Food Security Burundi Project #35767

Feeding minds and tummies of 230 children

by Bread and Water for Africa UK

Project Report | Aug 23, 2021
Mugs of porridge are mugs full of hope

By Daphne Davies | Volunteer journalist

Murakaza School has been giving the children a mug of porridge, and the school tells us they have noticed the difference this makes.

Darlene* is one of the pupils, and before we started the porridge project, she would often spend the whole day on an empty stomach. Now she has the energy to learn and play and - more importantly - she doesn't feel such a burden on her mum who needs to provide for her and her siblings alone.

This school feeding programme is so important for the children at the Murakaza School, as it has an immediate effect on children’s nutritional status. It also has an indirect effect on gender equality, household food security, and the community as a whole.

Making the children stronger helps them to fight off infections – something which is particularly important at the moment. A good example is improving the intake of iron. Iron deficiency, or anaemia, is widespread amongst school aged children in many low and middle-income countries. Providing a daily nutrient rich meal increases their iron status and improves overall health.

Girls’ attendance at school increases when school-feeding programmes are introduced. The more years she spends in education tends to mean she gets married later, and has fewer pregnancies. Higher educational achievement also reduces her risk of contracting HIV.

On the household level, school feeding programmes have the greatest benefits for the poorest in the community. As school meals account for 10% of a household’s income, they are a great economic relief and contribute to crucial savings, especially for families with more than one child.

This year we have been very fortunate in receiving funds to keep giving the children this daily meal, but we need to make sure that this school feeding is permanent, as it has a huge benefit to the family and the community as a whole. Please continue with your generous support.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

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Mar 24, 2021
One of few schools to offer free education

By Daphne Davies | Volunteer journalist

This is how a government ministry report assessed the school. The report asked the school to increase the number of classes it could offer in the future, and to continue with school activities as Murakaza is one of the few schools to organise these.

We believe the CAPE project, and the Murakaza school are offering a vital service to children in Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world with a GDP per capita of $280, and with more than two thirds of the population below the poverty line.

Burundi one of the poorest countries in the world

The closure of country borders, as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, has further accentuated poverty and made life harder for its citizens. Many small traders have gone bankrupt and can no longer obtain supplies in the sub region. Others who manage to import fabrics from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are drowning in taxes, and other customs hassles. If they can't afford all these extra costs, the goods are taken from them. Many who had made a loan to buy these goods, are left in a terrible financial situation.

Against this difficult background, school enrollment has suffered, and at the beginning of the school year stood at 150 (down from 230) and by March 2021 there were 138 students attending the school. Some children had left for medical reasons, while others had been sent to family members living in the interior of the country, because families were too poor to support themselves.

Parents thank us for continuing to keep their children at the school

“However”, say the staff, “we are fortified in our actions by parents who thank us for continuing to run the school, as otherwise their children would be begging on the streets, and it shows we care about families, who have been forgotten by the system”. For the moment the school has had to stop the school feeding project, as funds are so low, but it continue to welcome the children who are keen to learn, and know that the school is a safe haven for them.

This makes it more important than ever for CAPE to be able to continue its work, despite severe budgetary restrictions, so please continue to support its efforts.

It is the beginning of the rainy season.

One of the classrooms.

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Nov 17, 2020
Hope and community as a navigation system.

By Ramona Engler | Charity Coordinator

Treats for all

2020 came with a lot of surprises and hurdles for all of us. We were faced with a worldwide pandemic, a severe economically recession and yet we had to learn to strengthen our sense of community during a more isolated life.

As for all of us 2020 came with a lot of challenges for the Murakaza school too. Not only has Covid-19 impaired Burundi’s economy dramatically, moreover in December and March severe floods have displaced many families and the school has taken its toll. Some of the buildings were damaged and the staff accommodations were left inhabitable, with the staff having to live in rented accommodation.

Main achievements: Although the prospects might not always look that positive, the valuable work at the Murakaza school and its great impact on the community provides the staff with a deep resource of hope. In a common effort all staff volunteered to clean up and rebuild the school immediately the next day after the floods, so children could come back to class as soon as possible. With many families being displaced and having to face even greater financial struggle, Murakaza’s role in offering a safe place is now even more important.

Despite all the struggle and thanks to the teacher’s great effort, children were able to continue with the new school year in September. The portion of nourishing porridge has become a vital source to continue improving children’s nutritional status and health. A new registration system enables staff to track student’s attendance and to lower the risk of children skipping school. In addition, although school uniforms are usually expensive in Burundi and hard to afford by many parents, the schools own sewing project enables us to provide free school uniforms for all children. Wearing the uniforms provides the kids with a sense of belonging and a feeling of being part of our community. Besides having to face setbacks, hope and believing in the importance of their work has enabled CAPE to navigate through the difficulties and by sticking together an dnever giving up, continue to improve children’s lives.

Celebrating the new uniforms

School uniform party

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