JOIN US IN CELEBRATING 27 YEARS OF SHARING
LOVE AND COMPASSION IN ACTION
For my last 27 years with JRMD in serving others, I learnt three important things: (1) Compassion is not about words, Compassion is action; it is about caring for those in need and suffering; (2) There is Joy and Blessings in serving others and helping them find a solution of what they call “Problem”; (3) God is able to make Great Things to happen, through whoever is available to serve Him in obedience.
Compassion is about identifying yourself with those in need and suffering; it is about solidarity; it is about helping find the solutions for those who are waiting for a help and assistance, as you would have tried for your own self.
We started this journey of sharing Love and Compassion in Action in January 1994, when Hutu and Tutsi were killing each other and could not live together as they used to be before the war escalated in October in 1993, with the objective to promote peace and reconciliation in a divided nation, through sharing Love and Compassion in Action.
Through our Journey, we showed the nation of Burundi that it is still possible for Hutu, Tutsi and Twa to live together as they used to live for hundreds years, just as witnessed by our team.
In January 1994, the first 150 homes were built in the location of Kwisumo-Munyinya, in Ruyigi Province, Eastern of Burundi. In the same year, we organized a peace building and reconciliation campaign in all over the country of Burundi during a period of three months. The following year, we organized a historical Youth Congress which gathered over 1,000 delegates from different countries of Africa.
In the summer of 1999, we built 150 houses in 15 days and in 2003 we organized three days youth activities in which over 5,000 young people participated actively to clean the City of Bujumbura. From 1994-2020, we built 3,269 houses for 3,269 families, living in different locations and provinces of Burundi. We sponsored thousands of children with school materials who could not go to school without a such help. Conferences and workshops related to peace-building and reconciliation were organized for church leaders and lay people. In 2008, we built 40 houses for 40 families in 40 days with funds raised in 40 days. Between 2008 and 2009 we distributed 122 mattresses to the very needy families in Carama, a location, where we built over 700 homes. In 2003 We published a peace-building and reconciliation booklet in Kirundi and French, called: “Is It Possible to Live Together Once Again” and 2004, we published another booklet entitled “Risking Our Lives in Order to Save the Lives of Others”. 2004 I had the privilege to meet with a Commission of the Parliament of Netherlands. In 2006 and 2007 I was nominated Giraffe hero and Ambassador for peace. In 2007 and 2009, I had the privilege to meet the President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza and the Governor of Washington State, Christine Gregoire.
On September 17, 2012 we opened a school “Iwacu Kazoza School” with 252 students. Decision to open in 2012 was difficult:
- Toilets were not completed
- Full funding was not secured
- Permanent water system was not ready
- Did not have school materials
- Parents begged for the school to open - if the school did not happen their children could not have had access to education
Today, Iwacu Kazoza School is providing education to over 500 underprivileged and orphaned children, who could not have access to education without a help from people like you.
From 1994-2020, many other different projects were undertaken, such as Goat Project, Women Farming Project, Micro-lending Project, AfricaAmericaExchange Project, etc …
During our Journey of 27 years, thousands of people realized and believed that Jesus-Christ is the foundation of peace and reconciliation.
The work of bringing healing and hope to a wounded community, through sharing Love and Compassion continues. This is being done in joining hands together with our partners and friends. Today, we have two projects that we are undertaking:
To MAKE a donation, please make a check to FSN/JRMD and mail it to: 217 S. 168 St. Burien, WA 98148 or click on the following link to make your donation: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/providing-education-to-450-youths-in-ruhagarika/
GlobalGiving is a registered 501(c)3 entity, and donations are fully tax-deductible in the United States.
