Every child in Burundi has its own story.
If no one looks out for each other, and the government does not take its responsibility, it is ‘me, myself and I’ and the social safety net that was in place before the war disappears. Results of the civil war in Burundi. The civil war between the Hutus and the Tutsis has torn apart the whole country. Even though the war is over since 2006j, the devastating effect on its people is still visible. Especially children are victim of the violent Burundese history. Every child has its own story.

The normal community life has completely vanished here. Parents do not see the added value of education, children have to do hard labour and accept the fact that their daughters marry at early age. Even when they are 11 years old, unbelievable. Furthermore, one out of five children is an orphan. They lost their parents to war or Aids.

Before we started our work here I spoke to many children. It was frightening how often violence, abuse, rape and murder against girls recurred in those conversations. If you think about the fact that 20% of the women in Burundi are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, and in 60% of those cases it concerns the rape of minor girls, then that makes you at a loss for words. In particular also because we know that a lot of women, especially children, do not dare to press charges. The perpetrators often go free. The only thing that is left for the women is a feeling of shame.

Tongue-tied
Many children are very silent, they find it difficult to talk about their problems. During a visit to one of the villages where War Child will start, something special happened. A ten year old came up to me and asked if she could talk to me. She told me that she is living with her younger brother and sister at her uncle’s house. Both of her parents died a few years ago. She told me she is abused by her uncle and asked for my advice: would it be better to flee for the violence, leave her brother and sister behind and start a life on the streets. I was tongue-tied for a moment. I could not do that much at that moment, but to be there for her and listen to her story. I made sure one of the social workers of our partner organisation HealthNet-TPO will take care of her.

From mid 2011 War Childs local workers will start their activities for the children in Burundi, together with partner organisations. Sportive and creative activities are a way for the children to express their feelings and to deal with the experiences. Together we are working on a safe future for the children of Burundi.

Donatien de Graaff is Program Development Manager at War Child program in Burundi.


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