Mission Partners

Church link with Gasenyi

St Mary’s, Cogges has had a link with Burundi for about 25 years and has engaged in a number of different relationships and projects during that time.

Since 2015 we are in partnership with the Anglican Parish of Gasenyi.  We share news and pray for each other. Gasenyi is in the hills overlooking Lake Tanganyika and close to Bujumbura, the largest city and economic capital of Burundi. It is a rural area. The people are extremely poor and generally have a low level of education. There is local primary school provision but going to secondary school entails a six-mile walk morning and afternoon. We provide some help for families who are unable to afford exercise books and uniform without which children cannot attend school.

The church in Gasenyi is a lively, caring community with many children in the Sunday school. Space is at a premium. The old secondary school buildings opposite the church have been in ruins since the civil war (fighting ceased in 2005).  We are helping buy materials so that the church can rehabilitate two more old classrooms which will then be available for other training programmes as well. Currently we are also helping four impoverished families to establish income-generating activities so that they can become self-supporting. This includes pig-rearing and a small shop.