Beyonce at the 2017 Essence Music Festival announced as she had partnered with UNICEF, with a meaningful commitment of helping the children in Burundi, Africa, get clean and safe drinking water.
Beyonce, the U.S pop star, her BEYGOOD4BURUNDI Foundation together with UNICEF said in a statement that they are to dig wells, improve hygiene and provide sanitation facilities in schools.
In her statement, the pop star said that more than 2 million people in Burundi spend more than 30 minutes of the day searching and collecting water. She explained saying that the results of this, is children missing school and putting girls in particular dangers as they walk miles in search of the wells.
“Access to water is a fundamental right. When you give children clean and safe water, you don’t just give them life. You give them health, education and a brighter future,” said Beyonce.
“I am committed to helping drive long lasting solutions to the water crisis in Burundi,” she promised.
The BEYGOOD4BURUNDI and UNICEF partnership focuses on four major rural regions of Bukembe, Giharo, Kinyinya and Nyabitsinda in the landlocked East African nation (Burundi), that has suffered unrest by civil war and violence as well as drought and malnutrition.
“Addressing the global water crisis is one of our major concern and defining challenges of our time, and the children of Burundi are among the most vulnerable,” said UNICEF USA President/ CEO Caryl M. Stern, in a statement.
“This unique partnership combines UNICEF’s decades of expertise in providing clean water to the children in Burundi and around the
world with the power and influence of the entertainment world to bring about social change. We are grateful to Beyonce and BEYGOOD4BURUNDI for deciding to join forces with UNICEF to highlight this critical issue to the audience,” he then added.
Beyonce is one of the most popular singers in the world, married to a rap star and entrepreneur Jay Z, with three children.
BEYGOOD4BURUNDI is a continuation of the work that Beyonce, her family and Parkwood Entertainment are doing to address water crises around the world. It was founded in 2013.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu
