Community work in Burundi helps society and the environment

DW (English)

For more than 20 years, Burundi has made regular service to the community a requirement for citizens. DW looks at the surprising impact of this unpaid work.

Transcript

00:01In Burundi, Saturdays are different.

00:04While in many places it's the start of the weekend,

00:07here millions of people gather in cities

00:13and rural areas to work together.

00:16This community labour has been mandatory for almost 20 years,

00:21and it's changing the country.

00:26The advantage of community work is that you have a lot of people

00:29doing something at the same time, which means it gets finished quickly.

00:34Another plus point is that we teach people what to do

00:37and can demonstrate it to everyone right away,

00:40so it's easier for them to understand.

00:45Today, in the hills of Nyarushanga in western Burundi,

00:48the workers are repairing what's known as contour trenches.

00:53This involves deepening trenches that have been dug along the natural contours of the land

00:58to stop rainwater running straight down the hill.

01:01The planted embankments above the trenches help slow the water,

01:05which prevents soil erosion and stores moisture.

01:08This simple technique safeguards the steep hill and makes the land more fertile.

01:13In the past, the community work focused on cleaning up public areas.

01:17Now it's more about ecology.

01:20This community work is very important for the people.

01:25Even before the workers from the cooperative that's helping us today came along,

01:29we were raising awareness among residents about the need to protect the environment,

01:33especially by planting trees on bare hills.

01:36And that has already borne fruit.

01:41The community effort has also borne fruit for farmer Jean-Marie Nkorrubusa,

01:46some 50 kilometers farther west.

01:49He spent years battling soil erosion on the hills here in Vuyia village.

01:54Often, it was in vain.

01:56When he learned to dig contour trenches and plant them, it changed everything.

02:01Where we dig the contour trenches, we also sow grasses for animal fodder,

02:07as it prevents the rainwater from eroding the soil.

02:10During the dry season, this grass is then a valuable source of food for our livestock.

02:20But the greatest success is in his fields.

02:23Before we learned how to build contour trenches, the rain washed away most of our crops because we farm on steep slopes.

02:35Not anymore.

02:36Where I used to harvest one ton of potatoes, now I get three and a half to four tons.

02:42Back to Nyarushanga.

02:46These potatoes belong to a cooperative, one of hundreds across the country known as Sangwe or Together.

02:53They don't just work together, they also plan the next harvest together.

02:57Farmers select the best potatoes from those that are already sprouting

03:01to sow them back into the ground as seed, a circular system.

03:05This same principle of solidarity applies in urban areas too.

03:15This Saturday, these workers Purundi's largest city, Bujumbura, are building a new basketball court.

03:22Everyone comes together, everyone contributes to improving the place.

03:31I have no doubts about the future if we maintain this momentum.

03:37But you do need to provide clear goals and guidance for this community work.

03:43Otherwise, it can be ineffective.

03:47The bamboo on the banks of the city's rivers was planted by community work.

03:54The roots hold the soil together, preventing erosion and helping to prevent flooding in Bujumbura.

04:00A green barrier to mitigate the impact of a changing climate.

04:08Back in Nyarushanga, two hours to the east, workers are now harvesting beans, all on the same Saturday.

04:14The work is not voluntary, and not everyone is happy with that.

04:22We can easily find out who is not participating in the community work by consulting the leaders of the local groups.

04:29Every person who has worked is logged in an attendance book.

04:33Those who didn't participate first get a warning.

04:36If that doesn't work, we take appropriate measures, including sanctions.

04:40Fama Mbonimpa Konsil says she enjoys the work.

04:46What may look to some like tedious labor is, for many here, about coming together.

04:52After decades of ethnic violence that traumatized both Burundi and neighboring Rwanda.

04:57Sometimes the work isn't easy, but understanding the purpose behind it gives you strength, for yourself and for the country.

05:07Even those who aren't sure about it realize that if they don't take part, they'll be left behind.

05:13Working together is a blessing.

05:15In Burundi, Saturdays are different.

05:20While elsewhere everyone does what they like, people here come together to work for a shared, sustainable future.

05:27With the community and the environment, it's a good family and the community to help all the students with the community.

05:34We'll be all in the community to make sure that they're only comfortable and healthy in the community.

05:39We'll see you next time.

05:40We'll see you next time.

05:41Bye.

05:43Bye.

05:44See you.

05:45Bye.

05:46Bye.

05:47Bye.

05:48Bye.

05:49Bye.

05:50Bye.

05:51Bye.

05:52Bye.

05:53Bye.

05:54Bye.

05:55Bye.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended