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Exercise classes in Burundi - 24th June 2022

Group classes are bringing people together to stay fit in Burundi, in Africa, and that's important here. Burundi became independent from Belgium in 1962. Since then, there've been wars between its Hutu and Tutsi communities.

The situation's getting better, but life's difficult. Many people can't see a doctor, find work or make enough money. Exercise clubs give people a support network.

This club started in 2004. Numbers have gone down in difficult times, but now they're growing. Hussein Sinangwa started the club for everyone to meet.

Hussein Sinangwa: "Mass sport is important on the whole, because people from all walks of life converge, across political parties, ethnicities and religions."

Burundi's population of 12 million come from many social groups, with different religions and cultures. But anyone can attend the clubs. Their members become a kind of family, and they pay only around 10 US cents a class.

Sheilla comes along regularly.

Sheilla: "Anytime you want you can come, and it's very cheap. At the gym there it's very expensive – not, not anyone can afford to go there. It's just like that. That's why I prefer to come here."

Members can also give coaches a small extra amount. This money helps members in bad times, for example if there's a family emergency.

Hussein Sinangwa: "We help each other with the money that we collect as contributions. When there's a sick person in our organisation – a member of the club – we assist him in case of illness, in case of death or other issues."

The classes aren't just good for fitness. Members feel like a community. In the classes and outside, this feeling gives people extra strength when they have problems.

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