The Amahoro Youth Club - AYC - Burundi

Why tree planting is crucial?

Amahoro Youth Club — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:36:06 +0000

By Landry Ninteretse

“Landry Ninteretse after distribution of seedlings for students in Kampala, Uganda”
While lecturing in secondary schools on climate change, we strongly encourage students not only to protect existing forests and woodlots but also to plant more trees in their school premises, homes and communities.
Once could argue:’’ Is tree planting so important?’’ Absolutely. Unfortunately, the whole value of trees and forest is till now not well understood by people, especially those relying on natural resources for their daily survival. Many people use trees to get firewood and charcoal for cooking, to obtain poles to fence their properties. Trees are also used as building materials and provide employment opportunities in carpentry and furniture.
However, the value of trees goes beyond that. There are number of ecological services we get from trees without realizing it. Forests are home to different types of animals and plants. They protect water catchment areas by acting as filters for run off hence contributing to the sustenance of ground water system. Forests are source of basic ingredient for medicines used to treat diseases. They cover land to prevent soil erosion and land slides and acts as wind breakers.
Regarding climate change, forests are very critical as they act as carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide. More trees mean more carbon dioxide absorbed and more oxygen produced through photosynthesis and hence moderates the greenhouse effect responsible of global warming.
When we fully understand this importance of forest to human kind and its well being, we must act. Protect existing forests becomes a duty for everybody. Better, we realize as ordinary citizens, we can play a role in mitigating global warming. If each citizen on this planet commits to plant a least one tree per year, the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed will be considerable. Encouraging such initiative and well as the use of clean energy worldwide is definitively the solution to overcome the current climate crisis.

Struggling for peace in a troubled context

Amahoro Youth Club — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:32:12 +0000

by Landry Ninteretse
Kamenge Youth Centre continues to play a key role in reconciliation and home rebuilding in the five northern communes of Bujumbura by organizing habitual work camps which gather thousands of participants.
This year however, things were not easy for a number of reasons. Firstly, the prolonged strike in public secondary schools has disorganized academic schedules and meant that many students were not available to fully take part in the work camp activities. Secondly, the political and security tensions surrounding the contested communal election results led to grenade attacks in Bujumbura and other provinces, provoking terror and fear amongst the population. Thirdly, a lack of funding caused delay to the start of the camp.
This difficult context did not however, hamper the Kamenge Youth Centre’s determination. The first camp in a series of five was entitled ‘‘Democracy’’ and ended on June 26th. Two-hundred-and-eighty youth and facilitators took part and 52,582 bricks were produced to rebuild the homes of internally displaced people. Working sessions covered topics including; elections, democracy, conflict management, ecology, family, teamwork, cinema and sports. On the final day, prizes were awarded for competitions in poetry, drawing and musical arts. Finally school materials were distributed to all participants. The second camp is due to start on July 6th, with ten volunteers from Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands also expected.
The Centre also markerd Music day from June 19 to 21 with a mega concert where 22 groups performed. This event was described as ‘‘a real testimony of people willing to live peacefully’’. One organizer commented that ‘‘while in other parts of the country people are preparing their arms, here at the Centre we are having a party because we want to live and continue to dream and hope. It’s a great testimony from northern quarters of Bujumbura and we are proud of it’’. Several other activities are scheduled up to August including seminars on democracy and the Bible; as well as income generating activities for communities.
Kamenge Youth Centre demonstrates an inspiring example of people committed to not allowing efforts to achieve peace to be compromised by political tensions and manipulation.

A period of uncertainty

Amahoro Youth Club — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:36:35 +0000

