Gifts made of shoes, food, clothes, soaps…have been given by King’s School to the Batwas’ Community from Buterere before Christmas this 13 December 2013. Therefore, Batwas from this community salute the act and would like to see other associations or institutions doing the same.-Yves Didier Irakoze
Natacha interpreting while the Headmaster of King’s School is explaining the objective of their visit.©Iwacu
Shining faces, songs of joy of Batwas from Buterere site welcomed students and authorities from Bujumbura King’s School. They brought gifts of various types to support Buterere Batwas. “We have come to see this group of people who are somehow forgotten but who need to be fully integrated in the community. It has also been an opportunity to our students to discover indigenous people, the way and conditions in which they are living. Furthermore, it has been an occasion to show and express love between people and this will often continue in the future,” points out Wisdom, Headmaster of King’s School. Thomas Nsengiyumva, a Twa from Buterere states that he has been glad to welcome those people and appreciate how they care of them; this teaches us not to exclude ourselves in the society. Natacha Nduwimana, Chairperson of Jehovah Jireh Association (God the Provider- AJEJI) also praises the gesture.
“Words are not enough to express what I feel. Our hearts and those of the beneficiaries are delighted by the gesture. This is an example to follow. We cannot be all preachers or gospel singers without spreading our love and generosity to those needy people, indeed,” says Nduwimana. She goes on saying that King’s School has taught its students a spirit of devotion in serving their communities and love for their country. “I hope that other schools will teach these values to their students,” mentions Nduwimana. Honorable Alfred Ahingejeje, Chairman of Batwas’ Parliament Group in National Assembly also expresses his gratitude towards AJEJI in partnership with King’s School for that great act of charity for Buterere Batwas’ community. “We are so happy to notice that there are compassionate people who think that there is another group of vulnerable people who need assistance. That sounds great to see other children coming here to pay visit to their brothers and sisters and be aware of the way they live,” appreciates Hon. Ahingejeje. Hon. Ahingejeje has reminded the conditions indigenous people live without access to education, land to cultivate, financial means and comfortable houses to live in. However, he indicates that they are satisfied with the step already reached because now Batwas are starting to be, step by step, integrated in some institutions though their full integration and representation is still small.
Why were Buterere Batwas chosen?
A family picture of Buterere Batwas and visitors.©Iwacu
According to Natacha Nduwimana, AJEJI Chairperson, we felt obliged to do something after learning about their stories. Many Burundians and foreigners are not aware that we have a big community of Batwas at Buterere. For lunch or something else to eat, they pick their food from rubbish bins around Buterere Commune. “These people didn’t come to Buterere by choice; they have neither access to land and nor to modest means to survive. As a Christian organization, we had to do something. I compare AJEJI to a ship…it’s conducted by God and this ship will go wherever God leads it,” underlines Nduwimana.
Batwas need bigger help and assistance
Hon. Ahingejeje invites all people, institutions to help this kind of community and avoid the bad mentality of discriminating them because we are all the same and have to get the same rights in the society. “The government has the first responsibility to offer much more to this kind of community. It should do like Canada where a ministry in charge of minorities’ issues has been created,” highlights Hon. Nduwimana concludes saying that she would like to encourage other international schools to make a field trip to Buterere. Their students might learn one thing or two about the history of Burundi and this fascinating community of Batwas.
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AJEJI is a non-profit organization created in 2012 by a group of Burundians united for education and development to build a sustainable peace and improvement society through implementation of community based integrated projects targeting the youth, women, elderly, adults and children. Since its creation, AJEJI focuses on the search for durable solutions for children and youth in their community. It deals with the supervision, education, health, socio-cultural and economic reintegration of orphans, other vulnerable children and youth. It is currently focusing on the Batwas’ community because they are still struggling to get a right place in the society…Our achievements are not measured by what we distribute but rather the fact that we are able to build hope to these souls through different activities.
IWACU Open Data
