In Mutaho, solidarity groups contribute to the financing of child protection interventions

We are in Mutaho, it’s around 10:30 am. On Muririmbo hill, the weather is magnificent, no clouds in the sky, a radiant sun illuminates this small village located only 1 km from the chief town of Mutaho. People carry on with their daily business as usual. It is also the main agricultural season, commonly called "Impeshi", normally marked by the availability of food.

‘’Unfortunately, the harvest was not good this year,'' says Eric Kabonetse, coordinator of the activities of two local solidarity groups - Natwe Twoterimbere (we too can develop) 1 and 2 - supported by the Light Project, known locally as ‘’Murikira Nige’’ (put the light on so that I can study).

A solar panel has been installed at his home to allow members to come and charge their solar lamps during the day.

As part of the Light Project implemented by UNICEF, in partnership with FVS-Amie des Enfants, with financial support from the German Committee for UNICEF, 196 vulnerable families in Muririmbo Hill have benefited from solar lamps. This allows children to study at night, but also strengthens the capacity of households and communities to prevent and respond to violence, abuse and exploitation against children.

Beneficiary households can also continue their activities at night without relying on kerosene and wood; which contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and deforestation rates.

‘’Since our home is well lit at night, life is good at home. Our children can study at night. We feel safe. I, myself, can continue to work until late at night, because I am a carpenter'', says Remegie Nicimpaye, a father of five.   

Remegie is also a member of one of the two solidarity groups ''Natwe Twoterimbere'' on Muririmbo hill. The two groups, which have more than 120 members, including 18 women family leaders, have come together to set up a savings system that provides micro-credit to its members and finances basic needs for the most vulnerable children in the village. ‘’Thanks to the Vulnerable Children's Fund, many vulnerable families in Muririmbo Hill can send their children to school. In August 2022, for example, we bought school materials for 11 children in the community, in addition to members ‘children’’, explains Boniface Niyongabo, president of one of the solidarity groups.

‘’My niece, Belyse Ndayishimiye, 15, is one of the vulnerable children who benefit from our solidarity group and who receive school materials at the beginning of each school year," says, with a smile, Ndabirinde Spes Caritas, guardian of her niece because of the vulnerable situation of her sister. 

Thanks to the support of the solidarity groups ''Natwe Twoterimbere'' 1 and 2, at least 171 vulnerable children on Muririmbo hill benefit from essential services such as access to health care, food, school materials, birth registration services, etc.  Among them, 14 orphaned children have also benefited from solar lamps and 15 have already benefited from advocacy with the judicial police officers of the commune, through the intervention of the Child Protection Committee and other community leaders.

‘’The two solidarity groups also finance child protection activities such as the payment of transport costs for the members of the child protection committee, who sometimes have to travel outside their hill to follow up, in court, cases of children whose rights have been violated," explains Aloys Havyarimana, a social worker.

To increase opportunities for savings, each member pays 2000 Burundian Francs (0.9 USD) per year for the charging of their solar lamp, and the money is put in a fund. ‘’With the money received, we have already bought 8 goats. We have given them to members who also benefit from the manure for their crops. All this contributes to the well-being of families, and therefore of children'', concludes Eric Kabonetse.

In the near future, the two solidarity groups of Muririmbo hill plan to strengthen their financial contributions to child protection interventions as requested by the child protection committee of their hill; they plan to dedicate at least half of the 10% of their savings to support vulnerable children. 

Since its launch by UNICEF in 2013, the Light Project has already impacted more than seventy-five thousand children in the provinces of Gitega, Bururi, Makamba, Rutana and Bujumbura.