BUJUMBURA January 17th (ABP) – The place of the child is not in the street, even less in the residential centers for children. He must be educated in the family and benefit from good parental practices, we learned Thursday in Kabezi commune, Bujumbura province (western Burundi), during a presentation session of the national strategy for alternative care of children. in Burundi by the non-governmental organization – International Rescue Community (IRC).
That NGO is one of the organizations implementing the government project “Umwana Mu Muryango” (UMM) as part of the national child protection policy in Burundi (2020-2024).
Indeed, like everywhere else, the Bujumbura province records many children in difficulty following the crisis that Burundi has gone through.
The socio-cultural adviser to the governor of Bujumbura, Mr. Symphorien Banciriminsi indicated that the children in difficulty in that province are because of the war which shook that province, the poverty of certain households, the irresponsibility of certain parents who resigned in the face of their responsibility and the children themselves.
Those children found themselves either on the street or in residential centers, he added before pointing out that the government of Burundi with its partners has set up an Umwana Mu Muryango pilot project to take care of these children. in difficulty.
The project is being implemented in four provinces namely Bujumbura, Bujumbura Mairie, Muyinga and Gitega by the NGOs IRC and Dutabarane with funding from the European Union.
In Bujumbura province, it is carried out by the NGO IRC in the communes Kabezi, Kanyosha and Mutimbuzi, indicated Mr. Antoine Mutana, in charge of capacity building at the IRC. That project aims to improve the prospects of children deprived of parental care to 70% by 2024, he said.
Among the achievements in Bujumbura province, there has been reunification of 53 children from residential centers for children, two out of six residential centers have been abolished and four remain. 399 parents were trained on parenting (parental education program) and young people under 17 were trained in entrepreneurship, which was beneficial to them according to the testimonies of the beneficiaries.
Certificates were awarded to parents trained in child care administration.
Note that this national strategy for the alternative care of children in Burundi outlining the main lines of the implementation of that project has been given in French version to those involved in the care of those children in difficulty, with a promise of make another version available in Kirundi by the end of January.