Association des Femmes Repatriées (AFRABU)

The Association des Femmes Repatriées (Association for Repatriated Women in Burundi) «AFRABU» is a non-profit and non-governmental organization.

AFRABU was created in 2002 on the initiative of three women returning from exile. It was officially recognized by the Home Affairs Minister (Ministère de l’Intérieur) in June 2004.

AFRABU aims to stand for human rights, especially women’s rights as human rights, and the full development of women and girls through education, improved health care, communication, development, etc. The idea was strengthened by a team of nine women with various skills who concluded that it is true returnees lack information about their rights and need special care. A big challenge is how to create a understandable and welcoming atmosphere where Burundian citizens are not reluctant to return.

We believe that returnees coming from displacement and refugee camps are particularly vulnerable, and within this group women and children are additionally vulnerable.

Our objective:

• Create human rights awareness;
• Promote communication and information exchange;
• Sensitize girls to the right to the education;
• Raise the awareness of the women, using media and workshops, to their right to work for women’s political participation on the grassroots level, as we are struggling to promote women leadership;

Future Plan:

• Meet refugees in camps to inform refugees of the actual situation in Burundi, and work to rebuild confidence and love to live the motherland and to intervene on behalf of those willing to return;
• Put in place strategies to improve returnees’ resettlement and assist them with basic needs;
• Expand education strategies to approach more returnees, with an emphasis on promoting self-reliance and income-generating activities;
• Strengthen media actions to reach a greater number of people and empower them with the needed information;
• Ensure the security of returnees in their resettlement and reintegration in their home areas.