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It has been difficult to gain an accurate understanding of the spread of COVID-19 in Burkina Faso as testing has been extremely limited. Despite the uncertainty of case numbers, the impact of the pandemic has been evident in the nation’s increased widespread lack of food, shelter and medical care. Women and children have been especially vulnerable to exploitation, violence and malnutrition.
Heavy rains and continued unrest in parts of the country compounded the challenges of the pandemic. Thousands of families became displaced or without income. Local church partners in Burkina Faso have worked hard to continue providing support to children during this time. Many child development centres have now resumed normal activities, while some continue to meet in small groups or conduct home visits.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, local church partners have delivered more than 692,000 food packs and 800,500 hygiene kits to benefit families.
Watch the latest video update from Burkina Faso below to learn more.
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Thank you for praying for the children, families and local church partners we serve in Burkina Faso.
Say hello to baby Grace from Burkina Faso! Born in the middle of a lockdown, this cutie’s delivery story is quite the tale! With a national curfew from 7pm to 5am in place, there was a big chance that Grace’s mum, Celine, would not be able to get to a hospital to deliver her baby. Read more open_in_new
Please note: Due to the current pandemic, some child development centres in Burkina Faso are operating a little differently. Our local church partners continue to meet the urgent needs of the children through home-based or small-group care where needed.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Burkina Faso typically attend program activities at their local child development centre on Thursdays and Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Burkina Faso.
9:00am - A time of prayer, devotion and breakfast. Breakfast usually consists of milk, bread and porridge.
9:30am - Spiritual lessons where children sing songs and learn Bible stories.
10:30am - Break time where children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships.
11:00am - Social-emotional lessons from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem and a godly character. Children who often come from challenging home environments are taught social and personal skills.
12:00pm - Lunch and social time. Children are usually provided lunch which consists of rice, beans, sagabo (a local food made using millet or corn flour) and spaghetti. Additional nutritional support such as rice, maize and oil is provided for families in extreme need, such as those affected by HIV.
1:00pm - Health lessons where children are taught practical health and hygiene tips. Example topics include how to prevent malaria and HIV transmission.
2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests, and set goals for their future.
In addition to Compassion’s curriculum, from the age of 12, students receive vocational training in areas like mechanics, hairdressing, sewing, soap making, gardening and animal breeding. Parents are offered income generation activities and training on topics such as hygiene, malaria prevention, reproductive health and nutrition.
of people live below the poverty line
of people lack access to basic sanitation
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
Burkina Faso is home to over 21 million people, spread across more than 60 different ethnics groups that each have their own social and cultural distinctions. The overwhelming majority of people make their living from subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to drought, floods and in recent times, locust plagues.
Burkina Faso has a very young population: 43 per cent is under 14 and two-thirds younger than 30 years old. Many young people are frustrated by the lack of opportunity for education and reliable work. Almost one-third of primary school-aged students aren’t enrolled; instead, they often work the land in an attempt to boost their family’s income.
As millions of Burkinabes struggle to meet their daily needs, the ever-present threats of food and water scarcity across the nation make life more tenuous. Poor health is also a significant barrier to Burkina Faso’s development. Approximately 27 per cent of children in the country suffer from moderate or severe growth stunting caused by chronic malnutrition during early childhood. The country currently holds one of the highest infant mortality rates of all of countries in which Compassion works, with approximately 54 infants dying for every 1000 born.
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