How to change a child's life with My School Bag in Burundi: Corinne from Quebec

Born in France and arriving in Canada at the age of 13, Corine Chatel has built a path deeply marked by humanitarian commitment. At the head of the charity organization Mon sac d’école, which she founded in 2006, she dedicates her energy to providing access to education for the most disadvantaged children in Burundi.

“I believe that everyone has the opportunity to make a difference in the world,” she says. A conviction rooted in childhood, nourished by the desire to “leave [her] mark” and contribute to a more equitable world.

Corine Chatel’s initiative is based on a simple but essential mission: to provide the most vulnerable children with the school supplies needed to access education. Notebooks, pens, geometry sets, uniforms—essential items without which, in some regions of Burundi, attending school becomes impossible.

Since the project was created, nearly 1,000 children benefit from this support each year. Among them, some live in extreme conditions. “I have 185 who mainly live off municipal dumps,” she explains, describing children forced to survive by collecting charcoal or resalable items from waste.

Despite these difficult realities, she emphasizes their determination: “They are determined children who want to go to school.” Several of them have even pursued higher education, becoming engineers, psychotherapy professionals, or network technicians.

Beyond material aid, the project is based on a dynamic of lasting solidarity. The children who are supported become, in turn, agents of change. “The children we help will eventually help other children,” she notes.

This transmission was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Corine Chatel could not travel on site. “It was the little ones from 2006, who are now adults, who carried out the mission with me remotely,” she says with pride, praising “a truly fantastic job.”

The project originates from an unexpected encounter with a Burundian woman involved in volunteer work. Through her stories, Corine discovered a reality she did not know. “I didn’t even know Burundi,” she admits.

Moved by a story of sharing—a family offering food and clothing to street children for Christmas—she decided to go there. With $3,000 collected from relatives, she enabled 183 children to attend school in the very first year.

A decisive turning point came when she won a $30,000 scholarship, giving lasting momentum to her initiative. “From the moment I met these children, I knew I would not let them down,” she confides.

Over the years, Corine Chatel’s commitment has come with profound lessons about human solidarity. She recalls a striking scene: “It seems that people, when they have the least, they have even more desire to share.”

In contexts of great hardship, she observes unexpected generosity. “They may not have eaten for a day or two, and yet they give you almost half of their food,” she says.

The children, for their part, express intense gratitude. “I have it on every fingertip,” she says, describing their affection. “It’s their appreciation for everything we do for them.”

One of the distinctive aspects of Mon sac d’école is its fully volunteer-based operation. “Even there, we don’t pay them. They do it to give back to others,” explains Corine Chatel.

Thanks to this approach, more than 90% of donations go directly to the children. A transparency she stands by: “I treat every dollar with enormous respect.”

However, needs remain significant. Every year, difficult choices must be made. “That’s the hardest part, telling a child… we can’t take you,” she admits, calling for generosity to expand the program’s impact.

Beyond immediate aid, Corine Chatel sees education as a lever for lasting transformation. For about 25 dollars a year, a primary school child can access basic education, while costs gradually increase for higher levels.

The project also includes academic follow-up, as well as healthcare, particularly for vision problems caused by difficult living conditions.

Today, the challenge is also to ensure the continuity of this initiative. “We will need the next generation,” she acknowledges, hoping to see the project continue beyond her personal involvement.

Throughout her testimony, one constant stands out: the deeply human bond between Corine Chatel and the children she supports. “For me, these children are my children,” she says.

Between pride, hope, and responsibility, her commitment goes far beyond a humanitarian project. It embodies a relationship built over time, grounded in trust, solidarity, and love.