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King Baudouin African Development Prize Spring 2015 KING BAUDOUIN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT PRIZE ADISCO (BURUNDI): EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO LIFT THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY Under the Honorary Chairmanship of HM Queen Mathilde kbs-frb.be Brussels X, P309439 Editorial Luc Tayart de Borms > Managing Director Table of contents 2 Editorial 3-7 King Baudouin African Development Prize – meet the winner ADISCO 8-9 Listening to the voices of Belgo-Morrocans and Belgo-Turks 10-11 EPIM: 10 years of advocating for Making a difference in migrants and their communities people’s lives – meet our grantees 12-13 KBF and the European Policy Centre – a long-term strategic partnership 14-15 The collector’s passion – Jos Knaepen Welcome to the spring/summer Islam in Belgian society. In this issue 2015 edition of our International you will meet a Belgo-Morrocan and 16-17 Hugo Claus – preserving a Newsletter. In this edition, we pre- a Belgo-Turk who describe their Belgian literary legacy sent the 2014–2015 winner of the experiences and their view of inte- 18-24 GRANTEES IN THE SPOTLIGHT King Baudouin African Development gration. • Combating energy poverty Prize, ADISCO. The Prize recognizes • The EU Integrity Watch website innovative initiatives that improve There are some important chang- • Life-saving training rolls out on the rails quality of life and empower local es in the European Programme for • Fellowships in Western Balkans • Alzheimer’s disease communities to take development Integration and Migration (EPIM). into their own hands. ADISCO is EPIM, which is celebrating its 10th 25 Advanced care planning doing this every day in rural Burundi anniversary this year, is evolving 26-27 Our ID in an area known as “the Hills”. We into an impact-driven, joint fund- can only hope that the challenging ing platform based on collaboration 28-31 KBFUS: TWO DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS situation in Burundi today does not among foundations. • The Starbucks Charitable Fund – jeopardize the work of this great much more than coffee organization. The Foundation’s Heritage Fund is • The Pfizer Foundation Fund – showcased in this edition, with a providing quality healthcare in Africa In this edition you will also read a profile of the Jos Knaepen Fund, the 32 Et cetera series of profiles about our grantees Brussels Fine Art and Antiques Fair, and how they are making a differ- and the archives of Belgium’s most ence by improving people’s lives. renowned author, Hugo Claus. This showcase is a new feature that we plan to continue. I hope you enjoy this International PUBLISHER: Newsletter. As always, your com- Luc Tayart de Borms Two years ago, the Foundation ments and suggestions are most rue Brederodestraat 21 B-1000 Brussels, Belgium decided to refocus on the place of welcome. T: +32-2-500 4 555 [email protected] • kbs-frb.be IBAN BE10 0000 0000 0404 BIC BPOTBEB1 The King Baudouin Foundation is an independent, pluralistic foundation EDITORS: S. Deboosere, D. Rienstra CONTRIBUTOR: D. Lodoen ASSISTANCE: A. Bruwier, I. Dannau DESIGN: PuPiL PRINTING: working in Belgium and at the European and international level. We are New Goff ILLUSTRATIONS: E. Crooÿ (p. 2, p. 10b), E. Depril seeking to change society for the better, so we invest in inspiring projects (p. 32c), EPC (p. 12-13), European Fund for the Balkans (p. 22), J.-D. Guillou (p. 32a), LIFE-PRIORITY (p. 21), A. Malang (p. 8a), and individuals. In 2014 we provided a total of €30 million in support to I. Maly (p. 11b), T. Mazina (p. 1, 3-4, 5a, 6), T. Mentens (p. 32b), 2,000 organizations and individuals. The Foundation was set up in 1976, B. Naveau (p. 27c), OCMW Destelbergen (p. 24b), A. Opara (p. 30), th SJ.112, collection MRAC Tervuren; photo J.-M. Vandyck, MRAC on the occasion of the 25 anniversary of King Baudouin's reign. Tervuren (p. 32d), SJ.1321, collection MRAC Tervuren; photo J.-M. Vandyck, MRAC Tervuren (p. 32e), M. Touijiri (p. 27b), F. Toussaint (p. 32 f-g), Transparency International EU (p. 20), UNHCR / G. Welters (p. 10a), G. van Buggenhout (p. 17), B. Van Mol (p. 18), Follow us on S. Viaene (p. 25) 2 TOPIC KING BAUDOUIN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT PRIZE The winner of the King Baudouin African Development Prize 2014–2015 is ADISCO, a non-profit organization with a vision to create prosperity, solidarity and dignity in rural Burundi. Today, Burundi is making headlines. KING BAUDOUIN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT PRIZE EMPOWERING AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES IN RURAL BURUNDI We interviewed ADISCO’s founder Deogratias are recognized by local communities. These vol- Niyonkuru before the protests. unteers receive training in personal development, agricultural techniques and cooperative man- What is ADISCO’s mission? agement through Haguruka Popular University. Deogratias Niyonkuru: “It is to contribute to the