Pontien at the first meeting in 2023 . Photo:LWF/ L. Gillabert
Seeing a life transformed through LWF's work
A First Encounter
A bright smile. That is the first thing I noticed about Pontien when I met him. It was 13 September 2023 in Bumba, a small village on a remote hill in Burundi. Pontien is a farmer who joined a cooperative supported by the Community-Integrated Development Project (CIDP). He participated in a Farmer Field School training to learn about modern agricultural techniques. I was there as a Liaison Officer to take pictures and gather testimonies for LWF Burundi's partner, the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS). The idea was simple: follow four project participants throughout the project cycle to report the impact of the activities to donors in Australia.
Pontien and I sat on plastic chairs in the courtyard of a restaurant with pink-painted walls. He said something to the project facilitators that made them laugh. They explained that it was Pontien's first time meeting a muzungu (a Swahili word commonly used to refer to foreigners) and that he was pleased about it. Little did he know that this encounter felt special to me as well. Being from Switzerland, I felt blessed to have the opportunity to exchange with someone I would have never met otherwise. That is the magic of working in communications in the humanitarian and development sector: exchanges with inspiring people 6,000 km from home.
I felt blessed to have the opportunity to exchange with someone I would have never met otherwise.
Léa Gillabert, LWF Burundi Liaison officer
After this first meeting, I knew Pontien would be an inspiring example.
Our final meeting
Pontien and I met four times over nine months. We spoke for an hour each time, during which he explained what he had learned in the project and how it impacted his crops. Pontien learned to use modern farming techniques, including selecting seeds, planting in rows, alternating crops, and using fertilizer and organic manure. He also received seeds, tools, and other agricultural inputs.
In June 2024, I met him for the last time. He welcomed Jacques, the Project Manager; Dieudonné, the Facilitator; and me to his home. His wife, Vénérande, and four of his eight children were also present. Pontien had just brought in his harvest and explained the impact of the project: "We have seen remarkable progress," he said. "Before, we ate once a day; now, we eat three times a day." He also shared his plans: "To invest in agriculture, especially livestock. I want to buy goats and cows to have lots of organic manure. We want to ensure that our children can continue their education to university. I wish them to continue studying so that later they can also join a cooperative."
The last picture in June 2024. From left to right: Jacques, the Project Manager, Pontien, and the author. Photo: LWF/ L. Gillabert
At the end of the interview, I gave him printed pictures I took during our previous encounters. In the countryside it's not common to have printed pictures of yourself. The whole family gathered around him to have a look and laugh, passing the photos from hand to hand.
Achievements That Live On
After every meeting with Pontien, I shared the pictures and testimonies with the ALWS communications team. Based in Australia, they create donation campaigns, conduct sensitization sessions in schools, and organize events to raise funds for LWF Burundi and other programs. When I opened their 2023 annual report, I saw Pontien's story featured on a full page. His smile was as bright as the day I met him. He stood in front of the family house, surrounded by eight other members of his family.
Pontien’s story in the ALWS annual report . Photo: LWF/ L.Gillabert
As I leave Burundi, Pontien's words and pictures will continue to travel the world and inspire individuals, hopefully prompting some to donate to the program. This way, his stories and achievements will have a lasting impact on his community.
