Burundi
4/5/09 - FTH project Update - burundi
Greetings from Burundi. Trust that you are doing well.
We are doing well too. I just want to give you a small feedback for the feeding program for the 2nd term.
Primary School of Kibogoye:
- Number of children: 1129
- Rate of success/re-enrollment: 76,32%, last year it was: 64,50%
Primary School of Nyakiruru:
- Number of children: 830
- Rate os success/re-enrollment: 69,46%, last year it was: 61,8%
A good news for us was that no pygmy children dropped from school, usually they are the first to drop from school and most frequent. The pygmy group (Batwa tribe) are stigmatized and most impoverished in our country. Having the meals at school is a big incentive for parents to keep their children attending. Otherwise school is not really a long time possibility, if there is no food then parents must send their children to work or beg in order to eat and survive.
Children who dropped out of school are in year 6 (final year of primary school), usually their parents want them to learn up to that level and bring them back home to work and earn money.
Secondary school is seen as a privilege only for students that do exceptionally well. We plan on organizing some group meetings with parents to talk about this subject.
The school year will finish at the end of June, the stock we have will be enough to finish with the school year. I visited the schools and children last week, they are still complaining… they love this rice meal so much they want more!!!. Ha ha.
I have seen also that a big number of children bring 1 or 2 avocados picked from trees to add to the meal, which is a good thing. I think they know that the school lunch is the only real meal of the day for them.
At both schools the children were also asking if next year they will have the same program!!
Thank you again for all you have done in our country, may God continue to bless you.
Best Regards
Aline
ARM Burundi.
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Our outreaches in Burundi are part of the ECED initiative to support Christian Orphanages and ministries with a focus on children. You can help these programs continue to impact entire families with your regular support.
Every $6 will provide 100 hot and nutritious meals.
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