Because of the genocide there most everyone has heard of Rwanda, but few know about its neighbor Burundi, whose civil war started before and continued 13 years after that of Rwanda. There is a saying that "When Burundi sneezes, Rwanda catches a cold."

Burundi is located in the heart of Africa, directly below Rwanda. Its trouble began in October 1993, when the first elected Hutu President was assassinated by a group of Tutsi army officers. This spawned years of extensive ethnic violence and mass genocide as the Hutu extremist groups attempted to wipe out the Tutsi minority.

With assistance from the United Nations and the African Union, the last rebel group recently entered into ceasefire and political integration negotiations have begun, thus leading Burundi into a state of fragile peace.

Burundi is a beautiful country with lush greenery, spans of beach along Lake Tanganyika, and breath taking mountains at every turn. Within a climate of hope and expectation, Burundi`s development is constrained by the absence of high integrity leaders. If trustworthy individuals emerge, the interest from international agencies and investors to assist, in combination with the advancement achieved in Rwanda, holds promise for successful economic development in Burundi.

Population: 8,691,005

Capital: Bujumbura

Official language: French and Kirundi

Currency: Burundi franc (BIF)

GDP per capita: US $800

Updated April 2008

Contact Burundi YFC

Because of the genocide there most everyone has heard of Rwanda, but few know about its neighbor Burundi, whose civil war started before and continued 13 years after that of Rwanda. There is a saying that "When Burundi sneezes, Rwanda catches a cold."

Burundi is located in the heart of Africa, directly below Rwanda. Its trouble began in October 1993, when the first elected Hutu President was assassinated by a group of Tutsi army officers. This spawned years of extensive ethnic violence and mass genocide as the Hutu extremist groups attempted to wipe out the Tutsi minority.

With assistance from the United Nations and the African Union, the last rebel group recently entered into ceasefire and political integration negotiations have begun, thus leading Burundi into a state of fragile peace.

Burundi is a beautiful country with lush greenery, spans of beach along Lake Tanganyika, and breath taking mountains at every turn. Within a climate of hope and expectation, Burundi`s development is constrained by the absence of high integrity leaders. If trustworthy individuals emerge, the interest from international agencies and iYouth for Christ Burundi`s strategy for the development of high integrity Christian leaders has a number of interlinking programs including:

Training of emerging leaders

Overcoming spiritual warfare through prayer

Reaching lost souls for Christ through outreach evangelism

Nurturing abandoned orphans at the Gitega orphanage and community village

They use a number of activities to achieve these programs including:

Christian Clubs high schools

Community Clubs for kids

Ministering to street kids

Discipleship through small groups

Gospel meetings

Prayer with mothers "Operation Hannah"

Prayer with fathers "Watchmen"

See Burundi`s website

See a 6 minute video on the orphanage in Gitega click here

See a different 15 minute video click here

You can download a brochure on YFC ministry in Burundi and its National Director Freddy Tuyizere here

vestors to assist, in combination with the advancement achieved in Rwanda, holds promise for successful economic development in Burundi.

Population: 8,691,005

Capital: Bujumbura

Official language: French and Kirundi

Currency: Burundi franc (BIF)

GDP per capita: US $800

Updated April 2008

• For a strong water pump to supply running water to the orphanage and community village in Gitega
• For cows as an income generating resource through the sale of milk and as an aid to future agricultural projects through production of fertilizer
• For the continued construction of the Gitega project. That funds would be provided and progress would continue to be made.
• For the stability of prices. The cost of petrol has gone up significantly. When this happens, the cost of everything else goes up with it. It is affecting not only construction costs but food prices as well.
• For peace and political stability in Burundi

• For everyone`s health, safety, and salvation
• For the four housing units and two school units already constructed and operational in Gitega
• For provision of an English teacher
• For the land and assistance in Cibitoke
• For thevmany donations, monetary and material
• For visitors coming to help and bringing hope