At 32 years old, Jacquelyne Bukuru is a wife, a mother of three, and a respected leader in her community on Nyabiharage hill, Kayanza province, in the north of Burundi. Today, she guides a women’s savings group, supports families in the fight against malnutrition, and inspires her neighbors to build a better future. But her journey started many years ago, when she was still a child.
From my years in school to my role as a Mama Lumière, AVSI has always been part of my journey, a reassuring company. Now, I am proud to stand with other women and children in my community.
Jacquelyne Bukuru
First steps: education and support
Jacquelyne’s journey with AVSI began in 2005, when she joined the Distance Support Program. At that time, AVSI was committed to addressing the basic needs of those affected by the political crisis following the civil war of 1993 - including orphans, displaced persons, widows and widowers, refugees, and others living in vulnerable situations.
Jacquelyne came from a disadvantaged family; her father had passed away when she was very young, and her mother had very limited resources. From her second year of primary school until the end of ninth grade, she received school kits, healthcare, and opportunities for recreational activities. For Jacquelyne, this support was more than practical aid — it was a doorway to hope, dignity, and the chance to dream.
Since 2004, the Distance Support Program has been active in Burundi, supporting 1,667 vulnerable children by 2025. It continues to transform the lives of children and families, including in Kayanza, the community where Jacquelyne grew up.
Becoming a community advocate
As she reached adulthood, Jacquelyne took on a new role through the PRARECOM –TUBEHONEZA project, funded by the European Union and implemented between 2018 and 2022. Chosen by her community and local authorities, she became a Mama Lumière - a “light mother” - helping fight malnutrition in Kayanza.
She organized nutrition rehabilitation sessions for malnourished children and their mothers, teaching families how to prepare balanced meals using local foods. Thanks to her dedication, fewer children are now admitted to these sessions.
Her commitment was recognized in 2020, when she received a bicycle alongside 207 other Mama Lumières, making her work easier and more effective.
Leading women toward economic empowerment
Today, Jacquelyne is the leader of the Village Community Bank (VICOBA) named “Dushigikire amagara y’ibibondo” (Let's support access to healthcare for babies), supported by the Isoko Irama project, part of the SESA program funded by the European Union. The group, made up of 33 women, promotes savings and credit activities that strengthen household income and improve food security.
Under Jacquelyne’s leadership, the group was selected to manage the sale of biofertilizers, boosting banana production and generating new economic opportunities. For her, financial empowerment and nutrition go hand in hand:
With higher household income, families can afford better meals. We are gradually moving toward balanced diets, which helps reduce malnutrition.
Jacquelyne Bukuru
Building on her journey to become an agent of change
From a little girl receiving school support to a Mama Lumière fighting malnutrition, and now a leader of women’s economic empowerment, Jacquelyne’s story reflects continuity and growth. Each step built on the previous one, allowing her to gain new skills, take on new responsibilities, and become a true agent of change in her community.
AVSI in Burundi
Jacquelyne’s journey mirrors AVSI’s long-term commitment in Burundi. Since 1995, AVSI has worked alongside communities to improve education, health, food security, and livelihoods, with a special focus on the most vulnerable. Stories like Jacquelyne’s are proof that when support is consistent and holistic, individuals can rise, grow, and inspire change for generations.