Blog

3 Ways Education Can Address Inequalities in Burundi

Education is a powerful tool for social change and development. It can help reduce inequalities, improve quality of life, and promote economic growth. The World Food Programme reports that Burundi remains vulnerable to infectious diseases, climate-related shocks, and worsening access to basic services such as health and education. In a country where more than 70 percent of the 12.1 million population is …

Let’s Bring #GivingTuesday to Burundi!

Mark your calendars for December 3rd, because GivingTuesday is just around the corner! Have you heard of GivingTuesday? GivingTuesday – celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the US) – is a global day of giving powered by social media and community altruism. As the holiday season reminds us of the value of what we have, GivingTuesday offers us a chance to share …

Happy International Coffee Day!

Coffee beans

Did you know that coffee is one of Burundi’s top exports? The 2017 Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) profile on Burundi lists coffee as its most profitable export, making up 23.3% of Burundi’s export value for that year. Burundi has been a cultivator of coffee since the 1930s when Belgians first introduced the Bourbon Arabica coffee plant to the country. Today, about 800,000 Burundi families grow …

International Day of Peace: What Climate Action for Peace Means for Burundi

Burundi skyscape

Happy Peace Day! The United Nations established the International Day of Peace with the goal of humanity putting peace above all of our differences and working towards a better world. This year, the theme of Peace Day is “Climate Action for Peace” in order to raise awareness of the threat climate change poses to international peace and security. According to the UN, …

Summer 2019 Trip With Executive Directer Julie Marner

I would like to begin my summer update with gratitude to BFI Intern, Peilla Ishimwe, to Del Mar Rotary Club, and to Project Concern International, all combining for powerful impact in Burundi. Financial Savings, Women Empowered We say “Murakoze Cane!” to BFI’s first official summer intern, Ms. Peilla Ishimwe, for assisting our Women Empowered (WE) savings program this summer for six weeks in …