AGB trains future female leaders of Burundi

The Association of Guides of Burundi (AGB)stresses the education of female members of AGB, so they can become the future leaders of Burundi. The association is satisfied with the improvements made so far.-By Yves Didier Irakoze

Séraphine Manirambona: “One of the missions of AGB is to raise girls to be leaders in their life in order to contribute to their development and to the development of their country.” ©Iwacu

“One of the missions of AGB is to raise girls to be leaders in their life in order to contribute to their development and development of their country. We want to develop their potential and help them begood citizens and leaders”, says Séraphine Manirambona, General Assistant Commissioner of AGB.  She goes on saying that they educate girlsfrom early onto be responsible, open minded, creative and hardworking. Manirambonasays they welcome little girls of around 5 to 10 years old in theassociation and teach them how to form groups. Then, the one who is chosen to lead the group has many responsibilities like protecting her members, coordinate and plan activities for her group members, lead debates and report, defend others and be autonomous.

She mentions that they are satisfied with the efforts made so far and that the results of this non-formal educationare successful.
For instance, many representatives of women associations or associations of civil society are women who are or have been a member of AGB. The total membership is estimated at 11,539 people across the country.“We work in partnership with other guide associations around the world; we benefit from trainings and share experiences.We have a motto stating that the empty chair doesn’t exist. We participate in every Congress because we know that we gainmuch in these kinds of meetings”, Manirambona points out.
She adds that they also work in partnership with other Guides and Scouts of Great Lakes countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in a project called “Amani”, meaning peace.This project helps beneficiaries to put an end to ethnic prejudices by sensitizing people hurt by the ethnic crisis.
Other projects of AGB include fighting against malaria and violence against women. The director emphasizes that those projects are undertaken with other NGO’s like UNICEF, ONUFEMME and The Foundation Refugee Education Trust (RET). “We are happy because we are solicited by those great NGO’s to work in partnership”, Manirambona declares.

Learn how to live in peace

Lorraine Muhimpundu, a member in the “Amani Amahoro” program on education for peace, appreciates the way she was educated by AGB.  “I became a member of AGB at the age of 6, I followed my big brothers who are Scouts and since this time I received much from AGB. I learned how to live with others in peace andrespect despite our differences, to have a sense of responsibility. I’m not shy to express my feelings in front of others; I learned how to have determination in life even though I find obstacles on my way”

Muhimpundu states that girls associations of other countries are supported greatly by their governments. They are able to achieve many things. Muhimpundutherefore implies her government to do the same. She calls upon other girls to take part in various women or girls associations, to be dynamic and show that they are able to achieve great things and advance at the same level as others.“Parents also have to support and encourage their daughters and rid themselves of the Burundian mentality that a girl has to occupy herself with the housework or say that the degree of a girl is a husband. However, they have to go to school because girls can achieve the same things boys can.”