In a setting already marked by camaraderie, the Scouts at the 9th Africa Scout Jamboree joined forces for a noble cause: supporting vulnerable populations living near the Jamboree site.
The Jamboree took place in Bungere, near inhabited rural areas. Barefoot children with damaged clothes, trying to collect used plastic bottles were a daily sight for the event participants. Given this situation, the Youth Advisors to the Africa Scout Committee present at the event, Farouk Diallo, Frédéric Mora, Peter Ampumuza and Fred Ishimwe took the initiative to help alleviate the precariousness of these disadvantaged families.
The charity operation was primarily intended to provide clothing to families in the surrounding area, but was also extended to food supplies as well. 1,456,000 Burundian francs, more than 400 items of clothing and food supplies from the Jamboree kitchen were collected and distributed thanks to the generous contributions of youth and adult participants in the event. In total, 95 families benefited from the charity operation.
This solidarity mobilisation will remain marked not only in the memories of the 9th Africa Scout Jamboree but especially for the families who benefited from first contact with Scouting. The initiative does not stop here, it is planned, thanks to the remaining funds from the collection, to set up a project that would impact the community in the long term. We may witness the birth of yet another Ticket to Life project site in Bungere in the coming months.