Burkina Faso is among the poorest countries in the world, as evidenced by its Human Development Index ranking, which placed the country at 182nd out of 189 countries worldwide in 2019
Out of a population of 20 million people, approximately 80% rely solely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. However, they also face the unfortunate and widespread phenomenon of desertification in Burkina Faso. This burden weighs heavily on the country, resulting in water scarcity, soil degradation, and food crises. These challenges are caused by the detrimental effects of the climate emergency, which is impacting many parts of the world.
Being aware of these pressing issues, we continue to promote social initiatives focused on the sustainable use of land as a vital resource for life.
The ongoing agricultural projects
Agricultural training: It is not enough to just do things; it is necessary to learn how to do them well
The majority of the Burkinabé population, even on the outskirts of the capital Ouagadougou, engages in agricultural activities as their primary occupation. However, the various challenges related to climate change make this work particularly difficult and often unproductive.
For this reason, since our arrival, we have been promoting (and continue to promote) training courses for approximately 200 local farmers. These courses aim to enhance their agricultural techniques, improve the quantity and quality of their harvests, and address the specific challenges they face.
The objectives include training on the use of natural pesticides, fertilization techniques, and the establishment of a collaborative network among local farmer associations.
These objectives align with the National Development Plan of Burkina Faso and are in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Agriculture of Burkina Faso, with whom we collaborate.
The planned activities outlined in the project strategy are as follows:
- Organizing regular training sessions for approximately 200 farmers.
- Providing continuous and direct field monitoring to ensure the implementation of the training and measure the impact of the activities we promote.
- Encouraging the participation of association leaders in training programs organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Burkina Faso through the creation of a network among local farmer associations.
- Organizing leadership training sessions to contribute to responsible and transparent management of the associations.
Community Vegetable Gardens: Working the Land in Sharing and Solidarity
In Burkina Faso, a culture of daily collaboration and cooperation has developed among men and women engaged in the same field of activity, which in our case involves working and caring for the land. What is striking is that unlike in other Western contexts, this work does not exhibit specific forms of gender inequality to the detriment of women.
Therefore, in accordance with the context, many women have been introduced to and educated in basic agriculture to meet their family’s needs and improve the nutrition of their children. Another project that has been promoted since the beginning of our mission in Burkina Faso is the establishment of four community gardens. In these gardens, we put into practice and experiment with the acquired agricultural techniques, and the fruits and produce are intended for the most vulnerable families in the area.
After the creation of these gardens, which are now mostly self-sustaining, as a community, we aim to continue supporting this initiative by researching and implementing appropriate techniques to mitigate the problem of water scarcity. Additionally, the presence of salaried caretakers, specialized in agriculture, not only protects the gardens from potential animals and pests but also provides necessary assistance to the production process by offering practical advice to the women cultivating these plots of land.
Below is a short video featuring one of the women benefiting from the project.
Other Social Activities
Support for Schooling and Nutrition for Boys and Girls of School Age
In addition to walking alongside women and men in the community, we have also been supporting their children for several years. Approximately 150 boys and girls from economically disadvantaged families receive educational and nutritional support to accompany their physical and academic growth.
Educational support is provided by partially covering school fees, aiming to raise awareness and responsibility among parents regarding the importance of their children’s right to education, with special attention given to girls who may face injustice and gender-based discrimination.
In addition to receiving educational support, these students are also included in a nutritional support program, which ensures they receive at least one nutritious meal per day. This is particularly crucial for some of them, as their precarious family conditions would otherwise put them at risk of not having enough food.
