This blog was written by Megan Henderson, our Communications & Events Manager.
Last year Five Talents commissioned an independent evaluation of the programme in Burundi, one of the longest running community partnership programmes we have been part of. The Burundi programme, in partnership with Mothers’ Union, pairs literacy & numeracy training with business skills training in Savings Groups. It has been so successful that we have piloted the same approach across several other Five Talents Programmes. The independent evaluation measured the programme’s cumulative impact over a 20 year period. We know how transformational Savings Groups and community-led change can be, but now, with the data from the report, we can see even more clearly how communities have transformed.
You can read Five Talents’ summary of the report here. But we’ve shared some of the highlights below:
Over 144,000 people (78% women) have learned to read and write and now have a formal literacy qualification - this accounts for 2.9% of the adult literate population in Burundi.
Over 84% of Savings Groups formed have continued and many replicated organically far beyond the investment of the programme.
Almost all Savings Group members now employ at least one other person, and over a third of female participants and nearly half of male participants have started businesses which now employ 2 or more people.
91% of female and 94% of male participants reported sending dependent children (notably girls) to school in 2022, compared to 62% and 52% in 2006. This clear growth shows that now even more girls are attending school.
98% of male participants advocate against gender-based violence and within the programme membership, there has been a significant reduction in intimate partner violence.
99% of participants have higher self-esteem and can see gifts and abilities in themselves that they did not see before.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are excited to also celebrate this inspirational story of women and men who, through their own hard work, collaboration, skills and resilience have built a more secure future for themselves, their families and their communities.
“Change takes a long time to occur but once it happens, particularly amongst women…things start getting better…women no longer stay in the background…they engage in advocacy…they get involved in community activities. Traditionally, women would not stand for leadership positions, but now they do.”
- Male Governor, Ngozi Province, Burundi
If you would like to continue that change for communities please click here.