Partners...New Generation

BURUNDI – the context

The sheer number and intensity of conflict and political instability in Africa’s Great Lakes region continues to be an abiding feature for this part of the continent. Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, is no exception. It is emerging from a 12 year ethnic-based civil war. The scene of one of Africa’s most intractable conflicts Burundi has been characterised by great brutality, crimes against humanity and gross violations of human rights. The population has been left vulnerable by deteriorating social infrastructures, severe drought and a conflict in which over 250,000 lives have been lost. Many of those killed have been women and children.

Since independence in 1961, it has been plagued by tensions between the two main ethnic groups. Burundi is home to some six million people, 85% of whom are Hutus and 14% Tutsis and roughly 1% Twas. Although the groups share a language, religion and kinship system, the legacy of colonial rule has long defined them as separate groups doing much to cement ethnic divide, creating identity categories and social and political polarisation. The colonial advantage of the Tutsis over the Hutus perpetuated ethnic conflict that has defined Burundi’s post-independence political history and created perceptions that are still evident in the current situation.

Despite false starts on the road to peace in the 1990s, a peace agreement, led by former South African president Nelson Mandela, was signed in 2001 that led to the creation of a transitional government. In 2005 Burundians voted in the first parliamentary elections since the start of the civil war. The country does remain engaged in fighting between the government and one rebel group remaining active in the countryside around the capital Bujumbura, but Burundi is now beginning to reap the dividends of a peace process and transitional government. It does however face the formidable task of reviving the shattered economy and of forging national unity and the challenges of poverty and HIV/AIDS.

The ongoing conflict and increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS has increased the number of orphans, which has resulted in an increase in the number of street children. The total number of orphans in the country, including children who were orphaned by causes other than HIV/AIDS, was more than 970 000, according to the survey cited by UNICEF (2005). Many children have suffered since civil war broke out in 1993: 60% of Burundian children of school-going age were illiterate; 5,000 are street children; 7,000 children were child soldiers; and 250,000 were HIV/AIDS orphans.

NEW GENERATION - the organisation

New Generation is one of only a small number of charities working with street children (predominantly boys) in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. The organisation is based in Bujumbura and is staffed by Burundians, some of whom are former street boys.

Street Boys are housed in a series of homes run by individuals or organisations in the Bujumbura area. In addition, where possible, boys are repatriated to their home communities, often up-country in rural Burundi, many miles away from the capital where they have journeyed.

Like Umthombo in South Africa, New Generation aims to change the way that society perceives and treats street boys in Burundi. In particular they are looking to work more closely with other Street Children organisations in Burundi to provide a more co-ordinated solution to a challenging issue.