In view of all the suffering, I prayed that the Lord would make me a artisan of peace and reconciliation.”

Sister Godelive Miburo runs two centers for orphans and follows up their integration into foster families. New Life for Reconciliation (VNR) trains on reconciliation and peace, awakening and reinforcing forgiveness and helps the weak, the rejected, battered women and widows through diverse projects. She helps war and Aids orphans to attend school and universities in the country. Her work also targets prisoners. All target groups are taught communication, non-violence and peaceful co-existence between ethnic groups.

Sr. Godelive Miburo was born in 1958 to a rural family. The Burundian Catholic nun followed her catechism studies in various institutes in Abidjan and in Fribourg, Switzerland. She has trained in non-violent communication. She worked as primary school teacher and as an animator in a parish/pastoral center, before becoming the assistant in the bishop’s office. In 1997 Sr. Godelive began apostolic work with New Life for Reconciliation (Vie Nouvelle pour la Reconciliation, VNR) that was founded by the country’s bishop. Sr. Godelive is an elder in the women’s branch of VNR, which welcomes any person without distinction of race, culture, sex, or religion who wishes to work for reconciliation. It works with several groups: abandoned children and orphans, widows, prisoners, refugees and displaced people, armed groups, poor and impoverished people. They participate in diverse income-generating projects. With the support of VNR, Sr. Godelive opened two centers for orphans and follows up their integration into foster families. She works all around the country, having covered five provinces in eight years. Sr. Godelive opened a novitiate in 2003 to train future workers of the Apostolate. Girls who have been assisted run a nursery school. Her work also targets prisoners whom she visits. All are taught communication, non-violence and peaceful co-existence between ethnic groups. As a result of the work, 3000 children, war and Aids orphans, are taken care of and sent to school and universities in the country.

New Life for Reconciliation (VNR)