Burkina Faso
Compassion started working in Burkina Faso in 2004. Today, there are over 90,000 children registered in our programs at 319 church partners.
of people live below the poverty line
lack access to improved sanitation
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
Even as millions of Burkinabes struggle to meet their daily needs, increased terrorist activity and the ever-present threats of food and water scarcity across the Sahel region make life more tenuous.
Poor health is 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 the highest infant mortality rate of all of countries in which Compassion works, with approximately 53 infants dying for every 1000 born.
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: 46 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. Older students struggle to find jobs on graduation—and their protests played a key role in the ouster of former President Compaoré in 2014.
The country also faces a growing threat posed by Islamic extremists, many based in neighbouring Mali and Niger; these insurgent groups have grown bolder in recent years, attacking military targets and murdering civilians with increased frequency. The Burkinabe government faced increasing pressure to respond and declared a state of emergency in several northern provinces on 31 December 2018. In early 2019, Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba and his entire cabinet resigned from office. The new cabinet will have its work cut out to protect civilians as security deteriorates.
Dear Sponsor, Warm greetings from Burkina Faso! I am Palamanga Ouali. I have been the Country Director of Compassion Burkina Faso for more than seven years. I am privileged to be a part of this God-ordained ministry to children. I am married to Liliane and the Lord has blessed us with three children: Yolanda, Jessica and Michael. My family and I love the Lord and we worship in a local church of the International Society of Missionaries of Ouagadougou, the capital city.
open_in_new Read full letterEight-year-old Celia Lompo is registered at the BF-209 SIM Church Child Development Centre in Fada N’gourma in Burkina Faso’s Est Province. In Celia’s community, when parents are unable to fund the education of all their children, priority is usually given to boys over girls. People believe girls will get married and leave the family, while boys will always be there to support them.
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