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Developed by:Karina Velazquez

Brenda BachRjay Molo

Cristian Munoz

Executive Summary:

It is estimated that 11,000 people died from AIDS in Burundi in 2007. Those

11,000 people lost their families, and most of them don’t even know what they

died from. Getting medical attention in Burundi is so hard to seek because there

aren’t enough doctors to help everyone or they don’t have the transportation to get to

the closest hospital. Many Burundians have no idea what HIV/AIDS really is. Some men

become rapists because they think raping a young girl will cure them from HIV/AIDS. That’s

why our program is here to help and we want to provide Burundians with testing and inform

them in how they could prevent or treat AIDS.

We will have a mobile clinic driving village to village and staying at each village for 2 weeks. The

mobile clinic will start off at Bujumbura Rural. The clinic will be mainly for HIV/AIDS testing, however,

our clinic will also offer basic health care. If someone has a serious injury or infection, then they will be

patched up and sent to a nearby hospital. We will also give counseling to the people that turn out positive

for HIV/AIDS, to let them know how it spreads and how to treat HIV/AIDS.

To attract Burundians to our mobile clinics, we will have a Burundian street theatre. It will demostrate what

we offer at our clinics and how it’s important to get tested. Burundians will be more aware of what’s hap-

pening in their country. In addition, we will offer sex education to secondary schools. Trained volun-

teers will explain to the children what HIV/AIDS is and how to be safe. We will ask the children

to speak to their family members about the virus and what they have learned

from our voulnteers.

To raise money for the mobile clinics, we will have a

group of Burundian drummers traveling around the

world, and performing. This type of tribal dancing, sing-

ing and drumming is part of their culture, and repre-

sents fertility and regeneration.

Our goal is to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to

lower the number of orphans in Burundi. This clinic will

increase the number of jobs and hopefully inspire others

to attend college and become doctors to help their com-

munity. Burundians will feel more safe, because they’ll know

how they could prevent HIV/AIDS. We know our proposal will

have a dramatic effect on the people of Burundi and that it will

continue on after we leave.

Saving Lives

HistoryBurundi

The original inhabitants of Burundi were the Twa, they were pygmy people, hunter-gatherers that were found

also in Rwanda and Uganda. During the 15th century, the Tutsis migrated into what is now called Burundi and

gained dominance over the Hutus. The tutsis settled in Burundi and established themselves as rulers. The Twa

were eventually forced out of Burundi by the Hutus and Tutsis.

The Tutsis originally came from Ethiopia and established their native kingdom in Burundi, after the Hutus

came from Chad. Tutsis were considered cattle-owners and Hutus were identified as agricultural people.

European explorers and missionaries have came across Burundi as early as 1856, but never claimed the terri-

tory until 1899, when the Germans made Burundi part of German East Africa. Even though Burundi was colo-

nized by Germany, the area was occupied by the Belgians during World War I. In 1923, the League Of Nations

assigned Ruanda-Urundi (Rwanda and Burundi) to Belgium. The League Of Nation’s main goals were prevent-

ing war, and settling international disputes. The Belgians ruled Ruanda-Urundi using Indirect rule, meaning

they let local chiefs or assigned someone to rule the territory but under their commands. The tutsi were given

more power from the Beligans. After World War II, Ruanda-Urundi became a trust territory under the United

Nations, but still stayed under Beligan rule.

In 1962 Ruanda-Burundi split into two countries, Rwanda and Burundi. Burundi got their independence on

July 1,1962 and established a constitutional monarchy by Tutsi King Mwanbusta IV. He was determined give

the Hutus equal power. That changed after the assassination of the Hutu Prime Minister and created a huge

Hutu revolt. King Mwanbusta IV was replaced by his son Prince Ntare IV, and that same year he was removed

by a miltary coup lead by Captian Michel Micombero. Michel Micombero wanted to get rid of monarchy and

have a republic. The Hutus wanted to revolt but aborted the rebellion in 1972, because of it, hundreds of thou-

sands of Burundians left Burundi.These problems still continued until the 1960’s and 1970’s.

In 2001, Buyoya established a 3 year transitional government, with Domitien Ndayizeye as vice president. Nday-

izeye was only vice for 18 months, however in May 2003, he earned the title as president. He continued with a

transitional government, however his plans including free elections, military reform, and following the social

and political measures from the Arusha Accords, failed because of violent actions from the rebels. Ndayizeye

continues to fix problems with the rebels groups in a integration plan which is under Tanzania, Uganda, and

South Africa.