Our Future Project is to buildIwacu Ruhagarika Hill University. It will be part of Imuhira Iwacu Village. Imuhira Iwacu Village will bring NEW HOPE FOR TODAY'S and TOMORROW’S GENERATIONS in Africa. The village will be comprised of: Iwacu Kazoza Primary and Secondary School, Orphanage, Community Center, Health Center, Iwacu Ruhagarika Hill University. It will be a true Village for hope and positive change for AFRICA. At the completion of Imuhira Iwacu Village, it will look as follows:
https://www.facebook.com/238561311217/photos/a.10154295685856218/10156342764396218/?type=3&theater
We are very thankful to God for enabling us and our partners to accomplish all of these, as detailed in this document report. May the Glory and Honor be to God forever.
Prosper Ndabishuriye
General Coordinator and Founder
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR WHILE COVID-19 RAVAGING THE ENTIRE WORLD!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021 TO OUR DONORS AND FRIENDS
Christmas and New Year 2021 will certainly look different this year, this doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Christmas and New Year 2021 while COVID-19 is ravaging the entire World.
In celebrating Christmas and New Year people would invite friends in their homes or restaurants , travel within their country or abroad, gathering to share special meals, praying in their respective churches, and so on … but due to COVID-19 people will be limited in celebrating Christmas and New Year 2021.
We are all facing difficult times; the Coronavirus-19 pandemic is a tremendous challenge for the entire World, for all people worldwide, and for our common home. It requires new solutions; new ways of living; new ways of working and handling things; new ways of behaving and management; new ways of dealing with the situation in which we may be. The COVID-19 health and humanitarian crisis is a very serious global concern. NEW WAYS and NEW WAYS AGAIN and AGAIN, because in whatever situation that we may be, LIFE continues.
We know that COVID – 19 is ravaging your country, and we hold you in prayer. Here in Burundi, we have few cases thus far, though near our school and surrounding community is a huge Malaria and poverty.
In Burundi, Christmas and New Year days people expect 2 things to happen:
- Eat good meal/food and drink
- Parents purchase new clothing for their children and husband purchase new clothing FOR their wives
Unfortunately many families in Burundi do not even get good meals that they were expecting to eat on Christmas and New Year Days because of their poverty.
Besides the two common things above mentioned, there are two more things in addition for Christians during Christmas and New Year Times:
- Celebrating Jesus’s birth day
- Worship and thanksgiving to God for his protection and blessings
Your Christmas Gift can help build a home for a widow and orphaned children.
Thank you for your help, despite the current situation of COVID-19 that you may experience in your area.
Prosper Ndabishuriye
General Coordinator and Founder
DO NOT LOSE YOUR HOPE TODAY!!
Do not lose your hope because what is not possible today, it will be possible tomorrow. Providing shelters to the widows, orphans and needy families will help reduce the expansion of AIDS and the mortality, by the present conditions of living of thousands of widows and needy families who live today in displacement.
Your donation would help and enable JRMD provide shelters to 100 widow families and orphans. So far, we have built 8 houses for 8 widow families of the 100 homes we plan to build in Buganda. 92 widow families and orphans, still need shelters, where they can live in security and peacefully.
As you know, Peace education is not possible for people who do not have where to live. There is NO way to promote peace, reconciliation, education, development, safety, health in and among the families who do not have shelter/home. A home is one of the most important things which contribute to the good living of a human being.
Helping a widow family to improve the condition of living by providing an affordable home, which costs $998; a home that accommodates a family of 7 to 10 people is unforgettable gift that you can give to a widow family in Burundi, during this Easter season.
Providing a home to a widow and needy family will help reduce the expansion of AIDS and the mortality of unprivileged children occasioned by the present conditions of their living. A home is one of the most important things that contribute to a good living of a human being. Until our project is fully funded, we will be sending you regular reports about our work.
You'll know what your donation has helped fund, what accomplishments we have achieved and what our current needs are. Donation can be made through the following link: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/providing-shelters-to-100-widows-in-buganda/
Thank you for your donation to a widow’s family that will enable JRMD Team to provide a shelter to a widow family and orphaned children.
Prosper Ndabishuriye
General Coordinator and Founder
