Hope for returnees

When refugees return to Burundi they face harsh conditions. Families struggle to put food on the table and pay school and medical fees. This struggle for survival can fuel the spread of HIV. Rema Ministries is working through local churches to help returnees to unite their strength and experience and work together to ensure each other's basic needs are met. The aim is to support and enable groups of returnees to break the cycle of poverty and the spread of HIV through income-generating projects. This initiative is providing encouragement and hope to people who had none.

One of the income-generating projects supports a restaurant business. Pastor Emmanuel, who received help for his restaurant, said: "God hears prayers. I did not think He was hearing us until today. God bless you. You are his real servants".
  
Another pastor started a rabbit-breeding initiative in his congregation. He explains: "I want people to understand that however poor they are, there is still something they can do and give to others".

Other church-run activities include:

A business that grows and sells vegetables. The people involved in this group, also go into the community in the evenings to teach about HIV and AIDS.

A carpentry group, which runs a course for young men who haven't completed school. This scheme is invaluable in giving these young men a future: "I saw the love of Christ in the provision of this course. I couldn't have paid for it, so I wouldn't have been able to learn these skills. I hope that I'll be able to show the love of God to others when I teach them what I've learned."

A tailoring project: this was started by 17 women, but continues to grow. Rema is helping provide sewing machines so the project can expand.

All of these income-generating activities are bringing hope to people who had none, and as these people are empowered to provide for their families, they pass what they have learned onto others so they too can benefit.