History:
Classified among the poorest nations of the world for several years, Burundi has been, since 1993, in the grips of a war that has seriously affected all sectors of society. Other unfavorable factors include displacement of refugees, a severe malaria epidemic and repetitive droughts which have contributed to the spread of poverty.
Project:
Alternatives and its partners implemented a rehabilitation project in the provinces of Kayanza, Muramvya, Bururi and Bujumbura. This project seeks to rehabilitate the social infrastructure in these provinces by encouraging a long term and viable climate of peaceful coexistence between different ethnic groups. Two primary schools will be rehabilitated so that the children of displaced and repatriated families have access to education. There will be also an improvement of the service in two health centers, which have been rehabilitated and equipped.
Improved access to drinking water will be achieved by the installation of 60 sources of water. Water will be made available for 3 000 households allowing women and children not to have to traverse long distances in search of drinking water. This constant search for water has had very harmful consequences on residents as it has significantly reduced the available number hours for working.
The specific objectives of the project are:
To rehabilitate schools;
To improve health center services;
To improve the general health of the population by increasing education on the risks and dangers of AIDS;
To improve public health;
To improve access to drinking water;
To improve school conditions and to increase the level of teaching in the country;
To improve women’s and families living conditions by micro-credits;
To improve the housing conditions of repatriated and displaced populations