emergence and development of a national social ADISCO does not give money to individuals. movement that is capable of driving its own They access funds through rotative saving and development and influencing policies in favour of credit systems built into the IGGs – Imigwi yo the less well-off members of society. By restor- Gutererana no Gufatana mu nda (groups for self- ing people’s self-esteem, even those without land development and solidarity). Gradually, people become empowered to find solutions for their begin to organize themselves into IGGs to mobi- situation. We tell people: “You can get out of pov- lize resources to find solutions to the problems erty. Poverty is not inevitable.” of production, marketing and processing their products, which they resolve by working within How does ADISCO foster self-development cooperatives. ADISCO is building a health pro- and the empowerment of the rural population? tection system for the poorest through mutual “ADISCO wants to free people from the weight health organizations.” of feeling that they are condemned to a life of poverty. We recruit and train professionals with How will winning the prize affect a background in agronomy, accounting or edu- ADISCO’s work? cation. ADISCO’s main methodology is based on “Winning the prize will hopefully result in politi- strengthening capacities of community leaders. cal decision-makers paying greater attention to ADISCO recruits volunteers whose reputations ADISCO and to the proposals it puts forward.” “ADISCO wants to free people from the weight of feeling that they are condemned to a life of poverty.” ADISCO founder DEOGRATIAS NIYONKURU MORE INFO? adisco.org • kbprize.org Read more on the winner, the Prize and the selection process on p.4-7 3 TOPIC SAYING GOODBYE TO POVERTY Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world with an and succeeded in launching IGGs estimated 80% of the population living in poverty. It is ranked as (community groups of maximum 10 “the hungriest country” in the world by the Global Hunger Index. people). Next, she formed a coopera- tive. ADISCO is helping to change this by empowering individuals, families and communities to lift themselves out of poverty. Habarugira has learned new farming ADISCO has been KBF’s main partner in Burundi since 2011. techniques from ADISCO. “I used to sow the rice by scattering it,” she says. Tracing a path to prosperity ADISCO she was impressed by the “I now sow it grain by grain. Previously, On the hill of Rugajo, in northwest organization’s vision for develop- I would sow as much as 12 kg and har- Burundi, a young Burandian woman ment and decided to join. Habarugira vest around 165 kg of paddy; today, I is determinedly tracing out her path to recounts what attracted her to sow 1 kg and it yields up to 220 kg. prosperity. At 25, Joselyne Habarugira ADISCO: “It encourages us to work Now, many of my neighbours are fol- is a farmer and president of various hard and not to underestimate our lowing suit.” local farmers’ and women’s asso- capabilities. ADISCO shows us how to ciations. In 2008, aged 18 and after say goodbye to poverty and explains Unlike similar organizations ADISCO studying law in Bujumbura, rather than how development begins and ends focuses on education and guidance. applying for a job as clerk of the court, with us.” An organization has recently distrib- she decided to return to her village. uted an ameliorated breed of cattle, She traversed the hill, raising aware- says Habarugira. The animals were When she met people working with ness among the farmers of Rugajo immediately taken to the slaughter- 4 KING BAUDOUIN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT PRIZE “Previously, I would sow as much as 12 kg and harvest around 165 kg of paddy; today, I sow 1 kg and it yields up to 220 kg.” JOSELYNE HABARUGIRA, farmer and president of local farmers’ and women’s associations house. She insists that educating the importance of innovative techniques population is essential for the devel- for more sustainable agriculture. ADISCO’S VISION opment of Burundi. TRANSLATED INTO He praises ADISCO’s management CONCRETE Taking responsibility board and staff for being flexible and ACHIEVEMENTS for development responsive to changing local needs. Habarugira has seen positive results “Their tools are very innovative and In December 2014, ADISCO’s for her family. She and her husband when you are in the field, you can Haguruka programme covered are never without money. At commu- see that they connect with the local approximately 112,182 nity level, farmers now take responsi- capacities,” he says. “You can see the bility for their development into their connection between the staff and the people from 18,094 families own hands through local organiza- grassroots as they put together their regrouped into 2,128 IGGs tions that meet their needs, such as ideas to see what works best.” and 26 cooperatives thanks the women’s IGGs, cooperatives, and to 686 benevolent leaders.
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