The life expectancy of the Batwa people of Burundi is currently 27 years…we need your help to change this! Join us for a wonderful night of food, live entertainment, inspiration, and an opportunity to join others in creating change for Burundi! On June 16, 2012, Loveworks and Souls of the Feet are joining forces to bring you the “Building Burundi Gala”. The Gala will be held at The Royal Glenora Club, 11160 River Valley Rd. NW in Edmonton, Alberta. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the event begins at 6:30 p.m.

The entertainment for the evening features Canada's Got Talent semi-finalist, impressionist and comedian, Laheeb Quddusi! There will also be a silent auction and musical performances, including an acoustic set and a live jazz band during dinner. Be prepared to be inspired and to have a wonderful time for a great cause.

About the project: 

This coming July 2012, we will be taking a team of 24 people from Canada to Burundi, Africa where we will be building houses with a Batwa community. Burundi is a small and beautiful country in the heart of Africa that is filled with incredible people, many of whom have become our friends. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world. Living in Burundi is a pygmy tribe called the Batwa who are a neglected people group and some of the most marginalized people on the planet. Their average life expectancy is only 27 years and many Batwa children don’t live to see their 5^th birthday! In our efforts to help empower and rebuild Burundi we are starting with the Batwa…the people that no one else is caring for.

All of this is happening through Loveworks’ long-term partnership with a Batwa community in the city of Busiga and through local Burundian partners. The first priority in Busiga was clean water but now that they have clean drinking water we are turning our attention to work with the community on their next most pressing need… shelter.

We have fallen in love with the Batwa people and believe that they deserve to live full lives with dignity and hope. Having a simple mud brick house to protect them and their children is a significant step towards this becoming a reality. 24 houses have already been built and we still have 50 to go! Amazingly, each house only costs $500 to build. We invite you to become a part of the story of the Batwa by helping to Build Burundi together.

What can you do to help? 

We would love to see you at the Gala! Tickets are only $65 in advance and $75 at the door. Companies that wish to sponsor a table and receive recognition at the event can do so for $1000/table. Also, we are accepting items for the Gala’s silent auction. This is another great way to get exposure and recognition for your company. Lastly, if you are unable to attend the event and would still like to support the initiative, donations can be made online at www.ourloveworks.com/building-burundi or by cheque mailed to Loveworks at Box 42051 Millbourne RPO. Edmonton, AB T6K 4C4. Loveworks is a project of YFC Canada which is a registered Canadian charity. Therefore, cheques must be made payable to YFC Canada. 100% of proceeds go towards projects that directly impact Batwa families!

This is a tremendous opportunity for you to invest in the future of Burundi and in the lives of 24 world-changers from Canada by contributing to this initiative. We invite you to be a part of the team through your attendance, participation, and support.

For more information, to purchase tickets, or to make a donation please call 1 - (780) 938-0229 or email info@ourloveworks.com