BURUNDI: SHEKINAH CENTRE AND THE HUMANITARIAN MISSION OF CIVIL DIPLOMAT MICHELINE BARANDEREKA

Micheline Barandereka Dedicates Her Life to Transforming Communities

Micheline Barandereka serves as Founder and Executive Director of Shekinah Centre in Mukaza and also acts as a Civil Humanitarian Diplomat of Jethro International.

Her leadership inspires hope in one of the most vulnerable regions of Africa. Moreover, her journey shows how local action creates lasting change.

Shekinah Centre and Micheline Barandereka’s Humanitarian Mission

She spent ten years working with the United Nations. During that time, Burundi faced several civil wars that deeply affected families across the country. She witnessed  widespread malnutrition and severe poverty in rural communities.

Therefore, she listened to her conscience and chose courage over comfort. She left her UN career and returned to a remote area with a clear purpose: create real impact.

She founded Shekinah Centre to promote social inclusion, dignity, and equality. As Micheline says:
“By enabling people to act together, Shekinah Center fosters social inclusion and equality.”

Her work earned her major recognition. She received the Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur honor. In 2017, the Government of Burundi granted her a Certificate of Honor for her contribution to socio-economic transformation through community development programs.

Burundi: Education Challenges and the Need for Humanitarian Work

Burundi remains one of the poorest nations in the world. It ranks 187 out of 191 countries in the Human Development Index. More than 80% of the population works in agriculture, and 56% of children face chronic malnutrition.

Furthermore, education quality remains a major challenge. Although primary school is free, rural areas struggle with overcrowded classrooms, low literacy skills, and high dropout rates. Only 34% of children complete primary school, and very few rural students reach secondary education.

Consequently, organizations like Shekinah Centre play a crucial role in improving future opportunities for vulnerable children.

Shekinah Centre and Its Education Programs in Burundi

Shekinah Centre began its work in 2011 with only 40 pupils. Today, it welcomes 265 children. The organization operates in Rusaka commune, in the Province of Mwaro, and follows Burundi’s national legal standards for nonprofit institutions.

Micheline designed Shekinah Centre to meet families needs. She developed a holistic and integrated methodology tailored to rural communities. The approach combines four essential pillars:

• Quality Education
• Clean Water Access
• Nutrition and Health & Reproductive Health Support
• Family Economic Empowerment

In addition, Shekinah strengthens community participation. Parents join the educational process and support the development of their children.

This community-based model creates sustainable social change. All activities operate in one location and will expand to new regions as the organization grows.

Shekinah Centre and the Vision for Social Transformation

Micheline believes that long-term transformation begins with children and grows through empowered families.

Thus, Shekinah focuses on both education and household stability. Children receive meals, healthcare, and clean water. Families receive training to increase their income.

As a result, every child gains real chances to learn, grow, and thrive.

Her vision remains clear: build a generation able to break the cycle of poverty through knowledge and dignity.

Micheline Barandereka and Her Commitment as a Civil Humanitarian Diplomat

Micheline recently joined Jethro International as a Civil Humanitarian Diplomat. Her words reflect a deep sense of mission and gratitude:

“To be acknowledged alongside such dedicated global network is truly humbling! This moment fills my heart with profound gratitude, and simultaneously ignites an even greater commitment to serve more diligently, striving for a wider and more sustainable impact.”

Moreover, her partnership with Jethro International strengthens her ability to advocate for education, equality, and human development in Burundi.