About two weeks ago I arrived here in Burundi, ”the heart of Africa”.

It’s totally different from what I have ever seen or from what I have imagined-

but it is just great!

Here are some of my first impressions and experiences in Burundi…

On our first day in Africa our patience had already been sorely tried: After we had landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we (the four volunteers) had to find out that our transfer flight to Bujumbura, Burundi, was cancelled. Unfortunately nobody at the airport could tell us if there was a substitute flight or when this one would take off. We were put off so many times by the airline employees that we thought we had to wait for the next day before our flight would leave. But eventually, after 5 hours time, our plane was ready to take off.

This was the very moment in which I realized that I really am in Africa, “in the slowest clock of the world”…

We finally got to Bujumbura after a two hours flight. At the airport itself we got our visa and where eventually picked up by Philipp, an ex-volunteer from Germany who now works for the Fondation Stamm as a main occupation, but on a voluntary basis. Apart from his main occupation (public relations) he looks after and supervises us, and is there if we have any problems.

On the way to our new home we had the possibility to gain an overview of what was going on in the streets of Bujumbura.

I have never seen so many people on the streets, carrying about everything one can imagine on their heads, not only bags, but baskets full of bananas or other fruits, boxes, crates, etc. And often men, women, small children carry several things at the same time on their heads.

Other people were riding their bike in twos with additional luggage in oversize.

The same can be said about the motor cycles and other vehicles. They are generally overcrowded with people and crammed full with other stuff. There are cars with steering wheels on the left and the right hand side.

The traffic literary is a mess with seemingly only few traffic regulations, constant honking and deceptive movements.

Wooden shacks pop up in between simple concrete buildings which have hand-painted advertising on their façade.

A lot of dust is in the air, the smell of smoke perceptible.

Beneath it all, there are five white people who attract a lot of attention. People wave, children run along behind us. Some of them shout “muzungu” in astonishment. “Muzungu” is the Kirundi word for “white (rich) person”.

Our new home is the orphanage “Centre Uranderera” which accommodates about 70 children and adolescents. We were welcomed heartily, although the children were very shy in the beginning.

There are three houses on the property, each and everyone equally built.

One is the boy’s the other one the girl’s and babies’ house. And the third one is ours.

Sometimes I feel bad about the fact that I have a bedroom which is exactly as big as the dormitories of the children in which at least sleep five of them.

I must say it is clean and comfy although everything’s really simple. Unfortunately cockroaches feel the same, and in fact a rat has been our guest for a short time, too.

The first days we had enough time to settle down, get used to the climate, and get to know the boys and girls in the orphanage and their wardens.

Each day we visited another project of the “Fondation Stamm”, all of them located in different districts of the city.

The first stop was the home in which street urchins live.

There the drummers welcomed us with an indescribably fascinating show. Afterwards we chatted a bit and then had a game of volleyball.

The next stop was a mother-child-home and a kindergarten which keeps a small orphanage in poorer districts of the city. There again everyone was pleased and happy to meet us.

We have also been to the school of the Fondation which runs a kindergarten, too, but at present there are school holidays in Burundi so that no children were to be found.

Last Tuesday we even been to Gitega, the second largest city in Burundi, to visit the orphanage there and have a look at the vocational school which is built on behalf of the Fondation.

The trip to Gitega was really impressive. We had to drive through the mountain range and therefore had the chance to glance at Bujumbura and the lake from above. It was also interesting to see all the people who drive or walk up these huge mountains, again loaded down with all sorts of stuff. The clever or richer ones with a bike pay the lorry drivers in order to hold on to the back of the lorry so that they are pulled up the mountain which certainly is no harmless venture.

We have also already been to the Lake Tanganyika which is absolutely marvellous. One could think it is a sea because of its size and its waves.

Last Friday we had our first official task which was to sort out the cellar with all the contributions in kind. This cellar is located in the restaurant of the Founder, Verena Stamm, our boss and mentor.

We were all glad but exhausted after this had been done.

The next task will be to sort the newly arrived donations and put them away.

Now that we have gained an overview of the projects of the Fondation Stamm we are able to decide where we would want to work in the future.

I myself want to work with adolescents, so I could work in the street urchin home “Birashoboka” and in the orphanage “Centre Uranderera”. I could teach English and German which they are all eager to learn or I could do coaching in general, etc.

I let you know where and what I’ll end up doing…

For the time being,

Lots of love

Claire

P.S.. Didn’t have enough time to load up some photos! It takes ages here..!