At a press conference hosted by the National President and Legal Representative of ABUBEF, Ms Delphine MANIRATUNGA, on 5 December 2025, on the occasion of International Volunteer Day, she issued a statement:
Our organisation, ABUBEF, was founded in 1991 by nine volunteer members. It is a non-profit association whose mission is to support the government's efforts in the area of sexual and reproductive health. It acquired legal status on 21 October 1991 through Order No. 550/333 of the Ministry of Justice. ABUBEF subscribes to the goals and policies of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), of which it has been a full member since 2002.
Volunteering is an essential concept for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, of which the Burundian Association for Family Welfare (ABUBEF) has been a full member since 2002. Volunteers contribute to the organisation's mission and vision.
Volunteering takes place in various fields:
- Community awareness
- The distribution of contraceptives
- Customer references
- Supporters of the youth action movement
- Access to sexual and reproductive health services
Volunteers adhere to the values as defined by the IPPF. Volunteers participate in governance and/or decision-making committees.
This International Volunteer Day has as its theme objective to promote the role of volunteering, support their actions and recognise their contributions to the development of civil society organisations and the country as a whole.
The role of volunteers:
- Support for sexual and reproductive health services:
- Prenatal and postnatal care
- Family planning/responsible parenthood
- Post-abortion care and screening for sexually transmitted infections
- Awareness raising and education:
- Raising community awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights and services
- Advocacy and action: they champion change
- Role within structures. They may sit on governing bodies and decision-making committees.
Guiding principles:
- Commitment to values: believing in the mission, sharing the vision and values.
- Contribution: Volunteering their time, knowledge, skills, expertise and resources.
- Commitment: Volunteering is a formal commitment. The organisation must value the contribution of volunteers.
This year, ABUBEF is celebrating International Volunteer Day under the theme: « UNITE FOR QUALITY SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS FOR ALL »
Created by a core group of nine founding members, ABUBEF currently has a network of more than 500 active volunteers spread across the country's five provinces and eight branches, namely Bujumbura, Gitega, Rumonge, Muyinga, Kirundo, Kayanza, Ngozi and Ruyigi.
ABUBEF operates through two main entities that complement each other: on the one hand, volunteer members who contribute to the development of the Association in various ways on a voluntary basis and, on the other hand, technical staff members who are remunerated and implement projects and programmes.
Volunteering within ABUBEF is defined as participating in and contributing to the organisation's mission on a voluntary basis, with commitment, determination and passion, as agents of change, activists and community representatives, without expecting any material or financial reward.
Who can be a volunteer member?
They are women, men and young people who are committed to the Association's aims and policies and who have met all the other conditions required to join the Association, in all their diversity and without discrimination.
As the celebration of this day coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, ABUBEF is spreading positive messages on its platforms in support of the campaign. You are also asked to share your reactions on these platforms: Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.
Before concluding my remarks, I would like to call on men, women and young people of good faith who believe in SRHR to join our organisation to support volunteering and put their skills at the service of the Burundian people.
Thank you once again for attending, and I wish you a pleasant day.
With these words, I conclude my statement on the occasion of International Volunteer Day.
Long live family wellbeing!
Long live good health for all,
Thank you! »
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