In 2004, the UN helped Burundi with peacekeeping showing international support. Also to keep peace, in early

2005 the Burundian government determined positions by having an equal amount of ethnicies. Pierre Nkurun-

ziza, which was part of a Hutu rebel group became president that same year. By 2006, Burundi had a truce wit

the last rebel group, Forces for National Liberation (FNL). However the the FNL left truce saying their security

was unprotected.In 2007, reconstruction efforts began in Burundi. The UN put peace problems aside and also

focused on reconstruction. The government was still having problems with just one group Burundi with Rwanda

joined the East African Community, a intergovernmental organization.

Also in late 2007, a FLN group fought in the capital, killing 20 fighters. Burundians began leaving Burundi be-

cause of the violence. Rebel raids were not only in Burundi but were also in other parts of the country. The rebels

didn’t agree with many of the governments plans, leading to the FLN group attacking government protecting

camps. Civilians have also been victims of acts of violence by the FLN group. The group has also recruited child

soldiers. A judical system in Brunudi needed to be reformed because Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against

humanity remained unpunished. On April 17, 2008 the FNL attacked the capital of Burundi, Bujumbura. The

Burundian army fought back, and the FLN group lost greatly.

On May 26, 2008, a new truce between the government and the FLN group was signed. President Nkurunziza

and the FLN leader Agathon Rwasa agreed to meet twice to talk out any disputes that might arise. Refugee

camps are closing down ‘til this day. With 450,000 refugees returning, property conflicts have emerged.

HistoryBurundi

In 1976, Captian Michel Micombero stepped down and Col. Jean-Baptiste Bagaza took power without blood-

shed. Bagaza led a Tutsi-dominated government and urged land and electoral reform also national reconciliaton.

A new constitution was published in 1981 and in 1984 Bagaza was elected head of state as a single candidate.

After elections, Bagaza’s human rights records became worse as he ended religious activities and stopped politi-

cal opposition members.

Bagaza was overthown by Major Pierre Buyoya in 1987. Buyoya got rid of Bagaza’s ideas, including the opposi-

tion parties, the 1981 constitution and started the Military Committee for National Salvation. Problems between

the Hutus and the Tutsis became worse in 1988, causing violent conflicts and killing 150,000 people. Melchior

Ndadaye was Burundi’s first Hutu president to be elected in 1993, however he was assassinated by a group of

Tutsi-dominated armed forces in that same year. The assassination led to civil war which killed thousands of

people. Hundreds of Burundians left by the time the government regained control.

The presidents of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zaire all got together and announced they would make a step

in trying to negotiate peace in Burundi in 1995. Tanzanian president offered to help Burundi in the issues with

peace. In 1996 Buyoya declared himself president without bloodshed. However, fighting between the Hutu mili-

tia and the army continued. Buyoya established a transitional constitution and declared a partnership between

the government and the National Assembly.

Nelson Mandela was a chosen by the regional leaders as the Facilitator of the Arusha Accord. after Facilitator Ju-

lius Nyerere’s death. The Arusha Accord was a peace agreement signed by the principal Hutu and Tutsi political

parties. Unfortunately, some political parties like the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) which was most

significant rebel group during the civil war and National Forces of Liberation (FNL) also a rebel group refused to

accept the Arusha Accords and the rebellion continued.

2001 - Nelson Mandela starts the installation of transitional government in which Hutu and Tutsi leaders will be equal. Hutu rebel groups refuse to sign truce and fighting gets worse.

2002 -Government and main Hutu rebel group FDD sign a truce in Tanzania, but fighting starts again a month later.

2003 July - A rebel assault on at the capital, Bujumbura. About 300 rebels and 15 government soldiers died. Thousands leave their homes because of the violence.

2003 November - President Ndayizeye and FDD leader Pierre Nkurunziza sign agreement to end civil war.

2004 December - UN and government start to take away weapons from soldiers and former rebels.

2005 January - The president sets up new national army, with the government forces and all but one Hutu rebel group, the FNL.

2005 August - Pierre Nkurun-ziza, which was part of a Hutu FDD group, was elected as president.

2008 April - Fighting between the government forces and FNL rebel group leaves 100 people dead.

2009 April - Burundi’s last hutu rebel group, the FNL, transforms into a political party that is supervised by African Union.

