Back in 2017, Armand IJIMBERE was an entrepreneur based in Uganda. An unexpected trip to Bujumbura, Burundi, for passport renewal led to a life-altering experience. While waiting for a friend, he decided to pass the time by visiting a nearby hospital. Little did he know that this random decision would change his life forever?

 

In one of the hospital rooms, he met two young men, aged 20 and 21, respectively. They were both suffering from cancer and were abandoned by their families , but their biggest pain was not the disease; it was the hunger they endured. Their last meal had been two days before his visit. Saddened by their predicament, he promised to provide them with food .

 

Upon returning to Uganda, he tried to find an organization in Burundi that could help his friends, but to his dismay, none were available. This moment made him realize the gravity of the issue: countless people in need of help in hospitals, with many preventable deaths occurring due to a lack of access to food .

 

This realization was his call to action. He resigned from his job in Uganda to take care of his friends and others like them in the hospitals. He launched Nacham Africa, with his bedroom serving as the office for the first three years. Without funds or a salary, he worked seven days a week, conducting fundraisers for medication and collecting leftover food from restaurants.

 

Their breakthrough came when they started working with the Segal Family Foundation. Their support provided Nacham Africa with much-needed financial stability. Currently, NACHAM Africa successfully distributes over 45,000 meals to patients in need. However, the journey is still long, considering the enormous demand for support they receive.

 

Nacham Africa is a non-profit organization established in 2019. We nurture hope and health for vulnerable communities in Burundi and across Africa through a holistic approach that integrates Nutrition, Psychosocial Support, and Socio-Economic Reintegration. We primarily operate in public hospitals and within communities.