20 Jul 2011 • Juvenile justice Burundi

Burundi: Eight young delinquents are reconciled with society

- Published by Darcissac, Marion

In Gitega, July 14th was a symbolic date for a big step in the life of eight youngsters. These boys, delinquents at odds with their families and society, had been on a course for job and social reintegration with Terre des hommes and its partners, the STAMM Foundation. The past six months involved a constant struggle for them, as well as for the social workers of Tdh, to snatch them away from delinquency.

The start of the process of reintegration was really hard for every one of the boys, and three of them abandoned it. They had all sorts of conflicts with their teachers, parents, communities and even amongst themselves. But by gaining their confidence, Tdh’s social workers succeeded in getting the youths to turn to them whenever a new obstacle cropped up. They were able to build up a climate of listening, confidence and exchange between the adolescents and all the people around them so that they could find a healthy family, job and social situation. Thanks to this experience, the youths became extremely united, like ‘brothers’, and learned to know how to watch out for one another.

And finally, last 14th July, all the Tdh staff and the parents of these youngsters got together to proudly assist at the presentation of certificates of apprenticeship in the various trades these former delinquents had chosen.

But in spite of all this, the battle is far from being over; the social workers know they need still more time to continue to support and follow up the youngsters before they are really free from delinquency.

More information on the intervention of Terre des hommes au Burundi