2010 January - Thir-teen soldiers were arrested for plotting a coup to overthrow President Nkurunziza.

700 Y ears

1300s - Hutu people begin to settle in Burundi.

1400s - Tutsi settlers de-clared themselves as feudal rulers.

1858 - Explorers from Great Britian, Richard Burton and John Speke visit Burundi.

1890 - Tutsi of Urundi and neighbouring Ruanda (Rwanda) incorporated into German East Africa.

1923 -Belgium agreed to the League of Nations to administer Ruanda-Urundi.

1962 - Urundi splits from Ruanda-Urundi then turns into Burundi and was given their independence under King Mwambutsa IV.

1963 - Thousands of Hu-tus run away to Rwanda following ethnic violence

1981 - A new constitution makes Burundi a one-party state.

1993- Tutsi soldiers assassinate Ndadaye. Leading to some Frode-bu members killing Tutsis and the army begins reprisals. Burundi is plunged into an ethnic conflict which takes about 300,000 lives.

1995 - Killing of Hutu refugees leads to renewed ethnic violence in the capi-tal, Bujumbura.

2000 - President Buyoya agrees to ceasefire talks with a leader of Hutu rebel group, Forces for Defence of Democracy (FDD).

Timeline:

1888- Germans take over Burundi

Goal Description StatisticsEradicate poverty and hunger

Proportion of population below

$1.25 (PPP) a day (%)

Prevalence of malnutrition (% of

children under age 5 underweight)

81% (2005)

39% (2000)

Achieving universal primary education

Primary completion rate (% of

relevant age group)

Public expenditure per primary

student (% of GDP per capita)

39% (2007)

20% (2005)

Promoting gender equality

Ratio of girls to boys in primary and

secondary education (%)

Women in nonagricultural sector

(% of nonagricultural employment)

50% (2007)

no data

Reducing child mortality

Under-five mortality rate (per 1000)

Immunization against measles (%

of children 12 – 23 months)

180 (2007)

75% (2007)

Improving mater-nal health

Maternal mortality rate (modeled

estimate, per 100,000 live births)

Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000

women ages 15 - 19)

1,100 (2005)

55 (2007)

Combating disease Prevalence of HIV (% of population

ages 15 – 49)

Tuberculosis (incidence per

100,000 people)

2% (2007)

367 (2007)

Ensuring environmental sustainability

Access to improved water source

(% of population)

Carbon dioxide emissions per

capita (metric tons)

71% (2006)

0.03 (2005)

Millennium Development Goals:Burundi’s Issues

Intro SummaryThere are many issues in Burundi dealing with human rights. These

rights include women and children’s issues, and civil liberties. Many of

these laws stated aren’t enforced by the government, leading to these

issues. The government’s human rights record hasn’t improved, it’s

still very poor. Children and women are often raped but never receive

the medical help they need and deserve. Government security forces

even kill and beat civilians in Burundi.

Women Issues The law states that rape is punishable by up to 30 years of prison, but the

government doesn’t enforce the rape laws. The government also forbids spousal

rape, but instead of 30 years, it’s only 8 days in prison. Many women don’t report

rape because of cultural reasons, fear of it happening again, or lack of medical care.

Some men leave their wives, after their wives have been raped or beat and kill

their wives just to marry younger women. Often women and girls that were raped

were ostracized. Police even humiliated raped women and make them pay for their

attacker’s jail cell and cook food for them. Some women were required to pay 15,000

Burundian francs to get a certified medical report. Judges don’t take rape as a se-

rious issue. Sometimes families or communities force rape women to drop their com-

plaints and make a deal with the attacker or his family. Also women are sometimes

forced by their own families to marry their attacker.Human Rights:Women’s Issues

Children’s Issues Children under five are required to have a birth certifi-

cate to obtain free public schooling and free medical care by the

government, but almost half of all children aren’t registered at birth.

In August 2008, the government announced they would allow unreg-

istered children up to the age of five to get a chance to register. School

for children is required until the age of 12, the highest level of school most

children get to is primary school. In 2008, the Ministry of Human Rights and

Gender statistics said there were about 5,000 children on the street in Burundi,

many of them are orphans or have HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, the government

couldn’t provide them with medical or economic support.

Rape is also an issue for children, minor rape is a widespread problem. 65% of reported

rapes have been from children under 17. Perpetrators can get up 10 to 30 years in

prison for raping a minor. The UN Development Fund for Women reported that perpetra-

tors believed raping a minor would be a chance to prevent or cure STD’s and HIV/AIDS.

