BURUNDI
October 2025
‘Skateboarding was introduced in Burundi in early 2012.’
Can you tell us something about Burundi no one knows?
Burundi is a landlocked country and is one of the poorest countries, experiencing high rate of unemployment. Burundi is also facing problems with poor infrastructure and experiencing problems with youth. Most of them don’t go to school because of poverty, and lack of basics necessities. This is one of the biggest problems and is causing most of the kids to go on the streets begging, stealing, dealing with drugs. Therefore, they are experiencing depression, hatred, anxieties, poor growth, poor diet. Nevertheless, Burundi also is facing problems with fuel and shortage of food to help the people in the country, dysfunctional families and lack of educational system. There are many orphans Some are disabled and most don’t have food. Burundi as a country is speaking Kirundi, Kiswahili and some French as well. Burundi is facing problems due to lack of safe spaces for sports like Skateboarding. Due to historical backgrounds Burundi was divided into two parts, Rwanda and Burundi but it was one country just because of the Hutus and other issues forced its separation.
When was skateboarding introduced to Burundi?
Skateboarding was introduced in Burundi in early 2012.
How many active skaters are there?
30 active skaters including girls and every day we get new participants.
Do you have any places to skate?
Yes, we use a Tennis playground sometimes go in streets to skate.
Tell us something about yourself?
I am Zavy, 21 years old, skate coach, co-founder of Burundi skateboard society. I came up with this idea just because I wanted to solve the problems facing in Burundi through Skateboarding and I love skating as well.
How did you get involved with skateboarding?
Well I got involved in Skateboarding through doing research on Youtube, Google etc and other media as well just because Skateboarding is fun, passion and art to me.
How do you access all the gear?
Well we got skateboards from a Go foundation church. We explained them our situation and they were able to provide boards and gears for us.
‘The Hutus culture and the civil war are all done. They don’t exist anymore.’
What do you want to achieve with the Burundi skateboard Society?
I would love to achieve the development of academy that will provide aspiring skateboarders with professional training and coaching. Achieving pro skater status to compete in international skateboarding competitions. The academy will also create a safe and inclusive community space aimed at improving the quality of life for youth. Particularly orphans or children from dysfunctional families are the most vulnerable. Through this initiative we try to steer them away from negative influences like drugs. We want to provide the necessary equipment, skate park and employment through donations.
When researching about Burundi I learned about the genocide of Hutus, civil war, deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss. Burundi is the poorest and the world’s least happy country in the world. How does the local population deal with all of this?
Well in terms of the civil war, people are now living safe and secure. The Hutus culture and the civil war are all done. They don’t exist anymore.
Last question. If you could interview a person, who would it be?
Hopefully I would like to interview you first, because you took the time learn more about Burundi and its skateboarding by doing this interview with me.