From potential to action: how UNICEF Burundi prepares young people for employment
UNICEF offers professional internships for recent graduates to strengthen their skills while introducing them to the world of work. Discover the inspiring testimonials of the members of the 2025 cohort.
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In a context marked by the challenges of employability for young graduates, UNICEF Burundi is committed to working alongside the Burundian government through the implementation of its Internship Programme. This initiative aims to expose young graduates to the professional world, strengthen their technical and interpersonal skills through structured mentoring, and foster a lasting interest in UNICEF's work in support of children's rights.
Across the organisation's various departments, interns have been fully immersed in demanding professional environments, making concrete contributions to programmes while building a solid foundation for their future careers.
Within the WASH and Climate section, Olivier Nishimwe describes a profoundly formative experience at the crossroads of engineering, sustainable development, and community engagement:
My internship in the WASH and Climate section was a very enriching experience that allowed me to develop skills that will be useful for my career...
From the technical study of the TWIGE TWESE project to the design of latrines adapted for people with reduced mobility, and participation in the first local youth climate conference, his journey illustrates the importance of inclusive innovation and youth participation in responding to climate and health challenges.
In line with these structural interventions, the Construction Section plays a key role in realizing children's rights. Antoine Niragira emphasizes :
During my internship at UNICEF Burundi, I had the honor of joining the Construction Section, where I deepened my knowledge in the fields of buildings and social infrastructure...
His experience, complemented by that of Maggy Charlène Ndayikengurukiye, highlights the importance of technical rigour, field monitoring, and collaborative work in the development of sustainable educational, health, and water infrastructure:
My internship at UNICEF Burundi, in the Construction Section, was an exceptional professional experience...
Both point out that construction goes far beyond buildings: it is a fundamental lever for access to education, health, and community well-being.
In the field of health, testimonials highlight a shared reality: intensive learning at the heart of maternal, neonatal, and child health systems.
Olympe Arakaza Rugina shares an experience focused on data, monitoring, evaluation, and nutrition:
During my experience at UNICEF Burundi, I had the opportunity to work in the Health Section, where I was responsible for collecting, analyzing, and processing health data...
This approach is complemented by that of Stessy Lorraine Kaze, who emphazises the strategic, integrated, and human dimension of public health work:
This internship in the Health Section of UNICEF Burundi was a defining experience for my professional development...
Both emphasize that this immersion strengthened their technical skills, analytical abilities, and overall understanding of public health issues, while integrating cross-cutting themes such as gender, equity, and resilience.
In terms of social and behavioral change, the SBC & Gender section offers young interns a space for direct engagement with communities. Kenny Chadia Ngabirano shares:
My internship at UNICEF Burundi, within the SBC & Gender section, was marked by a series of activities and training courses that enabled me to gain a good understanding of SBC & Gender approaches...
Through community dialogues, training young female champions, and contributing to the national community engagement strategy, she highlights an experience that combines leadership, communication, and commitment to equality and children's rights.
In the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation section, Lysa Marie Sophie Kaze emphasizes the importance of linking policies to realities on the ground:
My six-month professional internship at UNICEF, in the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation section, was a particularly formative and enriching experience...
Her testimony illustrates how the internship programme enables young people to apply their academic knowledge while developing a concrete understanding of results-based management and a rights-based approach.
The Nutrition section offers a strategic and scientific immersion. Lyse-Sarah Nsabumugisha describes a journey from operational research to policy decisions:
From opportunity to impact: a strategic immersion in nutrition at UNICEF Burundi...
She highlights her involvement in high-level dialogues and workshops that are instrumental in human capital development.
In the same vein, Félicien Nijimbere demonstrates the complementarity between food technology and community action:
My internship at UNICEF, in the Nutrition section, was a decisive academic and professional experience...
Through the No Time to Waste project, his commitment directly contributes to preventing child malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.
Finally, in the Child Protection section, Merryheart Francaude Mishasha emphasizes the importance of protecting fundamental rights:
My internship in the Child Protection Section was both an enriching and formative experience...
From birth registration to juvenile justice, her experience has strengthened her commitment to human rights and working in emergency contexts.
Through these rich and diverse experiences, UNICEF Burundi's Internship Programme has established itself as a true incubator of talent, contributing to young people's employability while strengthening the impact of programmes serving children. By offering a structured professional environment, high-quality support, and concrete learning opportunities, UNICEF is making a long-term investment in Burundi's human capital, convinced that today’s young people are key players in tomorrow’s development.
