Burundi

Promise:

Promesse de la Guide

Sur mon honneur (et avec la grâce de Dieu)‡;
je m’engage à remplir de mon mieux mes devoirs envers (Dieu, l’Eglise et)‡ la Patrie; à aider mon prochain en toutes circonstances;
et à observer la Loi Guide.

‡La mention entre parenthèses est facultative; elle peut être modifiée si nécessaire suivant les croyances.

Guide Promise

On my honour (and with the grace of God)‡;
I undertake to do my best to fulfil my duties towards (God, the Church and)‡ my country,
To help other people in all circumstances,
And to keep the Guide Law.

‡Words in brackets are optional; they can be modified if necessary according to beliefs.

Promesse de la Bergeronnette

Je promets d’être fidèle (à Jésus)‡, à mes parents, à la loi de la ronde, et de faire chaque jour un plaisir à quelqu’un.

Wagtail Promise

I promise to be faithful to (Jesus,)‡ my parents, the Wagtail Law, and
To do a good turn to someone every day.

Law:

Loi de la Guide

1 La Guide est vraie, elle mérite confiance.

2 La Guide est fidèle, elle tient ses engagements.

3 La Guide se rend utile et aide les autres.

4 La Guide est l’amie de tous et la soeur de toute autre Guide.

5 La Guide est courtoise.

6 La Guide aime et respecte la nature (oeuvre de Dieu)‡.

7 La Guide obéit joyeusement et ne fait rien à moitié.

8 La Guide est toujours de bonne humeur et courageuse même dans les difficultés.

9 La Guide est économe et respecte le bien d’autrui.

10 La Guide est simple et pure.

Guide Law

1 A Guide is truthful, she can be trusted.

2 A Guide is faithful, she keeps her promises.

3 A Guide makes herself useful and helps others.

4 A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other Guide.

5 A Guide is courteous.

6 A Guide loves and respects nature (work of God)‡.

7 A Guide obeys cheerfully and does nothing by halves.

8 A Guide is always good-tempered and is courageous under difficulties.

9 A Guide is thrifty and respects other people’s belongings.

10 A Guide is unaffected and pure.

Loi de la Bergeronnette

La Bergeronnette écoute les Grands Oiseaux.
La Bergeronnette ne s’écoute jamais.

Wagtail Law

The Wagtail listens to the fully fledged birds.
The Wagtail does not pay too much attention to herself.

Motto:

Devise de la Guide - Toujours prête à servir.

Guide Motto - Always Prepared

Devise de la Bergeronnette - De notre mieux.

Wagtail Motto - The Best We Can

Age groups:

Eclaireuse (Guide aînée) Ranger 16+

Guide Guide (Senior) 13-16

Guide Guide (Junior) 12-15

Bergeronnette Wagtail 7-11

Development of the movement:

Guiding in Burundi was started in 1954-55 by Belgian social workers as part of the Catholic Guides of Belgian Congo, Rwanda-Urundi. After the country’s independence in 1962, an Association was formed which has since grown steadily.

Programme:

The programme is drawn up for four age groups under the headings general knowledge, self-expression, traditional arts of Burundi, service, health, home economics, faith, the techniques and spirit of Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting, nature and camping.

 

Relationship to society:

Great importance is given to service as a means of contributing to the development of Burundi. Senior Guides provide cover for hospital staff allowing them to take holidays, as well as helping the elderly. Under the leadership of a full-time trainer, girls have cultivated and sold the crops grown to raise funds. Guides and their leaders also organize literacy courses for other Guides and young women outside the Movement.

As part of its Building World Citizenship Project, the Association participated in a campaign with Guides in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania which encouraged girls to promote an end to violence. They also worked on their own peace project, Bwange Project Seminar, with other women’s organizations in Burundi. This project was based on an old Burundi tradition where a woman can disrupt a fight between two men with the word ‘Bwange’ which means ‘Stop fighting.’ The men must respect her word.

Communication and Co-operation

The Association strives to make itself known both to Government bodies and to women’s organizations in Burundi. It co-operates with the Scout Association, and Guides receive instruction in first aid from the Red Cross Society in Burundi.

Many of the activities are carried out by the Guides of Burundi in collaboration with United Nations agencies. Current areas of interest relate to peace and re-establishment of self-sufficiency and sustainable human development.

Training:

All leaders receive regular training, and training camps are held for leaders. Members of the Association occasionally attend training events in other countries.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities

The Association owns a campsite, Charles de Foucauld, where members enjoy regular camping activities. As part of Building World Citizenship, and in collaboration with the FAO, the Association is developing agro-pastoral activities such as wheat and potato farming. The growing of fruit and vegetables has been integrated with the rearing of poultry. The project aims to give practical training to girls from rural areas, to increase the production and consumption of fruit and vegetables in the home, to popularise poultry farming and to help members gain a regular source of income through effective management.

Projects

• Alcohol Prevention
• Enough Is Enough (Trop C'Est Trop)
• Amahoro Amani Peace - Burundi
• Solidarity Chain
• Peace and the Environment
• Building Peace In Children

Micro-site

Visit the WAGGGS' micro-site for this Member Organization.