CPCS in Burundi
CPCS in Burundi
CPCS AFRIQUE
Since 2020, CPCS has been working in Burundi to protect and support children in street situations, particularly in Buterere, Bujumbura. Supported by Sœur Emmanuelle ASBL and Vie d’Enfant – Kinderleven, the Ruhuka Kibondo Centre welcomes around 40 children every day, providing them with safety, care and opportunities to learn. In 2025, the creation of CPCS Afrique aims to professionalise and sustain this work, expand its reach and develop an integrated approach inspired by the experience of Nepal and Rwanda.
THE RUHUKA KIBONDO CENTRE
In Buterere, a working-class neighbourhood of Bujumbura, many families make a living from waste collection, exposing children to poverty, poor living conditions and exclusion. In this context, the Ruhuka Kibondo Centre, managed by UCBUM in partnership with CPCS International, enables 40 children every day to access their fundamental rights.
The centre provides a transitional and rehabilitation environment where children receive:
- A safe and caring welcome
- Balanced meals and health support
- Psychosocial support, educational and socialisation activities
- Progressive preparation for returning to school and family life
The success of the centre demonstrates the relevance of this model, but also highlights the need to strengthen resources, improve governance and expand its impact at national level.
2025–2027 OBJECTIVES
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• Support 100 families living in extreme hardship through social and economic support
• Support several partner schools through teacher training and bridging classes
• Raise community awareness of children’s rights and health
• Double the capacity of the Ruhuka Kibondo Centre, reaching up to 80 children per day
• Create a mobile street outreach team to support children in the field
• Strengthen healthcare, education and social referral services
• Plan a Rehabilitation Centre, scheduled to open in 2027
• Provide temporary accommodation, psychosocial support and pre-vocational training
• Promote family reunification or supported independence
Between 2025 and 2027, CPCS-Africa will lead a national study on children in street situations in Burundi.
Conducted in partnership with Burundian universities, the research will aim to:
– identify the children concerned and document their pathways,
– identify the root causes, including poverty, school dropout and family breakdown,
– map local stakeholders,
– formulate practical and policy recommendations.
This database will provide the foundation for national advocacy for better protection of children at risk.
CPCS Afrique, currently undergoing official recognition, expected by the end of 2025, will have:
– a mixed governance structure bringing together CPCS International, Burundian civil society and independent individuals,
– clear internal policies covering child protection, financial transparency, ethics and accountability,
– a strengthened contractual framework with UCBUM,
– and close coordination with the relevant Burundian ministries, UNICEF, the European Union and partner NGOs.
The objective is for CPCS-Africa to achieve progressive autonomy by 2027, supported by multi-year funding and institutional recognition.
