Burundi: Pascal’s story about dignity and hope

ALBOAN works along with the Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados (JRS). This organization will close its projects in Burundi by the end of 2012. After 17 years offering education and sustaining the creation of subsistence ways, former refugees helped by the organization are nowadays able to keep an independent and dignified life, keeping the hope for a better future

The story of Pascal Ntirujimana’s family is one of those stories about hope and prosperity

By the end of 2005 war, Burundi recovered some stability. In this way JRS projects progressed in order to attend the challenges and difficulties that the refugees had to face in this small African country. JRS started alimentary safety projects and educational projects in the Rutana (close to Tanzania border) and Muyinga provinces. JRS focused on helping 13.000 Burundi families arrived back from Tanzania to be reintegrated in their local communities.

Pascal, 35 years old ex refugee was benefited by on of the alimentary safety projects developed by the JRs in Rutana, close to Tanzanian border. Pascal lives with his wife and 4 kids at Mugano Hills some kilometers away from the main city, Giteranyi

"I first heard about the agricultural Project of JRS through some returned refugees that explained me the new ways for improving crops that they had learnt. To take part in this program was the best decision I ever made, from harvesting 1 kg beans, I passed to harvest 15 kg. In the past, the best harvest I ever made was just 5 kg.

After I was chosen to participate in the JRS Project, I was award with two goats that I had to feed, care and treat in case of sickness along with the JRS veterinarians. I had to contribute back by building up an stable for the goats and produce fertilizer to feed the crops

The agricultural and cattle management lessons gave me new ideas about how to till the soil and how to fed animals. My crops grew and my wife and kids life improved. Apart from beans I also harvest banana, tapioca and tomato. As nowadays we produce in excess I can sell in the market part of harvested and use the money to buy more goats and chickens

Before meeting JRS people my life was extremely hard. When the first ever democratic president of Burundi was killed in 1993 and civil war begun, I was forced to escape to Tanzania. Refugee life is a miserable experience. I couldn’t fell at home and we could move more that 4km away from the Camp. It was like living in a prison.

Burundi refugees hoped to return back home, but the war made it impossible. Most of them only returned once the war was over. We spent a few years in a refugees camp, but I decided to take the risk and return back to my country, Burundi, even if it was already destroyed by the war. I left the refugees camp in 2004, although my friends tried to convince me not to do it, I wanted to come back home".