Burundi Scout Association embraced the project and speaking during the launch, Dr. Thierry Gahungu, the Chief Commissioner said “The food for Life Project could not have been rolled out in Burundi at a better time. After the war, people have not been able to maximize productivity of the land despite the good climate in the country. When people don’t have good food the result is poor health, which is one of the chief causes of poverty in the country. About 60-70 % of the total population in Burundi rely on agriculture for their livelihood. This project therefore will be of major impact to the society by equipping the young people who are the primary beneficiaries with agricultural skills. It will also contribute greatly in the fight against hunger and poverty and I want to assure you that as BSA, we have embraced the project and it will be successful in Burundi.”

Representing ARO were Mr. Jacques Sandrizi, the Sub Regional Manager East and Central Africa, Mr. Jonathan Omondi, Assistant, Youth Programme and Ms Pauline Kibugi, Food for Life Project Coordinator.

Thereafter a training of trainers followed between 9 and 12 October 2008. The training programme was facilitated by Claver Kazobavamwo and Kassim Abdul, the BSA representatives who were trained on the FFL in Nairobi and also the ARO representatives. About 57 participants took part in the training which covered the following topic among others:

1. Site analysis
2. Land preparation
3. Making of Trench bed
4. Single and double digging

The Food for Life project is an agricultural project aimed at equipping the scouts in the various National Scout Organizations with agricultural skills and therefore contributing to acquisition of food sovereignty in the Africa. It is funded by ONE 51 Charitable Foundation.

By Pauline Kibugi
Coordinator, Food for Life Project