Burundi — Children on the Margins

Following years of civil war and the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, Burundi has slowly stabilized. Yet the scars of conflict linger, and for many children, life remains precarious. Those from poor rural villages, often orphaned by war or AIDS, migrate to Bujumbura seeking safety and survival. For some, the streets threaten to become a permanent home.

Terre des hommes works to protect these children, offering shelter, guidance, and hope in a landscape still shadowed by violence. Beyond immediate care, Tdh implements prevention programs to shield young people from both legal and illegal forms of exploitation, seeking to interrupt cycles of abuse that often follow conflict and displacement.

Amid the fragility, these interventions offer more than protection — they cultivate resilience, dignity, and the quiet possibility of a life beyond conflict. In a country shaped by decades of violence, every child supported is a measure of hope restored.