Three years ago Yada started providing healthcare to the kids, after experiencing the excruciating loss of a few of the children in the community due to sickness and malnutrition. Often, they do not realize when they have malaria until it is too late, which is exacerbated by malnutrition. Yada is committed both to preventative healthcare and nutrition as well as connecting the community to remedial care when it is necessary.

To combat malnutrition, we were graciously accepted into a country-wide feeding program through another local NGO, whose desire was to feed more of Burundi’s hungriest people. The kids in our community, as well as breast-feeding mommas are regularly receiving meals. Aside from this feeding program, Yada feeds 120 people per day in the Nyarumanga community. One testimony that always brings tears to our eyes was of a momma whose milk had stopped, and her child was distraught. She received a cup of porridge per day through Yada, and her milk came back! To our collective joy, this baby’s life was saved.

We partner with a local health center, who has given an access card to each of the children and has agreed to treat those of our community at an affordable price. Additionally, we employ a local girl who takes the sick children to the health center every day. These preventative measures have protected lives and helped many people treat their kids quicker as they are educated for the signs of malaria. Throughout the Covid epidemic, Yada worked together with the community to keep the infection rate low due to rigorous hand washing and preventative measures.

Yada also regularly receives donated clothes from friends outside Nyarumanga. Most recently, after talking to the female workers in the Yada compound who shared horrific stories related to feminine hygiene, we bought all the little girls 2 pairs of underpants. Expanding provision for this need is something high on our list of hopes.