The Christian child-development organization Vessels of Hope Burundi (VHB) is calling for greater attention to quality early childhood care and monitoring to help children develop spiritually while supporting their intellectual, emotional, social and physical development.

From August 27 to 28, 2026, VHB organized a training session in Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital, to equip Sunday school teachers, parents and VHB staff with skills to strengthen their capacity to nurture children effectively.

Maggie McClurg, the main speaker from the United States, who is an expert in several fields, including leadership, environmental issues and child care, warned parents that inadequate care and guidance during early childhood can have consequences for children’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical and spiritual development.

She cited the example of a child who plays football, arguing that a child cannot become a great footballer without receiving proper training from an early age. Similarly, she said, children need appropriate education and guidance while they are still young.

“You often find that adults struggle to control their emotions because their parents did not teach them how to manage their emotions when they were young,” she said.

McClurg also highlighted educational activities that can help children learn effectively, including playing games, learning new words, numbers and letters, writing, and learning the Word of God.

She further explained that the body’s main sensory systems play an important role in children’s learning, emphasizing that seeing, listening, touching, moving and tasting also contribute to how quickly children learn.

“A child retains 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 50% of what they see and hear, 70% of what they say, and even 90% when they say and do something,” she said.

The researcher also urged parents to use appropriate and simple language when giving instructions to children.

“Tell a child what they should do, rather than what they should not do, because when you repeatedly tell them not to do something, they may understand it as an instruction to do it.”, she said

“For example, instead of telling a child, “Don’t run,” she advised parents to say, “Walk.”, she added

Why VHB Is Focusing on Children

In an interview with Umwungere News in August, Chadrack Nininahazwe, the head of VHB, explained the reasons behind the initiative.

“VHB puts a lot of effort into helping children because in Burundi, nearly 22% of the population consists of children under the age of eight. Children were created in the image of God, and Jesus demonstrated the importance of children when He used them as an example, saying that the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. This shows that He values children.”, he explained

According to a 2024 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), children under the age of eight account for approximately 25% of Burundi’s population.

During the interview, Nininahazwe called on parents and churches to help children develop in all aspects of life from an early age, when their brains are still highly receptive and developing.

He also stressed that parents have a significant role to play in monitoring their children’s development rather than simply beating them when they display inappropriate behavior.

“Raise a child as though you are preparing them to become a person who will make a meaningful contribution to the world in the future.”, he said

What Participants Learned From the Training

Participants described the training as enriching and transformative, saying it added to their knowledge and provided them with new approaches to supporting children’s development.

Iteka Cheryl Princia, one of the participants, who works in child and family development at VHB, said the training changed her understanding of how children should be taught.

“I learned that we need to teach children how to think, rather than teach them what to think. This enables them to become people who discover new things in the future, because if you simply give them your ideas, they will not learn how to discover things for themselves,” she said.

Regarding faith, Iteka emphasized that children also need spiritual support. She said Bible stories can be taught through illustrations, which help children understand visible and concrete concepts before they are able to grasp abstract ones.

Sonia Iradukunda, who also works at VHB, echoed her colleague’s views.

“When we teach children, we are standing at the gates of heaven,” she said. “I have found that children are at the forefront of the kingdom of God because when they are properly prepared, they grow into people who serve God in different ways.”

For Fidèle Bigirimana, one of the leaders at Shammah Temple Fellowship Church in Makamba, southern Burundi, supporting children’s healthy development is an issue that church leaders should not ignore.

He said the training helped him understand how to behave around children, what materials can be used from readily available resources, and how he can help parents strengthen their relationships with their children.