BURKINA FASO

(MissionNewswire) The Women’s Vocational Training Center, located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, trains more than 300 young women each year in specializations like tailoring, hairstyling, fabric design and pattern making, computer maintenance, and secretarial work. The center, which provides inclusive, equitable and quality education, receives funding from Bosco Global.

Recently, the cutting-tailoring and hairstyling workshops were equipped with supplies, and the spaces for theoretical-practical courses were expanded. Refresher courses were also provided for the center’s teaching staff. In addition, students in extremely vulnerable situations were provided with the necessary kits to carry out their courses of study.

Father Joseph Basson, director of the center, said, “There are many student stories that have touched my heart. One young woman pedaled 25 kilometers every day to get to the center to take classes, never arriving late. Today, she has achieved her dream of owning her own sewing workshop.”

The Women’s Vocational Training Center was developed to address the precarious situation experienced by many women and girls. It includes literacy courses, support for work placement, and education in values and time management. The main objective of the project is to train women and girls so they can work and earn an income while breaking free from a life of poverty.

Salesian missionaries have been working in Burkina Faso since March 1993. Missionaries first began their work in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country. They settled in a neighborhood known as Ouezzin, an expanding area of the city. The nearby area is crossed by several rivers. On those riverbanks, crops are cultivated then sold in the city and exported to the city of Ouagadougou. Salesian missionaries provide education and social development services designed to create a sense of family among the most vulnerable children and those most at risk of social exclusion.

According to the World Bank, more than 46 percent of the country’s population lives in poverty on less than $1.25 per day. Burkina Faso has suffered from several serious droughts that have driven up food prices, affecting the country’s food supply and causing malnutrition among the poorest residents and children. Up until the 1980s, the country also dealt with devastating military coups.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Burkina Faso – Salesian Women’s Vocational Training Center in Ouagadougou trains 300 young women each year

Salesian Missions – Burkina Faso

World Bank – Burkina Faso

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BURKINA FASO

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Center in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, has clean drinking water powered by solar electricity thanks to funding from Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The “Sun Helps Us Succeed” project is providing drinking water using a solar pump. There had been a borehole dug and water tower ready, but the pump was required to complete the project. Photovoltaic installations are very appropriate in the area because it is sunny the whole year.

Opened in October 1993, the Don Bosco Center includes a technical school with 306 students and a home, which has 25 young people between aged 15 and 24. The youth center is frequented by close to 600 youth each week. The Don Bosco Center is open in the evening as a place for youth to gather and study. The center uses 30 solar energy lamps because there are so many local power outages and electric bills are very high. Using solar energy is a huge cost savings for the center.

To help support the new water access long-term, Salesian missionaries are charging a small fee to those from outside of the center grounds who come for large amounts of water, exceeding 50 liters each day. This will ensure the maintenance of the water tower equipment.

Ballé Diane, a professor of electricity at the Don Bosco Center’s technical school, said, “The installation of the solar pump system has been of great benefit. The objective of this project was to achieve self-sufficiency in water and energy consumption. I can say that this goal has been achieved. Better still, our students took advantage of the installation of the system to practice and increase their knowledge because the company that was hired to do the work allowed them to participate in the work. This project has impacted 540 students from the Don Bosco Center and many families benefit from this installation for water and energy. Many thanks to Salesians Missions and benefactors.”

Salesian missionaries have been working in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, since March 1993. Missionaries first began their work in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country. They settled in a neighborhood known as Ouezzin, an expanding area of the city. Salesian missionaries provide education and social development services designed to create a sense of family among the most vulnerable children and those most at risk of social exclusion.

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in Africa, ranking 185 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index 2015. According to the World Bank, more than 46 percent of the country’s population lives in poverty on less than $1.25 per day. Burkina Faso has suffered from several serious droughts that have driven up food prices, affecting the country’s food supply and causing malnutrition among the poorest residents and children. Up until the 1980s, the country also dealt with devastating military coups.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Burkina Faso

Salesian Missions – Clean Water Initiative

World Bank – Burkina Faso

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BURKINA FASO

(MissionNewswire) Sister Bernarda Garcia, with Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, recently received the “Walking Together” award from Manos Unidas (United Hands), a Spanish international nongovernmental organization for development cooperation. Sr. Garcia was honored for her work with young women in Burkina Faso and her commitment to working with poor youth in Africa for nearly 40 years.

For the first time in the history of the awards, Manos Unidas granted awards in 11 categories which represent the different areas of focus of the organization for the last 60 years. Receiving the award, Sr. Garcia said, “Together we can change the world a little.”

In a presentation at the awards ceremony, Sr. Garcia further added, “You (Manos Unidas) have saved these girls who previously roamed the streets and who are now dignified girls with a dignified life. Thousands of young people will continue to pass through our centers thanks to you, to your sacrifice. Together we can change the world a little, by feeding the hungry, but above all by giving them integral education, the basis of development.”

Sr. Garcia also delivered a batik fabric to Clara Pardo, president of Manos Unidas. The fabric represented the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, a miracle that continues to occur thanks to Manos Unidas. Concluding her speech, Sr. Garcia added, “This award will be given to girls who have become homeless in Abidjan because their homes and businesses have been demolished.”

Sr. Garcia works within a Women’s Center in Kouba, within the capital city of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The center is operated by the Salesian Daughters of Mary Help of Christians as part of a vast socio-educational project in the region.

The Women’s Center offers apprenticeships and fosters literacy. It was developed to address the precarious situation experienced by many women and young girls, and it provides qualified skills and professional training in sectors such as catering, tailoring, information technology and hairdressing. The project includes courses of literacy, support for work placement, education in values and time management. The main objective of the project is to train girls and women so they can work and earn an income while breaking free from a life of poverty.

Salesian missionaries have been working in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, since March 1993. Missionaries first began their work in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country. They settled in a neighborhood known as Ouezzin, an expanding area of the city. The nearby area is crossed by several rivers. On those riverbanks, crops are cultivated then sold in the city and exported to the city of Ouagadougou. Salesian missionaries provide education and social development services designed to create a sense of family among the most vulnerable children and those most at risk of social exclusion.

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in Africa, ranking 185 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index 2015. According to the World Bank, more than 46 percent of the country’s population lives in poverty on less than $1.25 per day. Burkina Faso has suffered from several serious droughts that have driven up food prices, affecting the country’s food supply and causing malnutrition among the poorest residents and children. Up until the 1980s, the country also dealt with devastating military coups.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Burkina Faso – Sister Bernarda Garcia, FMA, receives “Caminando juntos” award on 60th anniversary of “Manos Unidas”

Salesian Missions – Burkina Faso

World Bank – Burkina Faso

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