AFRICAN ROAD, INC.

VICOBA, which stands for Village Community Banking, improves the livelihoods of participants by equipping them to dream, form an action plan, identify untapped resources, and start working towards their goals. Participants gain practical financial skills and access to capital through a group savings and loans fund.

The Batwa Indigenous people of Burundi, traditionally hunter-gatherers of the forests, have faced many challenges in recent times due to government policies, discrimination, and globalization. One of the major roadblocks is not having ID, without which a Burundian citizen cannot vote, marry, or access healthcare. Lack of ID also leaves Batwa people vulnerable to police harassment and denial of basic civil rights.

African Road partners with Batwa leaders to bring ID Kits to all Burundian Batwa citizens. The Kits bring impact on many levels, including voter registration, access to healthcare, the ability to use public transit, and marriage equality. With an ID kit, not only is citizenship gained, but longstanding stigma against the Batwa people is reduced. ID Kits impart a message of dignity and personhood as well as promoting integration between Batwa, Hutu, and Tutsi neighbors.