- “Umukobwa ntaseka uwundi aba yibagiye” or “Rather than mocking, you ought to help her, since tomorrow it might be you who needs help”
The Friends Women’s Association (FWA) is a grassroots organization founded by and for Burundian women to address the unique needs of women in a conflict and post-conflict environment. It began in 2002 by a group of women who wanted to work together to improve each others’ lives and, in particular, address the problems of poverty, HIV/AIDS, sexual violence, and post-genocide trauma in their communities.
Today, our mission is to work at the grassroots level to provide a comprehensive health care to women and their families, to promote women’s autonomy and leadership, and to strengthen peace and social solidarity in Kamenge and other communities throughout Burundi.
To achieve this mission, FWA operates a health clinic in Kamenge, Burundi where we offer free or low-cost medical examinations to women and their families. Our services include primary care, preventative care, laboratory testing, HIV testing and counseling, and psychological counseling. In addition to our medical services, we provide holistic care to our patients by incorporating those with demonstrated need into our social assistance programs, which include home visits and micro-finance programs. Finally, we run community trauma healing and reconciliation workshops in the communities of Kamenge, Rutegama, Gitega, and Mutaho.