When it’s time for most American kids to head back to school, a trip to the local store or mall is a common thing, to load up with supplies for the year ahead. In one of the world’s poorest countries, the privilege of going to school is reserved for only those few who can afford their own school supplies. For many, there is no “school shopping.”

In the African country of Burundi, Liebenzell Mission teams with our partner church on the BAHO Project, an effort to reach out to street church in urban areas. These children have no money and, if they have parents, they are too poor to provide for their kids. Thus, the BAHO Project recently distributed school supplies to about 240 children in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Another 180 children in the city of Muramvya also received supplies.

“We are pleased to help children and young people receive an education and thus lay a foundation for their professional future,” writes missionary Stefan Hoffmann.

He notes that the BAHO team is also thinking about future careers for these young people and the role computers will play in that. “We are exploring how we could build small computer rooms where children and youth can learn how to use them. Even in Africa, despite frequent power outages, computer usage is becoming an important skill.”