BUJUMBURA January 16th (ABP) – The Minister of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Ezéchiel Nibigira, proceeded on Friday, January 13, 2023, to the presentation of the great achievements of the ministry, for the second quarter of the year 2022-2023.
In the field of the integration of Burundi within the East African community, Minister Nibigira indicated that several meetings were held within the framework of strengthening and optimizing the interventions and the effective participation of Burundi in the activities of the East African community. There was also the organization of awareness campaigns for stakeholders in the public and private sectors, on the themes of the integration of Burundi within the East African community, held in October 2022 in the provinces of Gitega, Muramvya and Mwaro.
In the field of youth, the minister said that to support the creation of jobs for young people, a sum of 2,949,000,000 BIF was given to 292 projects, of which 28 projects are led by women and 264 projects led by men, in a period from October to December 2022. He reported that all those projects were funded through the PAEEJ and are in all the provinces of the country.
To support and promote youth income-generating initiatives and projects, the ministry, through the Youth Investment Bank (BIJE), granted 79 cooperatives with 2,046 young members a loan amounting to 563,450, 000 BIF. There was also the organization of training for 52 young business leaders representing youth associations in Kayanza province and the granting of starter kits.
The Ministry, through the Burundi Youth Employment Authority (ABEJ), organized training on audiovisual techniques for 40 young graduates who won the first job internship in the South and West regions, held in Rumonge and in Bubanza in December 2022. After that training, the ministry intends to support them with audiovisual equipment for the start of their projects.
Within the framework of Sports, the Ministry coordinated, facilitated and participated in 8 international competitions (outings) and 2 national competitions (hosts). There was also the organization of two retreats on the development of the draft national sports policy held in December 2022 in Cibitoke.
In terms of enhancement, protection and promotion of Burundian culture, the ministry organized the week dedicated to the emblematic dance of the Burundian drum which saw the participation of all the provinces of the country in November, in Gitega. There is the organization of sessions for the transmission of positive cultural values to young people while taking advantage of the knowledge and experiences of elders still alive in Kayanza. The ministry, through the reading and cultural animation center, organized the Burundian song contest accompanied by traditional Burundian musical instruments in November, in Karusi.
In order to sensitize stakeholders in the copyright sector on the socio-economic contribution of that sector, the Ministry, through the OBDA, organized a regional retreat for participants from the Kayanza, Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga provinces. Minister Nibigira ended his presentation by saying that his ministry is satisfied with the achievements of the period from October 1 to December 31, 2022.