More than 3,000 street children in Burundi are benefitting from an education project which  stresses long-term pedagogical support, as well as assistance for families and host centres.

 Launched in 2000 with just 15 students, the project in the capital, Bujumbura, is now providing 1,628 girls and 1,525 boys with basic education.  528 children are enrolled in secondary school which is encouraging for their future.

One of the first 15 street children, Imani, is now in his second year at University and another, Claude, is following his higher studies at ISCAM a Tertiary Institute for Military Senior Officers.

More than 200 families and three centres now provide shelter and care for those without families, this and the schooling was made possible through donor contributions from Monaco, the SEB Foundation, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador, Chantal Biya, UNESCO Artists for Peace, and many other individuals.

This project is complimented by UNESCO’s CapEFA  programme which supports the Government of Burundi. It ensures the success of the reform’s currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Education, including the introduction of nine years of basic schooling, as opposed to six years previously. 

In Burundi, CapEFA is supporting activities to prepare training modules for teachers and their trainers, mentors and supervisors for the new school cycle; supporting better data collection - for better management of the teaching profession; developing a harmonized framework for the training of primary school teachers; and boosting the status of the teaching profession. This project is funded by the Government’s of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

See how both projects are strengthening the country’s education system to ensure good quality learning  is available for all.