AMAHORO! (Burundian greetings meaning “peace”)
HUMAN IN LOVE has been operating an educational project in Burundi, Africa, to provide tuitions and school supplies to middle and high school students who are not able to afford school fees due to financial difficulty. As of Aug. 2015, 98 students of 16 schools located in Bubanza Province, Burundi, received support from HUMAN IN LOVE and is continuing their study.
[ Burundian scholarship students are writing a thank-you letter to Korean supporters ]
In addition, HUMAN IN LOVE is preparing to support elementary school students who are in need in Bubanza Province as well.
Like Korean students, Burundian students have to wear uniforms when they go to school. Students from poor families who cannot afford to buy the school uniform wear their siblings’ or even their neighbors’ uniforms. Those who cannot even get uniforms from their family members or neighborhood cannot go to school. For this reason, there are many children who are not attending schools, who are wearing uniforms that do not fit well or who are wearing old and dirty uniforms.
[ Elementary school students in Burundi ]
HUMAN IN LOVE had a chance to have a conversation about this issue with a public official in charge of education in Bubanza Province where we operate education projects. According to the public official, school uniforms are necessary to manage and classify students, so currently Burundi legislates that students must wear uniforms at school.
Afterwards, we carried out a survey on the actual condition of Muyange, the poorest area in Bubanza Province.
[ Children and shabby houses in Muyange ]
Muyange is a region in the Bubanza Province established by the Burundian government for the Twa people (Pygmy) and people who lost their home due to war. Indeed, 247 out of 441 students of an elementary school in the region called the “Muyange Ⅱ Primary School” are from families of the poorest.
[ Without electricity, it is very dark even in daytime at the Muyange Ⅱ Primary School ]
After conducting local survey, Mr. Jun-kwon Park from HUMAN IN LOVE Burundi Branch emphasized the necessity of providing support to the region, saying that, “The Muyange Ⅱ Primary School is the most deprived school among any other schools in Burundi. Support for the children here is desperate.
Meanwhile, Seoul Yeomchang Elementary School in Korea participated in HUMAN IN LOVE’s character and sharing education program named “Gathering 100 won” from October to December, 2014, and collected some 2.4 million Korean won (KRW). Among the 2.4 million KRW, it decided to deliver 1,266,450 KRW for the Burundian children, and at the delivering ceremony, school uniforms with the logo of Seoul Yeomchang Elementary School painted will be provided to the students.
[ Seoul Yeomchang Elementary School students participated in HUMAN IN LOVE’s character and sharing education program named “Gathering 100 won” ]
In addition, “Youth Dream Team Korea,” a sports talent donation group established by Yu-jin Yang, Hyeon-jun Kim, Seung-hyeok Jeong, has been cycling across Australia for the Burundian students from Jul. 2. Their ultimate goal is to cycle for 82 days.
[ “Youth Dream Team Korea” cycling across Australia to raise fund for the Burundian students ]
HUMAN IN LOVE is currently proceeding with the purchasing and making of the uniforms along with the parents’ association of the Muyange Ⅱ Primary School. Please look forward to the news about the students of the Muyange Ⅱ Primary School who will be attending the school wearing new uniforms in September!
The public official in charge of education in Bubanza Province who heard the news said, “The principal, parents and students of the Muyange Ⅱ Primary School all appreciate HUMAN IN LOVE’s provision of the school uniforms. I myself is also grateful for your interest and support.