Centre Seruka, a clinic for people for who have been raped, also reported that 15% of the

their sexual violence cases are children under five. Most of the people that come to the

clinic are females. The average age of victims that come to Centre Seruka is around the

age of 11.

Some children engage in prostitution to survive. However, the government

prohibits prostitution and child pornography.

Child labor is another issue in Burundi. The labor code

says companies cannot have children working that

are under 18, but there are exceptions by the

Ministry of Labor. Allowing children to do

light work or work that doesn’t affect their

health. Light work includes selling news-

papers, herding cattle or making food.

Only children 12 and older can do “light

labor“. In rural areas of Burundi, children

under 16 have “heavy manual labor” during

the school year.

“I came back from school, I had lunch and was

getting ready to go out again. My father of-

fered me 150 francs to come to the bedroom

with him. I said I didn’t want to go. But then he

took me to the bedroom by force and did bad

things to me. It was the second time he did it.

The first time I didn’t tell anybody. I was afraid.

This time I decided to tell my mum because it

hurt really, really badly”.

- young girl from BurundiHuman Rights:Children’s Issues

Freedom Of Speech & PressThe Law doesn’t allow people in Burundi to put anything

in the press that is negative about political figures like the

president, it is considered a crime and could lead to about

six months to five years in prison. Also people can not say

insults towards the president.

Freedom Of ReligionThe law allows freedom of religion and the government re-

spects this right. However, it is required that every religious

group registers with the Ministry of Interior, so the govern-

ment knows and can keep track of their activities.

Freedom Of AssociationThe constitution states freedom of association, but the

government restricts this right. Private organizations and

political parties have to register. FNL (Forces Nationales

de Liberation) and MSD (Movement for Solidarity and

Democracy) have recently and successfully registered.

Civil LibertiesHuman Rights:

Burundi is located in east central Africa, near one of the great

lakes called Lake Tanganyika. In general Burundi has a tropical high-

land climate. The terrain has some plains, hills and many mountains, with a

drop into a plateau in the east. There are many environmental issues in Burundi

including deforestation due to uncontrolled tree cutting for fuel, which is threaten-

ing wildlife. Soil erosion is another issue for Burundi due to the acidification (which is

lowering of soil and water pH because of rain).

Burundi’s water supply quality is very low and in poor condition. For many years, there was

no clean drinking water available in certain towns. Urban, rural and village communities do not

have access to clean and safe water. The hygiene situation is very critical due the the water supply

systems all over Burundi. Only 23% of the population have facilities with functional water supply.

Burundi is 43% farming land, and in that farming land only 15% goes to the market in

production. The family farm plot has an average of two acres. Many natural resources

are located in Burundi such as nickel, uranium, coffee, cotton, tea, corn,

sorghum (numerous species of grasses), bananas, manioc

(tapioca), beef, milk, and hides (animal skin). The

marketing, pricing and grading for coffee and tea

are mostly exported only with approval while

the rest can be exported on a regular basis. All

of the products are suffering due to the soil

erosion, poor agriculture practice, lack of fer-

tilizer, shortened fallow periods, and irregular

rainfall.

Environmental Status

Environmental Status:Declining Resources

MapBurundi

One of Burundi’s biggest issues is HIV/AIDS. 110,000 people are living

with HIV/AIDS, 53,000 of them are women and 15,000 are children and

orphans. Burundi declared a national emergency regarding HIV/AIDS in

1999. In 2001 the estimate went up to an alarming 7.5%. A strong resistance

against HIV/AIDS was starting to spread by a committee called the National

AIDS Control in 2002. In 2003, Burundi estimated that the number of cases of

HIV/AIDS rounded up to 6%. Non-governmental organizations grouped together

and created a Burundian alliance for AIDS control.

The number of orphans in Burundi is about half a million and most of the reason why is

because their parents died from AIDS. Out of 230,000 orphans, 30% of them have HIV/

AIDS. So far, 6% of the population in rural areas in Burundi have HIV/AIDS and is still in-

creasing today. Infection rates for girls ages 15-19 are four times greater than for boys of the

same age. Teachers in Burundi are raising awareness about HIV and AIDS and they’re teach-

ing kids how it happens and how to ready themselves, but it seems that it isn’t enough.

