Joining Burundians to fête the end of 2019 and usher in the New Year, staff of the Office of the Special Envoy (OSESG-B) visited and shared the joy and warmth of Christmas with kids of the Jabe Orphanage in Bujumbura on December 24.

Established way back in 1952, the government-run centre is home to more than 60 orphans of various ages, from toddlers to high school graduates.

“We sincerely appreciate this gesture from the office of the Special Envoy,” said the Director of the centre, Mme Noëlla Tukarere, adding: “It gives these helpless orphans a chance to celebrate Christmas with pomp.”

It was the second time in as many years that the Office was reaching out to the orphanage with food items, sanitary material and toiletry.

“With such help coming in for a second time, these children grow up knowing that there are people out there with a soft spot for them,” the Director quipped. “This tells them that they too have a family outside of the orphanage.”

The now annual humanitarian outreach was this time around extended to the St Elisabeth Home, which caters to upwards 50 elderly men and women. Their Christmas pack from OSESG-B included food, bedding and toiletry. The items were received by the matron of the Home, the Rev Sister Collete Murimbane.

“We look up to people like you to feed our elderly,” Murimbane averred, visibly very thankful for the donation. “Their needs are many, but support barely trickles in,” she lamented, urging staff of OSE Burundi to be goodwill ambassadors for the Home.

As in the year before, donations to both institutions came from contributions made by staff of the Office of the Special Envoy.