Allowing young leaders to develop their skills is a priority for GLO Partner New Generation. In addition to their primary focus of rehabilitating street-connected children, They facilitate youth clubs as an exciting vehicle of outreach in the local community. They give opportunities to young leaders to develop skills as they engage in serving those around them. One such leader is twenty-six year old Godefroid, who has been a member of a club since 2019. 

He uses a WhatsApp group to co-ordinate with people from his local neighbourhood, using it as a platform to hear local issues, and suggest different solutions. Each Sunday at 6am, the team gathers to work in their neighbourhood and the surrounding area. Typical tasks include unblocking the open drains at the roadside, gardening and litter clearing. 

Last summer, thousands of people in lakeside Bujumbura were displaced as Lake Tangyanika rose to unprecedented levels, likely a symptom of climate change. The waters lingered for weeks and reached as far as Godefroid’s locale. The team sprang into action, clearing away piles of the floating debris and helping people in need.

Godefroid is grateful for the opportunity to have such a positive impact; “I would like to thank New Generation as I’ve learnt many things. I’m proud of the learning experiences that I accumulated during my time spent at the club. I am who I am today, with all that we have achieved together because of my decision to join the club; it really helped me.”

But he is not looking back, and is determined to have an even greater impact as he seeks to recruit more help; “I ask young people from my age group to take this as a wake-up call. We can achieve our dreams and be a powerful support to other people, even at this age.”

GLO is committed to long-term, strategic work in Burundi. We work to identify, equip and empower the best local leaders of passion, gifting and vision for the transformation of Burundi.