In conclusion, the rate of HIV/AIDS is really high and is slowly rising,

and it needs to be stopped! Innocent people are diagnosed

with this disease, many families have lost a number of

loved ones because of this disease. So many in-

spired organizations have come together to

prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS all around

the world. Most people don’t understand

how depressing this disease is until their

country or family is diagnosed with HIV/

AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS EpidemicDescription of Need:

HIV/AIDS Testing and Treatment

Testing will be available for everyone. We will encourage people to be

tested through our efforts in street theater and our school-based work-

shops. DNA PCR, an antigen test that looks directly for the HIV virus, will

be the test we use to discover the virus. If the virus is found, we’ll im-

mediately supply them with an antiretroviral drug and set them up for

counseling and referral to other health care services.

Counseling Services

Counseling services will include mental health, health care, and finan-

cial support. Our health care services will teach our patients about their

health, how to take better care of themselves and why they need to take

better care of themselves. We’ll thoroughly explain how to use a condom

and how is HIV/AIDS is spread.

First Aid and Basic Health Care

People who come in with an injury can be cleaned and patched up then

sent to the nearest hospital available, if necessary.

Street Theater

To get our message out about HIV/AIDS, we will host a traditional Burun-

dian street theater show. The play will show how the virus is spreading

through out the world and how to get tested and treated. The show will

be educational and entertaining while simultaneously building interest

in our mobile clinics.

Project Proposal:

The Mobile Clinic Solution

Due to the lack of educational resources and access to health care in

Burundi people are suffering. We propose to help by offering HIV/AIDS

testing and educational resources. Mobile clinics will travel from village

to village staying in each place for a period of 2 weeks. We will start in

Bujumbura Rural, which is close to captial and has many refugees from

Tanzania. Our mobile clinics will offer HIV/AIDS testing, antiretroviral

drug (medical treatment to prevent the HIV virus from damaging the

immune system), free condoms, and counseling services including, HIV/

AIDS education. Our approach to education will include street theater to

get our message out to entire communities, as well as workshops to be

delivered to secondary school students.

Fundraising

To raise money for our country and to raise awareness, we will have Bu-

rundian drummers perform all over the world for a full year.

The Clinics

Our clinics will consist of retrofitted buses with examination and treat-

ment areas built in. At each stop we will also assemble a tent outside the

bus which will serve as reception, first aid, health education and coun-

seling services area. The clinics will stay in a single location for approxi-

mately 2 weeks before moving to the next village. Each mobile clinic will

consist of 15 volunteer doctors, nurses, counselors and assistants.

School Based Workshops

To get kids in secondary school to understand the virus, we will have vol-

unteers talk and explain sex education. We will persuade children to talk

BMC

Project Implementation:Our Goals

Year 1 - To raise money we will have Burundian drummers perform all over the world, taking donations.

Year 2 - Buy all the supplies and get ready to go to Burundi. Find volunteers in Burundi to perform street

theater.

Year 3 - Starting with street theater performances in different villages and start our testing the following

day.

Year 4 - Look for Burundian volunteers to learn about health so they can become assistants for the clinics.

We will also have our doctors and nurses go to secondary schools to teach about health and sex

education.

Year 5- We’ll leave Burundi in the middle of the year and we’ll regularly check up on the country until they’re

able to stand on their on feet.

Impact Analysis:Making a Difference

This project will impact Burundi in a great number of ways because it just won’t help them out with HIV/AIDS

problems, it’ll change their lives drastically. Many Burundians aren’t educated about their health nor about

getting treatment. Most children are orphans and lose their parents because of HIV/AIDS. However, send-

ing volunteers and informing Burundians will have them, especially parents, immediately want to get tested

before it’s too late.

One big impact that can change their lives in an instant, is education. Sending vounteers to speak about HIV/

AIDS at schools will make a remarkable difference. Talking to the youth might even inspire them to go to col-

lege and become doctors. There will be more people in school who can become doctors, which will also help

the economy due to the increase in jobs. Doctors will need nurses or people to do HIV/AIDS testing, opening

the chance of other jobs. As a result many more Burundians will be able to support their families.

There are many positive things added to this impact, however there some negative impacts as well. For

example there are many misconceptions, such as having sex with a virgin can cure AIDS. Some disagreement

will come from older generations, that will end up rebelling and continue believing the myths and may resist

using condoms. However we are here to make a difference.

Lastly, this program will lower the death rate in Burundi. People will be more aware of the virus and start to

use condoms. They will start to talk to their children about being safe, making families stronger. The people

who are positive for HIV/AIDS, will be treated and will be told how to prevent spreading the disease.