Biking for Burundi: Gitega

Today's ride was.a "manageable" 67km, w 900m of ascents. That should have been enough along with visits to the Gitega Academy, Shammah Health Center and Orphanage/Primary Scool, but we were at GIA as basketball club was starting at 3pm and I could not resist. What started as 2 on 2 with some 14 year olds evolved into 5 on 5 vs 16 year olds, including a couple of 6'1 boys that were big! Hoosiers don't play half speed and 30 minutes of happiness in the midday sun turned into a remainder of the day woozy and weak. Fully worth it, but......

We heard more visions and stories in the afternoon. Josh and his wife, Nadine, led us through the Shammah health center and their vision for it. They are here atleast through 2016 and given what they have accomplished to date, the clinic may become a full scale hospital. I am impressed and inspired by how well organized, professional and successful they are. at the same time, they are continually fighting thru red tale and politicians wanting bribes.

Malaria is a huge problem (45% of their treatments) and by law mothers w children under 5 are to receive them for free from all health services here. Yet, the Ministry is slow to distribute USAID nets (motivation money needed!) and USAID will not distribute directly to the clinics in Burundi. These are such terrible but recurring problems here that many in leadership (govt) are not helping but holding back the efforts underway here.

GIA is hoping to address that need for leadership. Excellence, Integrity and Leadership are its mottos. Their 3rd class of 7th graders will start in September, joining over 200 8th and 9th graders that are hoped to evolve into Burundi's future leaders. They arrive with almost no English skills, but are conversational by the end of 7th grade. We met with JD, the Academy Director. The goal is to reach a US high school 12th grade academic level at graduation, then place 85% of kids in foreign universities, before they return to Burundi.