Keep-fit classes heal communities - 24th June 2022

In the tiny African country of Burundi, keep-fit classes are like medicine to a nation for decades divided by violence.

Since Burundi achieved independence from Belgium in 1962, it's experienced repeated cycles of violence between its Hutu and Tutsi communities. Although all is currently calm, the country's economically insecure, with a weak health care system and no systems of government support. These group exercise clubs play a vital role.

At The Beach Club Solidarity, established in 2004, numbers are now thriving, though attendance has tended to fall during times of crisis. According to its founder, Hussein Sinangwa, the club's a point of contact for people.

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 includes a mixture of different faiths and ethnic groups, but in the exercise clubs everyone belongs to one family. Attendance costs the equivalent of 10 US cents, which is affordable even in one of the world's poorest countries.

Sheilla's a regular at the club.

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."

Attendees can donate an additional sum to the trainer, in order to support club members in need of extra cash for unexpected events, like illness, family emergencies or deaths.

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 bring a sense of equality, and also of solidarity. This makes people feel that, whatever they have to tackle either inside or outside the club, they're in it together.