Children of Hope Ministry

Kanura School for the Blind and Ephphatha School for the Deaf

are boarding schools for children with special needs. Burundi Hope collaborates with the schools to provide special activities for the students including clubs, ministry teams, and Bible programs. 

They also support programs to provide for education through the Samuel Project which provides resources for the teachers and access to field trips for the students. The nutritional and health care needs are supplemented through the Health and Wellness Program.

Burundi Hope has assisted Kanura with the development of a Student Agriculture Program which includes a Fish Farm project. It was developed as a sustainable project to not only educate students in areas of entrepreneurship but to help provide for the food needs of the school Kanura is also a pilot school program for the government for inclusive education and has sighted students enrolled in their secondary program. 

Ephphatha provided vocational training through their sewing class program and was instrumental in developing the first sewing center. Their students participate in internships to gain further experience and eventually be placed in other sewing centers. A second sewing center will be established when the school moves to a new campus and once sustainable will provide income for the school.

Children of Hope Seminars

seek to share the Gospel to children and youth across the country of Burundi.

Students have shared the Gospel in Churches, Women’s Seminars, Sunday School Programs and Communinty Concerts. Students from Kanura and Ephphatha participate on ministry teams through their schools and can join   praise and worship teams; choirs; drama groups; cultural  and modern dance teams.

Children of Hope Testimonies

  • Alfred is now attending University in Bujumbura. “To come to study here is a blessing. Here we have the opportunity to find the hidden skills and talents within ourselves. It helps us change our lives to better live in our society.”

    Alfred - Kanura School Graduate

  • Goreth attends Kanura and comes from a family of 6 siblings. She receives very little support because they are very poor. Goreth tells us, “To buy school materials, during the holidays, I go to make bricks and fetch water for others who make bricks. I save the money to buy the things for school.”

    Goreth

  • “After families see the progress of their children they see how beneficial this school really is. Many students who have come here have given their lives to Jesus Christ and they thank God for this school.”

    Noel - A dorm parent at Ephphatha

Greatest Needs

Improved Food
Program

With the ever declining economy, the school’s food budget increases more than the schools can supplement. The choices are to provide less nourishing food for the children, improve onsite agriculture programs or seek support from outside organizations. Providing nutritious food keps the students healthy and able to miss less classroom time. Food budgets have increased 40%.

Educational
Resources

Improving the educational programs by providing classroom resources, materials, and life experiences such as field trips expands their classroom learning. Offering vocational skills training gives other options for further education. Giving the students opportunities to participate in after-school clubs such as drama, choirs, worship bands, and cultural dance give them a platform to share the Gospel through their talents. Schools can only provide the very basics.

Health & Wellness
Program

Schools are blessed to have a health and wellness program for these students. It provides preventative and curative care. Living at school for most of them is a healthier environment than their homes. Provision of mosquito nets, medications, appointments with medical specialists, and basic first aid training for school staff. A school nutritionist works with the cooks and dorm parents on affordable nutritional options.