Mubafashe January 2011 Report

17^th, January, 2011

SUBMISSION OF MISSION REPORT

I hereby submit the mission report compiled by Richard KABALISA after traveling to BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI and visiting MUBAFASHE Association on 9^th, January, 2011.

1. Leadership status

The Association of 70 children is led by Francine KAREMERA with four other young women in the executivecommittee. The five were college roommates and all are graduate school, three in medicine and one in psychology, and one a math/IT.

From left to right: Francine, Christelle, Lysette, Joy, Annick.

President: Francine KAREMERA and she is also in charge of projects development.

Vice president: Joy MUSARAGANYA and she is also in charge of health.

Treasurer: Annick MUSARAGANYA and she is in charge of home visits.

Education in charge: Lysette GAHIMBARE.

Home Visits in charge: Christelle NGORORE.

Currently, the leaders have the legal documents such as: Bylaws, Internal rules and regulations, a well as District agreement. I met the leaders and children the same day Sunday, January 9, 2011 afternoon around 3:00pm, where they used to meet every Sunday for fun, music, helpful group activities and exchange, hence chasing out sorrow and loneliness from the hearts of children.

“Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrap every stone to gather wealth and to take so little care of your children to whom one day, you must relinquish it all?” Socrates

Burundi is one of the world’s most impoverished states. The 70 children of MUBAFASHE Association are among the most disadvantaged for they represent the poorest of Burundi’s children and suffer from the loss of their parents. Members of MUBAFASHE Association include children who have been orphaned by AIDS, both double and single orphans, children living with other HIV⁺ adult relatives or family friends, in child headed households.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible,

and suddenly you are doing the impossible”

It is impressive how activities of just a small Association like MUBAFAFHE have a big impact on the lives of a big number of children.

I interviewed a couple of them, to weigh up whether they are pleased about the aid or not, and left with a total happiness of the beneficiaries.

2. Financial status

I asked the leaders of MUBAFASHE Association whether they have some other initiatives (or innovations), they told me that: One, they think to train children to dance traditionally and modern dance to play during wedding ceremonies, theatre,… and get paid in return, that older children could manage without interfering with their education and would be profitable, for them and all the children of MUBAFASHE.

Again, they think to rent land to cultivate crops, the purpose will be to provide salaries to parents who do the work and to the older children as well and to raise funds for MUBAFASHE for emergency food.

MUBAFASHE Association has also started cooperative enterprises whereby twenty women and men have been given money and are split into groups according to their fellow feeling (affinity). There are 7 groups: two groups of five persons, one group of four persons, one group of three persons, three groups of one person.Group members buy and sell goods (e. g pigtail) in the neighborhood and at shops in town. At the end of week, group members assess the work, initiate small stipends as art of the loan and pay-back of the loan from profit.

I interviewed a couple of them and I was impressed by one woman after getting the loan in September, by December has completed the loan return and continuing her business. I talked to those men and women, they are acknowledging very much MUBAFASHE support, not only in terms of the loan but also in the programs that MUBAFASHE offers, like education, health, Sunday gatherings and home visits.

“No person was ever honored for what he received.

Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

3. Challenges

Although MUBAFASHE Association is doing such a great job, some problems encountered: One is the Office work constraint; they need at least one permanent office worker like administrative Assistance.

Again, for the men and women received the loan, they want loan increase and have one or two week training period before they start their business.