NGO launches centre for vulnerable children

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) launched in the Burundian capital on Monday a centre for orphaned and other vulnerable children. "It is crucial that the children be assisted in their environment," Maggy Barankitse, the director of Maison Shalom NGO, said in reference to the centre, known as 'Amani House' (Peace House) in the Kigobe neighbourhood in the north of Bujumbura. The NGO targets mainly street children and orphans for assistance. Amani House is a branch of Maison Shalom, which is based in the north-eastern province of Ruyigi. It houses orphans and street children "who have been wandering in Bujumbura, and even those from the countryside", Barankitse said. She added that Amani House was established because the children could not be taken to the Maison Shalom Ruyigi headquarters as they might face "diet related problems" as the food in the capital is different from that in the countryside. Many children have suffered since civil war broke out in the country in 1993. In her speech during the launch, Barankitse said approximately 60 percent of Burundian children of school-going age were illiterate while 5,000 others were street children. She said some 7,000 children were child soldiers and that 230,000 were HIV/AIDS orphans. Barankitse said Amani House hosted children of various age categories; and would at one some reunite street children with their families. "For those whom this is not possible, Maison Shalom will continue to assist them, we will find personal shelter for adults so that they may build their own households and become self-reliant," she said. Amani House, she added, would collaborate with other Bujumbura-based NGOs involved in the care of children in identifying those to be hosted at the centre. Amani House would also offer counselling services to the children, she added. One of the children living at Amani House told IRIN on Monday that life at the centre was without ethnic bias. "We only have one ethnic group here, that of God's children," she said. She called on the government to implement all ratified conventions in favour of children’s rights. "Though Maison Shalom does a great job for us, we don't want to be taken care of forever, we'd like to rely on ourselves at one point", she added. The minister of social action and women's promotion, Marie-Goreth Nduwimana, who presided over the launch, hailed Maison Shalom's efforts to extend its activities to Bujumbura. "It is not a gift for Bujumbura but for all Burundians," she said. International NGO Caritas (Germany) supports Amani House and has donated two vehicles to the centre. Amani House is Maison Shalom's fourth branch of after those in Ruyigi, and in the eastern Rutana and Cankuzo provinces. Grants by the Belgian Cooperation were used to build Amani House.