Nyanza Lac, Burundi
A newly built hybrid center in Nyanza-Lac, Burundi, empowering youth with digital and practical skills through renewable energy, education, and local partnerships.
The community center in Burundi was established in Nyanza‑Lac, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, one of Africa’s most important freshwater ecosystems. The center is financed by the Stiftung Entwicklungszusammenarbeit within the framework of the Amahoro! Partnership between the German state of Baden-Württemberg and Burundi. Implementation is carried out jointly with Together for Development and the local partner Ephraim Ngendakuriyo, ensuring strong community ownership and contextual relevance.
Country context
Burundi is one of the youngest and most densely populated countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its economy is predominantly agrarian, with a large share of the population relying on subsistence farming. Limited access to electricity, vocational education, and market infrastructure—particularly in rural and lakeside regions—constrains economic opportunity. At the same time, Burundi has significant human potential, with a rapidly growing youth population eager for education, skills development, and pathways into sustainable livelihoods.
The center and its infrastructure
The Nyanza-Lac center is a newly constructed community facility designed as a multifunctional learning and production space. At its core is a hybrid education hub equipped with 30 laptops donated by Close the Gap, enabling digital literacy, hybrid learning formats, and access to online educational content. To ensure reliable operations, the center is powered by a dedicated solar energy system, addressing chronic electricity shortages and providing a stable, renewable power supply.
Beyond digital learning, the center integrates facilities for practical agricultural training, allowing participants to acquire hands-on skills in crop production and sustainable farming methods. A local shop space enables trainees and community members to sell agricultural and handmade products, directly linking skills acquisition with income generation. Sewing workshops support vocational training in tailoring and textile production, particularly benefiting women and young adults seeking non-agricultural income opportunities.
Recognizing local infrastructure challenges, the project also includes the construction of a water well, responding to persistent water access issues in the area and improving both learning conditions and community resilience.
Timeline and outlook
The physical setup of the center was completed in November 2025, including the full installation of the solar power system. Following a preparatory phase, training courses are scheduled to begin at the end of February, focusing on digital skills, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and vocational competencies.
Overall, the Nyanza-Lac community center represents an integrated approach to development: combining education, renewable energy, water access, and local economic activity. Anchored in strong international and local partnerships, it serves as a sustainable model for community-driven skills development in Burundi.
