Who We are

Haguruka is a non-profit association founded in November 2002 by women from Burundi with the objective to help women in rural and low-income urban areas in Burundi. We are based in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). "Haguruka" is a Kirundi expression which means "stand up". Through our initiatives, we hope to help the most disadvantaged to rise out of poverty, silence, and ultimately out of all the socioeconomic injustices that prevent them from flourishing. We do this by enhancing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of their lives — especially for the women experiencing deep poverty and social exclusion — by providing them with economic relief. In the process, we particularly aim to celebrate Burundian women’s extraordinary courage, remarkable force of character, and sense of collectivity.

Our objectives

Initiate and run microcredit programs
Nurture relationships - and build networks and coalitions - with grassroots women’s organizations in Burundi
Open a HAGURUKA office in Burundi and employing one woman to coordinate programs
Create policies and procedures that guide the management of HAGURUKA's micro-financing credit loans (ie. project reports, assessments, yearly visits from HAGURUKA executives).
Develop an array of fundraising activities in Canada
Create comprehensive communication plan to take advantage of current traditional media and emerging electronic tools to promote HAGURUKA's work (website, newsletters, social media accounts, blogs, etc.)
Undertake public education initiatives
Provide workshops and seminars highlighting known Burundian and/or East African activists, leaders, and/or speakers on issues affecting the Burundian diaspora in Canada, with a special focus on women 
Provide workshops and seminars on the impact of poverty on women, with a focus on marginalized women in Burundi 
Acquire charitable status
Develop Strategic Plan to frame long term goals 

Vision

Improved standard of living and human rights for socially and economically disadvantaged women and their families in Burundi

Mission

Our established mission is to come together as an integrated Burundian diaspora, partners and allies to promote solidarity with women and children living in Burundi, as well as their families and larger communities within which they live. The purpose is to help those that are living under harsh economic and social conditions through financial assistance, solidarity and empowerment. We recognize that women are resilient and resourceful pillars of the community.
We focus on fundraising activities in Canada to provide relief to women in Burundi with the overall objectives of:

Enhancing the economic empowerment of women and the reduction of poverty in Burundi
Promoting gender equality via social media campaigns
Advocating to end gender-based violence
Supporting women’s involvement in Burundian civil society
Increasing access to education, health care, and economic opportunities for women in Burundi
Building a reputation in Burundi and Canada, as being an organization that fights poverty and improves human rights for women

How We Operate 

To supplement the annual membership fees, we conduct periodic fundraising activities in Canada to provide economic relief and development to women living in poverty in Burundi through the provision of:

micro-financing and/or credit loans
public education and information sharing

We operate in partnership with other grassroots community organization already delivering services to women in Burundi.