Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jan 07, 2018
Julie Marner, Executive Director, Burundi Friends International, with long-time Rotary Club of Del Mar member Bessie Floyd
Burundi Friends International Board members and volunteers- founder Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian is in the center of the back row
 
A 2010 trip to Burundi to teach English led Julie Marner to her current position as Executive Director of Burundi Friends International (BFI).  Founded in 2007 by Burundian Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian, who studied in the United States and hoped to give back to her native country, the mission of BFI is to foster partnerships for education, healthcare and economic empowerment that will sustain communities and fight poverty. 
 
Land-locked Burundi is about the size of the Maryland, and is a member of the East African Community (EAC). Although the official languages of Burundi are French (a holdover from Belgian colonization) and Kirundi, the chosen language of the EAC is English. As such, Ms. Marner noted that Burundians who are fluent in English have access to broader economic opportunities.
 
The country faces many challenges, including: poor infrastructure (very few roads are paved, and only 5% of homes have electricity), difficulty in exporting goods, poverty (average annual income of $280), high rates of malnourishment, lack of clean water, and high rates of HIV and malaria.  The family size in Burundi is large at ~6 children/family and as a result, the overall population is young- nearly half of Burundians are younger than 15 years old. 
 
BFI seeks to address these challenges through its three-pillared approach:  Education & English Clubs, Economic Empowerment Programs, and Healthcare & Medical Supplies. In her presentation, Ms. Marner focused on the Economic and English programs, which are closely related.   
 
Burundian youth in particular have been proactive in taking advantage of the resources that BFI brings to their country. Knowing that English skills are critical for advancement, Burundians are enthusiastic English learners. In addition to stocking libraries with donated books, BFI helped found English clubs that provide an open learning environment where club members can access technology and books for active English learning. Beginning with just one club of 35 members, the number of clubs is growing rapidly. In the last year alone, the clubs experienced a 375% growth rate and membership is now 3,600. Over 2,000 volunteer teachers lead the clubs and help recruit and train even more teachers. BFI also has a scholarship program that allows talented students to seek university degrees either at a national or international level.  Three of the students BFI assisted secured prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowships for young African leaders.
 
Coupled with the educational programs, BFI provides programs to help Burundians learn to save money and launch and manage their own businesses.   
 
Ms. Marner told about Innocent Niyongabo as an example of the changes that BFI programs have made. Innocent was orphaned at 4 years-old when his parents were killed in the 1995 civil war in Burundi. Despite these huge challenges, Innocent was highly motivated to learn English. In just a few years, he is now fluent in English and serves as Vice President of the BFI English Clubs while pursuing a college degree. He realized that his parents were killed in part due to the poor mindset of Burundians, and he made it his goal to change this mindset and help his fellow youth realize the same educational and economic opportunities he seeks. 
 
One of Innocent’s friends, Fabrice Bizimana, who is also active with BFI English clubs, summed up the resources that BFI provides: “Receiving a dictionary is like receiving a treasure.”  We are confident that under Ms. Marner’s leadership BFI will continue to provide education and economic treasures to the people of Burundi.