By Landry Ninteretse
Burundians are living in fear since the announced victory of CNDD-FDD in local polls in late May; the result has been contested by the opposition, who say that the vote had been rigged. Several grenade attacks have targeted bars, residences and public areas in the recent days. It is reported that 6 people have died and more that fifty others have been injured.
Five opposition presidential candidates announced on June 1st that they would boycott the upcoming presidential poll, arguing it would be rigged again. Among those candidates is Agathon Rwasa, leader of the former rebel group of Forces for National Liberation-FNL considered as the main challenger to incumbent president Pierre Nkurunziza. FNL supporters clashed with police on June 16 over rumors of the arrest of their leader who is now reported to have fled the country. Several sources indicate that the former rebel leader could be presently in Eastern DR Congo.
For the moment, police have failed to stop such attacks and to arrest the criminals. Colonel Gaspard Baratuza, spokesman of the police has indicated that resurgence of violence described as ‘‘acts of sabotage ahead of the presidential poll on June 28’’ seems to be generalized with grenade attacks occurring not only in Bujumbura but also in other several towns countryside.
The current political and security tension in Burundi poses a serious threat to stability of this landlocked Great Lakes country that is still struggling to emerge from a 13 year civil war that left more than 300,000 people dead. Violent incidents, acts of intimidation and manipulation were reported in the months leading up to the polls. The youth wings of political parties clashed on several times and it is reported that an estimated 80 percent of households in the capital and countryside still have small arms.
The small progresses made since 2005 now is at risk of being seriously compromised as only one party takes part in the electoral process and violence resurges across the country, and with a total absence of initiatives to facilitate dialogue among the political parties.

Quand la terreur refait surface

Amahoro Youth Club — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:31:53 +0000

Par Bucumi Jean Claude

Depuis les elections communales du 24 mai dernier et la contestation de ses resultats par l’opposition, les Burundais vivent dans la peur d’une recrudescence de la violence.
Aucune nuit ne se passe sans qu’une grenade explose. Les bistrots, menages et autres lieux publics sont la cible de ces attaques qui ont déjà fait plus de six morts et une cinquantaine de blesses.

La question que tout le monde se pose est celle de savoir qui est derriere ces actes de terreur.

Pour le moment, la police peine a mettre la main sur les responsables de ces actes. Le pouvoir met en garde contre quiconque voudrait perturber le deroulement des elections indiquant que tous les moyens seront utilises pour assurer un scrutin transparent dans la serenite.

Mais pour l’opposition qui a decide de boycotter le scrutin, ces attaques a la grenade sont un montage du pouvoir pour arrêter les leaders des partis regroupés au sein de l’Alliance des Démocrates pour le Changement(ADC-Ikibiri)

Quoi qu’il en soit, il est evident que la classe politique dans son ensemble ne demontre pas un leadership fort et la retenue indispensable en cette periode cruciale. Le dialogue semble rompu et on se dirige vers un reste de scrutin avec un seul parti en course, ce qui decredibilise le processus democratique qui avait été amorce en 2005 et ouvre une periode d’incertitute pour le pays.

REPORT OF THE ROLE PLAYED BY AYC AND MAGNUS BAND ON THE JANUSZ KORCHACK PRIZE PRESENTATION DAY.

Amahoro Youth Club — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:39:05 +0000

The report is in PDF format.

The International Day by AYC

Never stop acting for peace

Amahoro Youth Club — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:06:16 +0000

By Jean Baptiste Niyongabo

To obtain everlasting peace is not a work of one day or one week. Building peace is not like when someone decides to build a house with a wish of having the house completed in a six month period. What troubles peace is a variety of frustrations that require a careful study of causes, consequences and solutions to bring.

As a peace builder, take patience and courage as your motto. If you see that your first steps fail, do not desperate, but keep up with your actions; the essential is to reach your destination no matter how long the way can be.

Martin Luther King Junior once said: “When you cannot fly, run; when you cannot run, walk; when you cannot walk, crawl. But in whatever you do, keep on moving.”
The M L King Jr’s quotation must inspire any peace builder since building peace is not a one day work. If you are committed to building peace, never get discouraged when you see that your efforts are spoiled rather intensify the actions in favor of peace.

The most important thing that a peace builder has to remember is that he cannot take only himself into consideration in terms of peace need. We must also build for coming generations. If you build peace today and see it tomorrow, celebrate it, you are another Mandela in this world. But also, do not lose courage when you see that you will not enjoy the fruit of your sweat, Martin Luther King Jr won some decades after his death.

The great joy is when your children, grand-children or great-grand-children will always remember and celebrate your greatness.

Vidéo de l’Amahoro Youth

Amahoro Youth Club — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:01:08 +0000

Une petite vidéo présentant les activités courantes du club.

Controversial local polls

Amahoro Youth Club — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:49:21 +0000

By Armel KARERWA

Provisional results of local polls held on May 24 put CNDD-FDD the ruling party of Pierre Nkurunziza far ahead in the lead with 64% and the former rival rebel group of FNL with 14,5%. Uprona comes in third position with 6,5%, Frodebu 5,6%, MSD 3,75%, UPD 2,21%, Frodebu Nyakuri 1,63% and CNDD 1,26%.

However, eight opposition parties have rejected those results saying that the elections were rigged and asking for a re-run. “Opposition parties categorically reject the provisional results announced Tuesday by the electoral commission because of the mass fraud orchestrated by the ruling party which has marred this vote,” said a joint statement. Agathon Rwasa, leader of FNL has even threatened to boycott the upcoming elections.

The electoral commission challenged opposition to provide evidence of fraud and promised to study the files of the different candidates and check if they fulfill the conditions set out in the electoral law.

Observers including those of EU national organisations, media, church members have concluded that elections went well despite some isolated irregularities and technical problems that couldn’t influence final results at such point.

The controversy provoked by communal polls has caused a climate of distrust amongst politicians and populations. Riots occurred in Kinama, Bujumbura mayorship last Saturday as non counted bulletins were discovered. In Buhinyuza, Muyinga province, a UPD local representative was killed while he was investing on fraud.

For the upcoming presidential when seven candidates including incumbent president Pierre Nkurunziza are running, the electoral commission, the government and independent observers and media will have to watch out more closely to ensure a transparent vote and avoid similar contestations.

The success of the current electoral process is crucial for a lasting peace and socio-economic stability of the small torn apart country of Africa as all political parties and former rebel groups are Burundi are taking part in. There are lots of expectations out of these elections and any compromise to this long way of recovery is unacceptable not only for Burundians but also the region and international community.

Délicate période électorale

Amahoro Youth Club — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:45:01 +0000

By BUCUMI Jean Claude
Dans un contexte marqué par la peur, les rumeurs et les difficultés financières et logistiques de la CENI, le Burundi a entamé ce 24 mai un marathon électoral de quatre mois qui consiste dans des élections communales, présidentielles, parlementaires, sénatoriales et enfin collinaires le 7 septembre.

Alors que beaucoup pensaient que les deux reports survenus pouvaient dissuader les électeurs, ces derniers se sont plutôt rendus en masse aux urnes et selon la commission électorale, la participation s’élève à 92%, un chiffre record à faire pâlir les démocraties occidentales…

Toutefois, les résultats qui ont vu la victoire du parti au pouvoir CNDD-FDD avec plus de 64% sont contestés par l’opposition qui estime que les élections ont été truquées. En dépit des retards et incidents rapportés ici et là dans le pays, le scrutin s’est dans l’ensemble bien déroulé dans l’ensemble selon les observateurs nationaux et internationaux.

Ces élections qui voient la participation de tous les partis politiques et anciens mouvements rebelles représentent un enjeu majeur pour la stabilisation du pays et le retour sur la voie de la démocratie. C’est pourquoi le pouvoir et la CENI ont intérêt à assurer une transparence totale pour le reste du scrutin.

En attendant, il en va de la responsabilité de la classe politique de maintenir un climat apaisé et de gérer dans la sérénité et la transparence les éventuelles contestations électorales.

Stand firmly for peace

Amahoro Youth Club — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:34:20 +0000

By Landry Ninteretse

Dear peacebuilders,

In these controversial and particular times for our country, I would like to call upon you and all AYC supporters to stand firmly for peace, stability and future of Burundi.

Let’s go beyond emotions, judgments and rumors and be models of tolerance and leadership for the rest of youth in speech and behavior. The mobilization for non violent elections project recently carried out was exactly about this kind of situation. Remember the Code of Good Conduct we promoted, we must the first to stand firmly for its full respect by first AYC members and all students and youth that took part in the PD project.

Time has come to really prove that we are peacebuilders struggling for the building of an active but tolerant democratic society in Burundi.

May God protect our beloved nation