With numerous actions, female students are getting involved Schönstätter Marienschule Vallendar for ten years as part of the Burundi working group for their partner school École Technikum de Gestion Mutumba in Burundi. We are pleased that both schools are partner schools of Teachers without Borders and thank you for the great commitment and close cooperation of the German and African students and teachers.
Over 3,000 euros were donated to our partner school ETG in Mutumba, Burundi at the turn of the year. Part of the money was used to renovate the dining hall. A new roof, repairs to the floor, and fresh paint were needed. The remaining money will now be used to make the school safer.
Klaus Ullenbruch, Head of the Burundi Working Group at the Schönstatt Mädchenschule, reports:
„Unfortunately, according to GDP, Burundi is currently the third poorest country on Earth. Only the crisis countries Yemen and South Sudan are considered even poorer. Due to the widespread poverty, there are unfortunately increasing numbers of thieves, who do not stop at the belongings of the pupils of the ETG. Therefore, 10 years ago we used part of the donations to enclose the school grounds with a high wall. Unfortunately, an incident occurred recently where a confused man entered the school grounds and attacked pupils with a knife. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the pupils are frightened and feel unsafe. Therefore, the entrance area of the school will now also be secured with a wall and a fence. This is the only way to prevent unauthorized access and increase security. We hope that such a terrible experience will never happen to the pupils again and that we can contribute to their safety!
The graduation service and subsequent commencement ceremony took place at the Schönstätter Marienschule on March 27, 2026. Half of the collection, totaling €240, was donated by the graduating class to the Burundi working group. What's special about this is that we are saying goodbye to ten female students from the Burundi working group this year. They have been active in the group since the 8th grade, for five years, and have helped organize many fundraising events. Thank you for your commitment!
The donation can be very well used for our new garden project. The nutritional situation at our partner school ETG in Mutumba is very poor. The students often receive only one meal a day. In cooperation with the Freundeskreis Marienland e.V., Sister M. Yvonne was trained in the Wickung beds system. This is a water- and resource-saving cultivation method. The first beds have already been redesigned, and the success in the form of abundant harvested vegetables is remarkable. To expand the project, water tanks, pumps, filters, seedlings, etc. are needed. Through increased yields, the students can be better supplied with healthy basic foodstuffs.“
