CARE in Burundi

CARE started working in Burundi in 1994, in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the large numbers of people fleeing war-torn Rwanda.

In Burundi we:

improve access to quality education
provide access to clean water and sanitation
distribute food and nutritional supplements
provide peace education

Despite ongoing tensions between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority ethnic groups, Burundi has managed to avoid large-scale ethnic conflict like that in Rwanda. For the first time in a decade, most of Burundi is enjoying relative peace, although outbreaks of violence continue in some parts of the country.

CARE in action:

Helping children get a good education
After years of conflict, education rates have decreased dramatically in Burundi. There are thousands of war orphans and child soldiers. We are working with local organisations, parent/teacher associations, youth networks and the Ministry of Education to create a safe and nurturing learning environment for children. Our work seeks to reinforce school as the centre of a community.

Earning a decent living
We are working to improve the lives of poor women in Burundi by establishing women’s credit and savings associations, enabling women to take out loans to make investments so that they can improve their future income. CARE is protecting the rights of women in Burundi by raising awareness about rape and sexual violence and women’s rights to a life free of violence, as well as providing medical and psychological care and legal assistance to victims of sexual violence.