Precious Christopher Email & Phone Number

Remote

A self-paced learning space that offers the opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn through internships, researches, and even one's mistakes. Targeted at improving the overall growth and development of individuals

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

I served as the delegate of Burundi under the committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). We debated and made policies on “Safeguarding Indigenous Languages and Cultural Rights”.In a fast globalizing world, countries are at the brink of losing their culture because the one passage of preserving culture is threatened by extinction. It is estimated by the UN that there are about 6000 indigenous languages about half is on the brink of extinction with one language dying every day. This makes an urgent call to revitalise indigenous languages.The current secretary general of UNESCO, further buttresses this point in her quote “When a language dies,so do a well of Knowledge" there is need for urgent reawakening.In Burundi, a notable proverb “Intibagira ntibana” translates to “He who does not forget, cannot live with others" this emphasizes the value of remembering one's root and heritage which can only.be done through language.To this effect, the Burundian government has set some policies to safeguarding their indigenousi language “Kirundi"1) The recognition of Kirundi in the 2005 Burundian Constitution as the official and working language of the state.2) Incorporation of Kirundi into the academic curricular of the primary learners as their teaching language3) The Burundian government has also partnered with other UNESCO bodies like the United Nations Declaration on the Right of the Indigenous People (UNDRIP) in updating the inventory of the cultural heritage in Burundi. this was done in 2009 and the Burundian Drumming Culture was enlisted.4) Another is the community initiative where proverb books are written and published as a means to preserve and educate the younger generation the Kirundi language by the Remesha(women) Association.The Burundian government, in addition to national policies, made provisions to repatriate and reintegrate her refugees back to her economy and also make provisions of cultural rights.