AFSC
- Central Eastern Africa
Recent Work in the Great Lakes Region
In October 2006 AFSC established a new subregional office to strengthen its peace program in the Great Lakes Region. The
 |
| Unity.Work.Progress A Burundi monument, Bujumbura |
purpose of the program is to contribute to the efforts to bring an end to the cycles of war, and promote reconstruction and healing within and among three countries of focus: Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Quaker Peace Network
AFSC funded and participated in the first ever meeting of QPN-CA in November 2006. This was a historic event brought together representatives of Quaker churches from Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo as well as members of local and international Quaker groups operating in the region
Africa Youth Initiative Network
In July 2006 members of AYINET Congo participated in observations of presidential elections, the first one in their country for over thirty years. Overall the observers trained by AFSC reported fair and free elections. In August 2006, AYINET Congo also presented research on natural extractive industries in the DRC to illustrate the destructive effect. This project was funded by AFSC as a preliminary effort to uplift community voices on this issue.
 |
| John Mahirwe, AFSC staff Rwanda |
Peace Tree Network
In November 2006, AFSC participated in the Peace Tree Network Yearly Meeting held in Rwanda. Members of the Network came together to highlight the critical issues confronting PTN within the environment that it functions and, more importantly, offer proposals and recommendations for possible program design for its 2008 – 2010 cycle in light of emerging challenges.
Humanitarian Assistance
Help Channel Burundi: With the support of AFSC, the program met and networked with community members in western and northern Burundi to discern their humanitarian assistance needs. This discussion and community accompaniment allowed the AFSC to provide through an anonymous grant 14,500 kg of corn and manioc flour. Each kg of flour costs 450 Burundian francs for a total cost of 6,525,000 Burundian francs, thus $6,525 USD. The program served families living the province of Kirundo on the north of Burundi and close to the border with Rwanda with a population of 395,987 inhabitants. There were 1,500 persons who directly participated in this project.
Friends Women's Association:With assistance from AFSC and an anonymous grant, the FWA clinic was able to purchase medication for free distribution to 300 people whose lab exam will show that they have the malaria parasite in their blood, with correct cures anti malarial. Among them, around 50 people living with HIV/AIDS who are regularly cared by the FWA center, will benefit of prevention from opportunistic diseases. FWA serves the community of Kamenge as a whole. Special attention is given to vulnerable women and children, women who are actually chiefs of their families because of widowhood. The total population of Kamenge is estimated at 30,250 inhabitants, and more refugees continue to come back home. This project provided anti-malaria medication to 300 patients, from November 2006 through January 2007.
^ Top of page |
Email this page