Burundi is ranked 185 out of 188 countries on the UN’s Human Development Index (2019). Burundi is a small land-locked country in eastern Africa with a population over 11 million. It is one of the world's most rural countries with the majority of the population reliant on agriculture and subsistence level farming. Since independence in 1962, Burundi has faced ethnic and political conflict. The country is still recovering from a civil war that devastated civil society structures, contributed to high illiteracy rates and poor health care, exacerbated gender disparity. Thousands of people died and others were driven from their homes, leaving many women and children vulnerable to gender-based violence.

Five Talents has worked in Burundi since 2008 to support literacy and business skills training, parenting skills training (recently added due to a request from members) and the development of community Savings Groups. Our programme partners support members as they learn to read, write and manage their finances, as well as develop skills and attitudes they can apply in their homes and businesses. Five Talents works closely with the Anglican Church of Burundi and the Mothers’ Union in Burundi.

The Programme

To date, the programme has reached over 63,000 participants in Burundi. These benefits include improved household income, as well as more adequate food, education, and medical care.

Five Talents provides business skills training as well as access to financial services through Savings Group formation to the literacy programme participants. Members have access to mentorship, basic financial services, and emergency funds. 8 out of 10 participants in Burundi are female.

Where to next?

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