- New Generation believes that children and young people are the future of Burundi.
- New Generation works with street children and young people to bring hope. Our vision is to awaken young people spiritually, culturally and
socio-economically in order to prepare a better future for Burundi.
Dieudonne Nahimana started New Generation after reaching out to street children when he himself became homeless. Someone gave him £5 and he decided to share it with street children, they celebrated Christmas together in a simple way and that was the humble beginning of what is now an outstanding project supporting children right from the streets to university, reuniting them with family whenever possible. New Generation is also a fantastic advocate for street children and gives them a voice and dignity. After coming second in the street children’s world cup, they were greeted back home to Burundi as media heroes, meeting the President.
Who we work with: street children, young people, homeless children and young people who have been put in prison because they are homeless
What we offer: As well as street children outreach, psychosocial support, homes, training and education, New Generation provides vocational training to young people. In this way, they can become young entrepreneurs and make a living to support themselves. This empowers them and underpins sustainable socio-economic development for the community.
Our projects include:
Homes for street boys and street girls.
Gir’ubuntu – combating ethnic violence with rallies featuring sport and music, challenging ethnic stereotypes; promoting peace and reconciliation, along with Christian values of integrity and honesty.
Gir’iteka (‘Having dignity’) – outreach programme for children on the streets, providing shelter, food, clothes, health care and, tuition. There are an estimated 3,000 street children in Bujumbura. Wherever possible the team seeks to resolve the issue that caused children to leave home so that they can be reintegrated into their immediate or wider families. There is also a girls’ and boys’ home where there is no other alternative
Prison outreach: Sometimes children are put in prison simply because they are living on the streets. They have committed no real crime. New Generation engages with children and young people in prison, especially girls who are particularly traumatised by this. On their release, we provide shelter and psychosocial support, helping them enrol into formal education. We also provide entrepreneurial and leadership training, giving opportunities to thrive and develop personal skills.
Youth and Leadership Project (supported by TearFund) The goal is to form a network of young leaders who model the characteristics of reconciling (servant) leadership and who are active within their communities, promoting and enabling holistic transformation.
Imboneza (‘Equipping young people’) – seeks to build and equip young leaders. We currently focus on training young people in Entrepreneurship, Information Technology and English. In addition to this New Generation has a highly successful football team – Imboneza FC – which participated very successfully in the Street Child World Cup in 2014 and 2018. This project trains young people in football, alongside engaging them in the wider New Generation activities.
Back to School Programme: Many street children have been out of school for considerable periods so they need intensive educational support. They need breakfast and lunch so that they can succeed in school. With our support for the children’s education, parents are less likely to encourage them to go back to the streets to beg or earn money.
Entrepreneurship training and microloans: New Generation delivers training on entrepreneurship, personal development, recognising and nurturing talents and skills. After training, we provide microloans to set up small businesses. Many graduates of this programme are young women who are mothers themselves with few or no other options for supporting their children.
Sustainability New Generation runs a café on its base in Bujumbura to help generate income and make its activities sustainable.
Stories of Transformation
We encouraged Alice in her wonderful talent in singing and leading worship. She sadly suffered an injury and has only one leg, but this does not stop her from enjoying life in all its fullness and making the most of every opportunity.
Arsen sustained a bad head injury when he was attacked by his mother. He ended up as a street child, and we were able to give him a home and help him get better. The great news is that we have also been able to bring reconciliation between Arsen and his mother.
Jolie, 17, a former street girl, loves dancing, praying and sharing the word of God. She is a star student and loves helping out at the New Generation Tree cafe and at home. She has won a place at a prestigious boarding school and plans to become a doctor.
Prayer Needs
For each of the staff and children in our projects, for hope and recovery from the trauma they have experienced.
For Paul, a street child who came out of the hospital after an injury. His dream is to become a welder.
For street children to find welcoming places where they can develop positive life skills for their future.
