Letter from the President and Co- Founder
Unending Dream for Burundians in the Diaspora
A new day is coming for Burundians and Friends of Burundi. It is spreading its dawn across the whole of the United States and I am so proud to be doing my part to spread that dawn. I often think of how different things might have been. Were it not for the 1993 war that occured in Burundi that brought my family and I to a refugee camp in Tanzania and then Atlanta ,GA, things might have been very different. Were it not for the encouragement that I received from my parents and peers in the Burundian Community, things might have been different. I might never have left Burundi. I might never have been able to help.Most of all were it not for my parents Come Nahabakomeye and Jeanine Ndayaremwa who taught me about giving back, things might have been different.
I first dreamed of becoming a business woman, returning home to build multiple companies. Then I realized my new life in the United States offered me an opportunity, indeed an obligation, to give back Burundi in ways I had never dreamed.
Now I dream different dreams for my people.
I dream of making Reunion 257 an international model of Unity, work and progress. Since we started in 2015 we have connected more than 1,200 Burundians across the United States of America. I dream of extending its reach to the 40,000 Burundian population that we have in the US by continuing to work with Burundian organizations in different states and cities. I dream of constructing a networking platform for Burundian businesses, organizations, educators, artist and people who have a connection to Burundi and its heritage.
I dream of continuing our partnerships with organizations that have done so much to improve Burundian lives. Organizations like Burundian Community of Atlanta, Burundian women of Atlanta organization, and the Burundi Drummers of Atlanta helped us launch our first ever 3 day cultural event in 2015. Burundian Arizona Heritage Organization and the Burundian Community of Houston helped us make it even bigger by connecting more people on the west of the Mississippi River.
I dream of extending our partnership with BDI ( Burundi Development Initiative) whose goal is to contribute to the eradication of poverty in Burundi through sustainable socio-economic development. I dream of working with Burundian youth across the nations and encourage them to love who they are and where they came from.
I dream of a time where Burundian children who were raised in the diaspora can attend a Reunion 257 event and learn more about their heritage, culture and history. For I believe, as James Burke said: “You can only know where you’re going, If you know where you’ve been.” I believe educating the youth can change the world. They can raise their families out of poverty. They can serve as inspiration for their younger brothers and sisters, and they, in turn, for those who follow them. Thus ensuring that generations upon generations of Burundian children will know and understand their heritage and have a better chance of making their home country a better place.
I dream of the day when Burundi can finally put the past behind it. A day in which more than 300,000 lives have been lost since 1972, through armed conflict, ethnic conflict, hunger, and disease can see its people fed, housed, schooled, employed, and looking toward the future with hope. I dream of the day when arts will flourish in Burundi and Burundian music will ring throughout the world. This is why Burundian organizations in the diaspora are important because they are the ones who make it possible for those who cannot help themselves.
There is so much that I dream for Burundi and Burundians in the diaspora. To turn these dreams into reality, I would like to see our endowment increase tenfold- reaching 10 thousand from the 2 thousand we hope to have in the account by the end of the year- to ensure that Reunion 257 continues to fulfill its mission year after year.
As you can see, my dreams for my country and countrymen are endless. I invite you to come dream them with me.
Annie Irankunda
President & Co-Founder
