2015 Micro Joint Ventures Report

What follows is a report covering activity from 2014 and some of 2015 as well. Important background
to this report is the civil strife that engulfed Burundi over this period. The President stood for a third
term, despite the constitution only allowing for two terms. This led to great instability and deaths,
including an attempted coup, and many fleeing for their lives. Needless to say, such conditions make
business a secondary consideration at best. Nevertheless, our manager Aime Joseph has bravely
toured the country and filed the report below.
I have to confess that my original hopes for the success of these businesses have not been borne out.
We started our first business in April 2010, with high hopes. However, I no longer believe that it is
reasonable for contributors to expect an economic return from their contributions. I have not updated
the calculation of ownership levels of the various contributors partly because it is a lot of work, and
partly because in the midst of the death and destruction I find it hard to contemplate pulling money
out of these churches. Contributors might like to contact me about their feelings in this. Contributors
should be aware that I have not been paid in any way for my work overseeing these projects, so that
all contributions have gone either to our manager (Aime Joseph, who lives in Burundi, and who tours
the different projects at personal risk), to Western Union (the costs of money transfer) or (the vast
majority) to the projects themselves.
One noteworthy aspect of the current situation is that Aime Joseph has had more success overseeing
Anglican projects than those from other denominations, owing to his being Anglican. As much as I
wanted to be broad in the kinds of churches we supported, practicalities are pushing in the opposite
direction, towards choosing (Anglican) churches that Aime Joseph can more easily visit and oversee.
Aime Josephs financial commentary below is best understood as stating first the current capital, then
subtracting capital as it stood at the prior reporting period, with the result being the profit for the
period.
Do be in prayer for the different churches and projects, for their growth in Christ in these tough
conditions, as well as their safety and their love for one another. Please ask God for Aime Joseph to
do well looking after not only his own children but the orphaned children of his uncle.
Give thanks that we were also able to make a contribution during the period to free an individual from
hospital. In Burundi, individuals who cannot pay their hospital bills are not permitted to leave the
hospital until they have paid, even if that means months or years in a kind of hospital detention. We
have been asked if we can free three more individuals from hospital, with the price upwards of A$750
for each person. Please ask God for help for those imprisoned in such circumstances.
Mike Russell, November 2015

The managers report (From Aime Joseph Kimararungu)

Greetings in the name of the Lord,
Hope this finds you well.
I am writing to report on the venture although I delayed
due to security which is still an issue in Burundi even today.
May I let you know as an introduction that things changed after my
visits due to security as a number of parishioners fled to Rwanda
and to Tanzania including pastors in some areas.
1. Bugendana parish(cabbage and fresh food business)
By the time I visited, there was no business as it was in a dry season,
But, after the heavy rainfalls of last year which took a part of their business
they had remained with a capital of 745,890.00 BIF
Balance sheet this year: 1,115,780BIF- 745,890.00= 369,890.00BIF
However, later in July, the treasurer, his family and some of the church members
fled to Rwanda for their safety. He went with all the funds.
He might be in a refuge camp in Rwanda.
2.Munyinya parish( coffee business)
After the project was expanded the Capital became: 542,415.00+1,430,038=1.972.453 BIF
Balance sheet: 2,365,420-1972.453= 392967 BIF
3.Kigarama parish (cassava flour business)
Balance sheet: 1,786,270.00-1,500,000.00=286,270.00 BIF
To mention that this project started just recently but the profit so far
gives hope for a better result after the year.
4.Mushasha Parish
This parish received 1.500.000BIF as the capital in April last year.
Today they presented their balance sheets as follows:
Total amount on 23,August,2015: 1,844.635BIF
Profit: 1,844,635-1,500,000=344,635BIF
5.Kigarama Parish(cassava flour business)
Kigarama parish received 1,400,000 BIF in February this year
and they declared a profit of 197850
Balace sheet: 1,597850-1400,000= 197850BIF(Profit)
6.Nyamutetema parish.(Honey business)
This parish has been performing better since the beginning.
However it borders Tanzania and has become insecure since the protestations
started in Bujumbura the capital city a number of people fled to Tanzania via Nyamutetema and I
could not manage to visit the place. I tried to get into contact with the Project representative Mrs
Sylvestre Ndayiragije in vain. Now the region remains insecure and rebels may be operating from
that area as everyday we are getting news of kidnapping and assassination in the region.
Conclusion: I have no news regarding the project progress at Nyamutetema. I suspect many people
might have fled to Tanzania.

7.Gitega Parish(United Methodist Church)

After the project failure and lack of communication with the people in charge in the previous years,
The new priest did not report any profit but promised me to be working hard to give a report soon
and that the business is going on.
8.Bikobe Parish.
As you remember, we decided to withdraw our funds from this parish,
but only a half of the capital(2.500.000) was given to us via Bishop Justin.
Since then, they did not want to communicate to me, I tried even to have an appointment
to make a trip there, but I could not get them on phone as they do not use internet.
However, When we withdrew the funds from them, I noticed that they were confused thinking that
a half of the capital should remain with them yet they have the agreement on them.
9.Gasave Parish (Free Methodist Church)
This parish renounced to the venture but didn't return back the funds to us.
The project representative Mr. Augustin promised to work on it, but nothing was reported
to us until last August where he told me to be having a half of the capital.
I decided not to take it until they get the whole of the funds you sent to them.
Conclusion: They might have misused the funds and decided to give up the venture
while they didn't have even the capital.
10.Ruyigi parish
This parish has declared last year,the project to have failed and promised
to pay back the capital. This year nothing was done and when I visited them
they kept on making empty promises. I tried to contact the archdeacon of the region
he promised to invite the priest and project representative to discuss the issue this week.