroom) and most importantly Electricity - a cost of £800 (so they can study at night). Twenty may not seem to be many in a nation, but it is a seed of hope for the future, and Annie’s Orphans has helped others who have gone on themselves to help many many more. The help and support given can and does make a difference.Sovu Village
In 2013, while we were visiting a village to try to implement a project for the villagers to harvest water, as their crops were failing due to drought, children milled around with the most agonised faces and sadness. I asked why were they not in school, the response was “no uniform!” - total illiteracy both young and old! We asked now much would it cost, £10 per child was the reply, we said we will pay. The proposed 30 children grew to 140 and the cost £40 each. We struggled and made it. There were screams of delight and excitement from the children as they held their own bag with uniform and books. Hopefully a generation saved from the impoverishment of successive generations. This ongoing work requires fresh uniforms every year. This is the latest picture, showing the children receiving uniforms, books and bags for 2017-18. A simple but significant need, which isn’t easy; however it will make a difference, as a generation can be saved from the chain of impoverishment of previous generations and change it for future ones. They would like their own school, as currently they walk many miles a day.
© Annie’s Charity Shops 2017 - 2022 UK Reg Charity 1063036
Making a
difference in
Burundi
Burundi
What we are
doing with your help
Annie’s Orphans has been working in the central Africa country of Burundi since 2001, conducting seminars to help bring healing, reconciliation and future hope after the bloody Civil War waged in the 1990's. Two of our current developing works in the country are for Street Children and for Sovu Village.Street Children
In 2013, while we were in the northern province of Kayanza, we were followed by boys in overcoats. We asked them why and their response was they are street boys, with no home and they scavenge to stay alive. On understanding the reality, we knew we had to do something to help these boys. By September, Annie’s Orphans had organised a home and had roughly furnished it. 10 boys moved in and Annie’s Orphans began to look after them, paying for their food, clothing, schooling, medical and other needs. A year later we were able to take another 10 (younger) boys off the street and move them into the home. Rev Pauline Edwards (with red bag) was joined by a team from ARC Communities Colwyn Bay that went out to help do some work on the house. Bishop Jerome Ininahazwe (far left), of Cornerstone Community Church, who was given a scholarship to be trained in Nigeria by Annie’s Orphans, has now returned to his country and is our co-ordinator on the ground. This house was only given to us for three years and is now being sold by the Landlord. The boys all live in the house shown in the second picture. We’ve just visited the boys (September) taking them new bedding and football gear! Everything is very expensive in Burundi, because it’s a landlocked country and nothing is produced locally. Foreign currency is scarce for political reasons. We are already seeing big differences from just a little help. One of the older boys (in black trousers) will start University next year. All the boys are doing great; mostly top of their classes. They still have basic needs and during the visit, with great dignity, they made speeches requesting a little comfort: Blankets, a Mac (it’s rainy season), leather shoes, another house (the houses is cramped with 20 boys in 4 bedrooms), bunk beds (for more space), more toilets (as they have only one bathroom) and most importantly Electricity - a cost of £800 (so they can study at night). Twenty may not seem to be many in a nation, but it is a seed of hope for the future, and Annie’s Orphans has helped others who have gone on themselves to help many many more. The help and support given can and does make a difference.Sovu
Village
In 2013, while we were visiting a village to try to implement a project for the villagers to harvest water, as their crops were failing due to drought, children milled around with the most agonised faces and sadness. I asked why were they not in school, the response was “no uniform!” - total illiteracy both young and old! We asked now much would it cost, £10 per child was the reply, we said we will pay. The proposed 30 children grew to 140 and the cost £40 each. We struggled and made it. There were screams of delight and excitement from the children as they held their own bag with uniform and books. Hopefully a generation saved from the impoverishment of successive generations. This ongoing work requires fresh uniforms every year. This is the latest picture, showing the children receiving uniforms, books and bags for 2017-18. A simple but significant need, which isn’t easy; however it will make a difference, as a generation can be saved from the chain of impoverishment of previous generations and change it for future ones. They would like their own school, as currently they walk many miles a day.
