Lunchtime Meeting - 12.45pm - Speaker Rev Sarah Burton

Today's talk was given by the Reverend Sarah Burton, Rector of Whittington and invited guest of Rotarian Don Howard.  She entitled her talk 'My Time in Burundi', having spent a fortnight there 6 years ago, and having formed a lasting impression.

Firstly, a bit of geography: Burundi is a landlocked country on the East coast of Africa, south of the equator and bordering Congo and Tanzania. The languages spoken are Kurundi and French (the latter important for any kind of business). Burundi is one of the 5 poorest countries in the world, although 70% have access to a safe water supply.  Food is simple and basic but readily available - people live in huts with their own banana trees around.  There is a coffee-growing co-operative similar to Fair Trade.

Burundi's capital is Bujumbura and its total population is around 7 million.  GDP is about $500 per head with subsistence farming accounting for 90% of Burundi's economy.  Exports include coffee, tea, sugar, cotton and animal hides.  The literacy rate is 52% and average life expectancy is 43 years, with some 57% of under-5s being malnourished.

Like Rwanda, there has been ethnic conflict between the majority Hutus and minority Tutsis (the latter having dominated the country's power structures).  There have been refugee problems following on from the troubles - those who fled are returning to find their homes gone.  The Church is helping and the diocese set up a food co-operative to help people grow their own food.  Bishop John is well-respected by the government and Church and State are working together to replace lost infrastructure.  Evening classes take place for adults to get valuable literacy skills.

The health system is rather haphazard with state hospitals being very poorly resourced and M