Welcome to the Village!

Village Health Works is part of an exceptionally determined community in Kigutu, Burundi. By discovering strength in common purpose, this community has grown from misery and strife to health and social harmony. A remarkable distance has been covered during this breathtaking transformation. On the heels of unthinkable violence, in the poorest country on the planet, a stunning paradigm shift has taken hold.

After suffering from a 13-year civil war that ended in 2005, our community took it upon itself to provide for the founding of Village Health Works. Former enemies came together to resolve their dehumanizing differences. They donated land, cleared a road, made bricks and laid the foundation for our clinic.

The, “unparalleled level of community participation,” as described by Dr. Paul Farmer in 2006, gained traction almost instantly. And it continues to gather momentum to this day. Ongoing community engagement is demonstrated through our growing number of village health workers, agricultural cooperatives, and through tangible results like informing Village Health Works strategic initiatives in education and economic development.

Who We Are

We are a community of people in Kigutu, Burundi and supporters around the world who share the belief that all people, especially those most impoverished, deserve quality health care and opportunities for success in a dignified environment.

Our leadership team in New York and Burundi help drive our efforts, but they are only a small piece of those behind our work. There are more than 120 critical employees on the ground at our clinic in Kigutu, all of whom are Burundian. Our staff also includes 50 paid community health workers who are the bridge between the clinic and the community. Without them, this work would be impossible. Our board of committed, distinguished individuals offer their expertise from the worlds of medicine, public health, finance, and non-profit management.