About Burundi

Burundi is located in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. It borders Rwanda on the north, Tanzania on the south and east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west. With a population of around eight million, Burundi has a long history of civil war and is one of the poorest and most conflict-ridden countries in the world.

The economy is mainly reliant on outside aid and there is widespread poverty
Ethnic tension, mistrust and hatred have existed between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes
There are huge numbers of refugees and displaced people, including tens of thousands of orphans and abandoned children in need of protection and education
Human rights abuses have been commonplace with extreme violence against women and children
The AIDS pandemic is ravaging the nation
The Church has a powerful presence and influence in the country, although it is often divided

Burundi map