Children's and women's rights
CHILDREN’S AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
As part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Burundikids e.V. focuses its work in particular on the rights of children and women. This primarily includes the fulfilment of fundamental basic needs such as protection, shelter and food. In addition, mental and physical well-being, access to education and prospects for the future are essential priorities in the social work with children, adolescents and young adults.
In this context, the association finances the Birashoboka social centre, including care, school fees, reintegration measures, scholarships, medical care and legal assistance. The aim for every child and young person is to find their way back into social structures and be able to stand on their own two feet.
The Nyubahiriza centre is specifically designed to meet the needs of young women and girls, many of whom have also experienced sexual violence. In a protected environment, they can take their lives back into their own hands at the centre and develop prospects for the future.
Mother and Child Home – Centre Nyubahiriza
Burundikids e.V. has been funding the Mother and Child Home Centre Nyubahiriza (Kirundi for ‘Respect us!’) since 2005 and supports young women and girls in finding their way back into a structure outside the institution after a period of development. Individual solutions are developed with each woman.
The women’s refuge offers them safe accommodation – many of the young women have experienced sexual exploitation in the past and receive medical, psychological and educational support at the centre. They usually spend a limited amount of time there.
To enable reintegration into everyday life, the mother and child home offers the opportunity to attend school. The women can also train as seamstresses. By selling the textiles they produce, they can generate funds for the home – or help finance their family reunification.
During their training as seamstresses, the young women make clothes for the market in Burundi – or products for despatch, including dolls, blankets or placemats, which Burundikids e.V. sells in its own Etsy shop.
Street children’s home – Centre Birashoboka
Our street children’s home, the Birashoboka Centre, is located in the Kajaga district, just a few metres away from our school Ecole Polyvalente Carolus Magnus (EPCM). The name Birashoboka is Kurundi and can be translated as ‘everything is possible’. The centre, with which Burundikids e.V. supports street children, has existed since 2003. The social centre offers them safe accommodation and the prospect of reintegration into a regular everyday life.
In addition to social and psychological support, the Birashoboka Centre offers children and young people the opportunity to participate in cultural activities. The residents regularly come together to train in a drumming and dancing group.
After a certain period of residence, the boys return to a social environment outside the centre. If possible, they return to their families or find other ways to become independent. Fondation Stamm also supports them in this process, be it in their search for a job, a place at university or in other matters relating to independence.
It is important to note that there is no maximum age or maximum length of stay for a child or young person in the home. The social workers in Bujumbura develop an individual solution with each resident.
Residential communities
In addition to the Birashoboka centre, Burundikids e.V. supports several sheltered housing units in various parts of Burundi. Living in such a more independent facility can represent a first stage of reintegration: several older and ‘mature’ boys live together in one household and have to organise themselves independently, with financial support from Burundikids e.V.. The boys are accompanied into independent life, both professionally and privately.
Social workers and psychologists are available at all times and visit the accommodation units regularly. The young people also receive medical care.
Soutien à distance: support in families.
Soutien à distance (SAD) is another way of supporting children and young people in addition to residential care or assisted living. This means that children and young people receive financial or material assistance in their families or in independent households.
Support for children and young people in their families also includes the awarding of scholarships, either at Fondation Stamm schools or at public schools – or even at universities. The scholarships are financed by Burundikids e.V. in cooperation with partner schools, student associations and private initiatives or donors.
