Child Sponsorship in Burundi

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the United Nations Human Development Report (UNDP) ranks Burundi 166 out of 169 countries in 2010. The life expectancy is only 50 years old and it is estimated that the average adult in Burundi has less than 3 years of schooling which has resulted in less than 50% of the population being able to read or write. Therefore it is estimated that 75% of the country is living in absolute poverty.

Most families are subsistence farmers and grow potatoes, cassava (a starchy root), maize (corn), sweet potatoes, bananas, beans and rice. Many families do not eat food with adequate nutrition and therefore suffer from malnutrition and many diseases that could easily be prevented with a better diet.

In the region where FH is working there is a lack of water. There is one source of potable water at the local school that was provided through an FH project. If families don’t come to the school for water they use rain catchment devices or fetch water from streams and rivers that are about a mile away and not clean sources of drinking water. In this district approximately 6% of the families have access to a latrine because of an FH project, the rest of the families use the fields.

The roads are a combination of paved and dirt roads. The main mode of transportation is by bicycle or on foot. The majority of the farmers carry their food crop to the markets on either their head or on their bicycles.

The communities where FH is working each have a primary school with approximately 6 classrooms. They each have school furniture and some latrines that are in fair condition. But none of these classrooms are an adequate size as each school is using classrooms for more than one grade of students. There are approximately 70-100 students for each teacher. Usually the students have to travel a bit farther to attend a secondary school.

There are four health centers in this region each staffed with 2 nurses and an occasional doctor that floats between them. Any serious health emergencies have to be taken to the nearest hospital which is approximately 35 miles away.

We are so excited to begin Child Sponsorship in Burundi as this is a country that is in great need of hope. Providing children with access to education and healthcare will create opportunities for them for the rest of their lives.

If you are interested in partnering with us to provide these things for the communities, families and children in Burundi, click here to see children available for sponsorship.