URUGENDO

  A Memoir of a Burundian in Uganda: The Adventure Beyond Job Opportunity" By Juste Picasso Nduwayo   As a coffee entrepreneur and horticulture enthusiast, I embarked on a journey to Uganda in January 2018 to work as an Operations Manager at a coffee company in Manafwa , eastern Uganda. Little did I know that this move would be the start of an incredible adventure.  My first year was a whirlwind of experiences - working in a new country, meeting new people, and navigating the challenges of working in a foreign country for the first time but with some coffee skills . As per now, I am married with two little children, Liam and Novah. These kids have gone to school,in an english system in burundi to be able to understand the innovations made by english speaking people.   My time in Uganda has been a steep learning curve. to navigate the complexities of working without direct supervision from my partners. One of the biggest challenges I faced was obtaining a work pe...

  The Search for Views: Modern Distractions in the Digital Age  Technology is a double-edged sword in modern life. While it offers numerous benefits, its misuse can lead to harmful distractions. The internet is flooded with vast amounts of information, making it essential for individuals to discern what is truly valuable.  With the plethora of online content, including games, entertainment, education, motivation, business, politics, and wars, it's crucial to ask: "What do I want to spend my time on?" As young individuals and students, it's vital to focus on news and information that will shape your future career and personal development. In today's era of "views and likes," some individuals prioritize distractions over substance.  For instance, someone might waste time posting nonsensical content on social media, disturbing their followers and offering no value in return. Even some journalists prioritize clicks over quality content, wasting readers' ...

  Ignorance and Illusion of Knowledge: The Twin Barriers to Burundi's Sustainable Development  Burundi, one of the world's poorest countries, grapples with multifaceted challenges. While factors like war, culture, and leadership contribute to its poverty, I argue that ignorance and illusion of knowledge are the primary obstacles.  Ignorance pervades among illiterate individuals and peasants, who are unaware of human progress and innovation. Comfortable with their status quo, they resist change and are easily deceived by politicians and foreign institutions. Despite significant investments, their living conditions remain unchanged. Learning and reading books can help to reduce ignorance amoong our citizens.  On the other hand, the illusion of knowledge afflicts educated individuals, who possess theoretical knowledge but lack practical solutions. Burundi has invested billions in educating its citizens, yet they fail to address community problems. Instead, they criticiz...

  The Ineffectiveness of Burundi's Diaspora in National Development  Burundi's diaspora, possessing foreign capital, expertise, and networks, is supposed to play an important role in the country's development. However, their impact falls short of expectations. To understand this phenomenon, we must examine the circumstances surrounding their departure.  Notice: I love to see many Burundians traveling abroad to acquire new experience to think out of the box. Even though there are some exceptions, allow me to generalize for the first time by saying “many”, “some”, or “the diaspora”, because I don't have numbers and references for now.  Many Burundians fled due to wars and ideological persecution, leaving with feelings of hatred and a refugee mentality. This mindset hinders their ability to engage in peace and reconciliation, often leading to extremism. The diaspora's inclination to spread hatred and division among those who remained in Burundi is detrimental to nation...

  Lack of Creativity and Invention in Burundi's Youth: A Societal Concern                  Burundi, a country rich in resources and potential, is facing a crisis that threatens to hinder its progress: the lack of creativity and innovation among its youth. Our ancestors have ignorantly created a society where parents restrict their children's ability to develop their full potential. This was worsened by the poor education system where team are considered as paid labor to teach how to read and write and memorize notes only without focusing on addressing problems that are being faced by our society.            If as per now Burundi is facing shortage of foreign currencies, our education system should be changed to focus much on how to address the issues not only teaching how to give back the memorized notes. Growing up, we were discouraged from engaging in discussions about societal problems with our ...