Project: Bujumbura
MONEY FOR MILK FOR HIV NEGATIVE NEWBORNS
In June 2003 THE MOSES FUND gave $400 to PREVENTION DE LA TRANSMISSION MERE-ENFANT DU VIH SIDA, the first government-funded center in Bujumbura, Burundi that gives medication to pregnant mothers with HIV. The purpose of the money was to provide milk when the HIV positive mothers couldn’t afford to buy it for their HIV negative newborns.
ANTI AIDS SIGNS
In January 2004 THE MOSES FUND paid for the construction of shoe-shine boxes with AIDS slogans on them for street children to make money and ten signs about AIDS.
Kiro with a boy polishing shoes
The first businessman to put an AIDS sign
Since HIV is connected to sex and sex is not spoken of in public, HIV is an uncomfortable topic of conversation. It is easier to ignore it than to change attitudes about accepted social practice. Also, people assumed THE MOSES FUND was connected to the UN and didn’t like that we were spending money on signs instead of buying medication.
RECORDING AN ANTI AIDS SONG ON A CD
In January 2004 THE MOSES FUND gave FLAG OF PEACE $245 to record a CD about HIV and children that was featured on the radio in Bujumbura.
FLAG OF PEACE
L’ASSOCIATION DES GARNISSEURS DU BURUNDI
THE MOSES FUND gave money in January and June 2004 to improve the location of L’ASSOCIATION DES GARNISSEURS DU BURUNDI. This is a business and nonprofit that teaches the upholstering trade to street children.
THE MOSES FUND looks forward to making more improvements with LES GARNISSEURS in the future.
HANDING OUT CONDOMS AND PHOTOS WITH AIDS SLOGANS
In January and June 2004 THE MOSES FUND did a lot of work on city streets talking to groups of people about working together and believing in the future. We also handed out condoms and photos with AIDS slogans on the back.
People we met (left) People who helped us on the streets(right)
THE MOSES FUND is looking for funding for another PHOTOS WITH SLOGANS PROJECT for Bujumbura and Gisenyi.
MOSES FUND CLUB
In late 2003 Nappy, Innocent and Theophyle organized the Moses Fund Club, a group of young people like themselves, to make Burundi a better place for children. The club has:
- Reached out to other organizations for young people in Bujumbura, among them YAD which has a shelter for street children and the Youth Employment Service.
- Identified mothers who have adopted or feed orphans
- Identified projects they would like to do for when they have money
- Organized a football team for street children
- Organized a FLAG OF PEACE JUNIOR singing group
THE MOSES FUND plans to take the MOSES FUND CLUB a computer, printer, digital camera and video camera to document the work they do and expand their work.
RECORDING STUDIO FOR BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI
What Nappy, Innocent and Theophyle are passionate about is making a better place for children in Burundi through their music. As founders and singers of FLAG OF PEACE, they sing of the importance of caring for children.
FLAG OF PEACE in the background being photographed
When Suba of ONE DROP REDEMPTION, a reggae band in the Claremont, California area heard about FLAG OF PEACE and how important music is to them, he suggested THE MOSES FUND get in touch with Mike Warshaw who did the sound for a benefit concert Suba organized for THE MOSES FUND at the CLAREMONT FORUM.
Suba, Mike Warshaw and Brad at GORILLADATAGEAR
Mike told us first to get a computer which was donated by GORILLADATAGEAR and then went to work downloading software. He also donated equipment and directed what to buy to start a recording studio so FLAG OF PEACE can follow their dream.
Mike then suggested raising money for a sound technician to go to Bujumbura to train Flag of Peace to do what they’ve been waiting all their life to do -- change the world through music.
Theophyle, Innocent and Nappy
When FLAG OF PEACE was told about the plan and asked how they thought it would help, they responded:
"This studio and equipment will help us to record more songs to explain to people around the world what we feel inside, what is going on in Africa and what we must do to make our lovely Africa be a good place to live. And if African people understand our messages (our dreams) and try to make 'em true no more Africans will have a need to leave this Africa and go outside (Europe or America) to look for a good or easier life like we use to think.
The studio will help, as well, other musician to contribute to the building of our Africa. In fact Burundi has many talented musicians who still miss money to record their songs and explain their good ideas. It will be the time for young musicians who have good messages for our community to have opportunities to record some singles.
The studio will help us (The Moses Fund Club) to get money and realize our projects and help mothers who feed or keep orphans for creating some little business and get money in order to feed those orphans and pay their school fees for a good education.
Some people are separated from others because they have AIDS. They are driven out from daily works which feed their family. This is very sad so the money got from the studio will help them to create their own business even the capital may be little.
We have many things to tell you about our dreams but can't finish them all. People in Africa want to be heard. Thank you. We love you so much. Peace and love."
Our next trip we will take everything to Bujumbura so musicians there can record at a reasonable rate with good quality. We are still looking for a sound technician to train FLAG OF PEACE, Nappy, Theophile and Innocent to run the studio. The proceeds will go to projects chosen by THE MOSES FUND CLUB.
ECOLE DE LUMIERE
From what she earns at three small businesses in Bujumbura, Burundi Aisha Ninteretse rents a school for over 300 students. She also pays the teachers’ salaries, rents a house for 50 orphans and trains homeless street girls old enough to become pregnant in how to take care of themselves.
Aisha with orphans now going to secondary school who started in primary school with her
Kiro talking to some of the orphans
THE MOSES FUND gave her money in June 2004 to continue her work. In September 2005 we gave more money to cover a lack of funds that developed from a crop that did not yield.
Maji and Aisha giving only orphans candy as other children were not in school after taking exams
Since the school buildings are run down THE MOSES FUND would like to build a new school on a plot Aisha has purchased.
CELAV
CELAV is another school that is overcrowded with 50 to 70 children to a class. THE MOSES FUND gave them some money as well.
Students at CELAV
The outside of CELAV
In Burundi and Rwanda there are more qualified teachers than classrooms.
THE MOSES FUND looks forward to talking to CELAV about their plans for improving the school.
KEEPING DIGNITY ASSOCIATION
KEEPING DIGNITY ASSOCIATION teaches children drumming and traditional dancing to build self-esteem. They also help children with school and other problems of life.
The drummers and traditional dancers performed for us
KEEPING DIGNITY performing for us in June 2004 and the party afterward
THE MOSES FUND is excited about its plan to take a computer, printer, digital camera and video camera to KEEPING DIGNITY so it can better promote their singers and dancers.