Day 1 – Burundi Red Cross volunteers
April 2, 2010
Today was my first full day in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. My colleague Sylvie and I arrived late last night so it wasn’t until this morning that I got my first glimpse of Burundi.
Bujumbura is a lively city, lush and green with traffic moving in orderly chaos. Our first stop was the Burundi Red Cross office. It is a simple, white building with Burundi Red Cross Land Cruisers parked in its lot. The staff and volunteers greeted us with smiles and handshakes giving an overall welcoming feeling.
Later in the morning I left Sylvie behind to iron out logistical and planning details with our project manager Carmen, while I joined three Burundi Red Cross workers, along with two communications officers from the Belgium Red Cross for a field visit. Wearing my Canadian Red Cross shirt with my camera charged and ready, we made our way to two villages where Burundi Red Cross volunteers were going door-to door to deliver vouchers to households. These vouchers will be exchanged during our net campaign, which runs April 5-8.
I’ve always known the value of local Red Cross volunteers, but it was inspiring to see this first-hand. They speak the local languages and their relationship with beneficiaries was clearly comfortable and friendly. They explained the importance of using a net and information regarding the upcoming distribution.
The second village visit was cut short due to heavy rainfall, but the drive there was breathtaking. The village was located in an area called Mubimbi, and was nestled in the mountains. We arrived just in time for the downpour and immediately noticed a volunteer huddled beneath an overhanging roof, waiting for the rain to subside. A second volunteer, bundled up in a rain coat with a Red Cross umbrella, continued to make his way through the town, despite the rain and mud.
Day one is nearing its end and I am pleased to have witnessed smiling people receiving their vouchers – assurance that soon they will receive life-saving nets and sleep protected from malaria.
Today was my first full day in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. My colleague Sylvie and I arrived late last night so it wasn’t until this morning that I got my first glimpse of Burundi.
Bujumbura is a lively city, lush and green with traffic moving in orderly chaos. Our first stop was the Burundi Red Cross office. It is a simple, white building with Burundi Red Cross Land Cruisers parked in its lot. The staff and volunteers greeted us with smiles and handshakes giving an overall welcoming feeling.
Later in the morning I left Sylvie behind to iron out logistical and planning details with our project manager Carmen, while I joined three Burundi Red Cross workers, along with two communications officers from the Belgium Red Cross for a field visit. Wearing my Canadian Red Cross shirt with my camera charged and ready, we made our way to two villages where Burundi Red Cross volunteers were going door-to door to deliver vouchers to households. These vouchers will be exchanged during our net campaign, which runs April 5-8.
I’ve always known the value of local Red Cross volunteers, but it was inspiring to see this first-hand. They speak the local languages and their relationship with beneficiaries was clearly comfortable and friendly. They explained the importance of using a net and information regarding the upcoming distribution.
The second village visit was cut short due to heavy rainfall, but the drive there was breathtaking. The village was located in an area called Mubimbi, and was nestled in the mountains. We arrived just in time for the downpour and immediately noticed a volunteer huddled beneath an overhanging roof, waiting for the rain to subside. A second volunteer, bundled up in a rain coat with a Red Cross umbrella, continued to make his way through the town, despite the rain and mud.
Day one is nearing its end and I am pleased to have witnessed smiling people receiving their vouchers – assurance that soon they will receive life-saving nets and sleep protected from malaria.
Labels: Bujumbura, Burundi, canadian red cross, malaria, Red Cross
posted by Alison Frehlich at 1:17 PM
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