Christmas Day for Indigenous People, too

In order to share a Christmas Day and provide some food and other daily needs to Batwa, Jehovah Jireh Association (AJEJI) has organized a great event at Buterere Commune this Sunday 22December 2013 .-Yves Didier Irakoze

Visitors distributing some gifts to Buterere Batwa.©Iwacu

AJEJI, i.e. God the Provider, has worked in collaboration with the government representatives, various manufacturers, institutions, associations, NGO’s and Burundian Diaspora from Australia. The sun shining before the end of the day, girls and boys expressed their happiness and joy to welcome their guests through traditional songs, drum rhythms and dances. The exhibition of the Batwa was the most interesting and outstanding event of the day. Guests were glad to see a group of wonderful people full of talents though their pitiful living conditions. “I have appreciated this kind of idea when I heard that there is a group of people that has planned to come and visit Batwa from Buterere as I myself do support Batwa from Ngozi. Then, I am here today to confirm my support to those vulnerable people,” declares Annonciate Sendazirasa, Minister of Public Work and Social Security. 150 assistance medical cards for 150 families, worm medications for 150 children, food, shoes, soaps, cooking oil, 15 cases of soft drinks… were among the gifts provided to indigenous people from Buterere. The sponsorship was availed by BRARUDI, SAVONOR, ALCHEM, Great Lakes Outreach, Burundian Diaspora of Queensland from Australia and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). “We have come to see our fellows and offer the small presents we had to celebrate Mary Christmas Day. We are here to strongly support them though it is a little gesture but meaningful one I hope. What we have done is a philanthropic contribution. Our assistance will certainly continue,” says Dr Alan Rasquinha from ALCHEM. Simon Guilbaud of Great Lakes Outreach expresses that this great gesture has been achieved thanks to AJEJI which has asked for support and assistance to Batwa indigenous people. “We also help Batwa from Ngozi (Busiga), Karuzi and Muramvya provinces. They need our support because they also need to be treated like other human beings because they are alike,” points out Simon. According to Bonheur Rukundo, in Charge of Communication in Burundian Diaspora from Queensland, they have the will to help Burundi as their country and Burundians in various domains. He adds that they have chosen to share the Christmas Day with Batwa children and are completely glad to do it. “That was so great to see various domains and group of people standing up together in harmony, to realize that there is a discriminated community of people who need much support and help,” declares Honorable Alfred Ahingejeje, Chairman of Batwa’s Parliament Group in National Assembly. He adds that he has provided a land of 6ha to help those young Batwa to show his entire collaboration with other good Samaritans for the good cause of backing them.

They need to be much supported and not excluded

Annonciate Sendazirasa, Minister of Public Work and Social Security: “I am here today to confirm my support to those vulnerable people.”©Iwacu

“Batwa are full of talents. They also constitute the wealth to the Burundian culture. Then, their fully integration is a must,” says Dr Alan. Similarly, Simon mentions that they are intelligent and skillful like other people though they are segregated. Rukundo indicates that Batwa discriminate themselves in the society because they are suffering from unjust discrimination by human beings in different areas of the community. It is Burundians’ duty and moral obligation to assist them very strongly. “We call upon all Burundian Diaspora to know that they have to always remember their mother country though they are living abroad. Their country still needs their positive actions and contributions to tackle some of the burning issues in their ancestors’ country,” advices Rukundo.
Hon Alfred Ahingejeje reminds that Batwa live in bad conditions and have many problems like the lack of lands to cultivate, medical care etc,…For him, the government has to support them more effectively.
“I also ask for other humanitarian and charitable acts from any people full of compassion and generosity,” says Hon Ahingejeje.
Natacha Nduwimana, Chairperson of AJEJI concludes that Batwa also need to be sensitized to the bad habit or attitude of discriminating themselves in their own community. Burundians are also urged not to exclude these vulnerable people because they may play a very important role culturally, socially and economically in their society.