From 8th to 15th December 2023, AKI Managing Director Falk Kullen and AKI Project Manager Teklezghi Teklebrhan, who is responsible for the Agri-Social Education and Training Center in Gitega, travelled to Burundi. This trip was not a routine visit, but an endeavour to evaluate the progress of the ongoing activities and set a visionary course for the project in the coming year 2024. The main objective of the trip was to immerse into the dynamics of the project and to have extensive discussions with the existing partners as well as connect with new partners.

In 2023, significant achievements were realized in terms of sustainability, featuring organized training sessions which were covering organic composting, water conservation, erosion protection, soil enhancement and improving the bread value chain. Local farmers successfully initiated the production of organic compost, and farmer groups were established for primary production, receiving improved wheat and sweet potato seeds destined for bread production. The bread value chain also experienced a significant progress with the introduction of diverse types of bread such as avocado-, beans-, and cassava-bread. More than 45 students and around 30 women have been trained in bread production and more than 100 women were trained in sustainable agricultural practices. With the support of our partner "Bread against Misery (BaM)", a cooperative for bread production is currently being set up. In addition, the animal husbandry system has been improved and rabbits have been introduced. Additional fruit and N-fixing trees were planted in the project area.

All these activities helped to create employment opportunities and alternative income for marginalized women.

The progress made in 2023 is remarkable. However, the project also faced a number of challenges, including transport barriers, problems related to the unreliable supply of raw materials and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Meeting with Ms. Alice Karerwa in Bujumbura, the country representative of "Bread Against Misery (BaM)" was also part of the agenda. The meeting involved a critical evaluation of the joint project and laid the groundwork for collaborative efforts in 2024 and beyond.

The managing director and the project manager returned to Germany with new objectives to continue working on the positive development of the Agri-Social Education and Training Center in the coming year 2024.