During the years of conflict after 1993 politicians encouraged young people to kill their neighbours and though there is now peace, memoroes and suspicions remain. The Alliance Burundaise du Service Volontaire (ABSV) plans to build a Peace House, a kind of resource centre where local people can read and discuss issues such as conflict transformation and where volunteers and visitors from other parts of Burundi and from other countries can come and contribute to the centre's work.
WORK:
will be mainly brick making and carrying water for the bricks, ready to start constuction of the centre. There will also be work organising activities, teaching English and heelping the production of cheese, the local speciality.International volunteers will work with members of the local community and with ABSV members. The working day will be 6 hours.
VOLUNTEERS MAY STAY FOR 1, 2 OR 3 MONTHS, OR LONGER IN CONSULTATION WITH ABSV. M/LTV ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES ARE ALSO NEGOTIABLE.
ACCOMMODATION:
Volunteers will stay in a house and prepare their own food commually - and show off their national dishes too.
LOCATION:
MBUYE is a village in Muramvya Province, 110 kms from the capital, Bujumbura. There are minbus services along the main road.
PARTICIPATION FEE:
The hosting fee is €200 per month payable on arrival. Volunteers should arrive two days before the start to allow for an orientation day. VISAS can be obtained at the airport on arrival but need to be extended after arrival. From countries where Burundi has an embassy it is possible to get a tourist visa before travelling. ABSV will meet volunteers at the airport and arrange transport to Mbuye.
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
