February 16, 2024 is an important date for the communities of Butezi and Ruyigi, in Burundi.
It is the day when the final delivery of the works took place: the water network built thanks to the project Water source of life and development will from now on be looked after by the women and men of the Ruyigi hill. Between dances, songs and inauguration speeches, this day marked a turning point for the development of the two communities. The celebrations were organized by CASOBU and AMU in partnership with SOPRAD Caritas Ruyigi, MUNASA and AHAMR. In her opening speech, the legal representative of the CASOBU association Candide , recalled the objectives achieved by the project: “90 families now have access to safe drinking water following the rehabilitation of over 12 km and the extension of another 12 km of the Karaba network which extends over a total line of 25 km.”
And again: “Awareness-raising activities have been carried out for good management of water as a common good. On this occasion I would also like to thank the administrators of the municipalities of Butezi and Ruyigi for the implementation of the Network Co-Management Protocol, as requested by the Ministry”. Our president Stefano Comazzi , 
present at the ceremony, thanked CASOBU for the work done and renewed the commitment to continue supporting the development of these communities: “The delivery of this infrastructure to local authorities is a very important act. We have done this great work with the contribution of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI). In the past years, CEI came here and appreciated the quality of the projects that AMU and CASOBU had already carried out here in Burundi, we hope that the support will continue. I think it is very important to underline one thing: the approach that AMU has, and that CEI certainly shares, is not based on the mere fact that someone gives and someone else receives. For us it is fundamental that everyone can receive something, so it is true that the donations needed to build the infrastructures come from Italy, but on the other hand, the communities that live here can give a lot: the example of life that they bring with them, the ability to work in the community. Because success is based on the ability of communities to implement all resources with the aim of achieving the common good . It is a very important testimony for Europe. Let us learn from you”.
We also collected the voice of a woman who lives in the province of Ruyigi: “We used to drink undrinkable water, but now we drink clean water. Even the children are happy about it, at first they joked, they called it «CASOBU water». But with the establishment and training of management committees we are aware that drinking water is a common good that belongs to us and for this reason we have an interest in protecting this heritage received , with the aim of quenching our thirst and improving our health”.
