Burkina Faso – Page 4 – World Neighbours Canada

August 24, 2017August 24, 2017

Presenting Tambiliano Hortense Lompo; Burkina Faso APDC employee – field worker, and health care leader

profile and photos by Judy Gray

Hortense has worked as a field worker for APDC for the past year and a half. She recently completed the two year Government Health Care program at the local college and could work as a Health Care worker in one of the regional Centres de Santé but has chosen instead to work for APDC, providing in-service sessions to villagers on the topics of family planning, pre-natal and post-natal care for women, women’s rights as well as assisting with the food preparation demonstrations.

Hortense is 37 years old; is married and has four children ( one boy and three girls ) who range in age from 6 years to 16 years. All of her children attend school, which is a challenge as the cost of schooling is a deterrent for many. During the years 2000 – 2002, Hortense lived in Ouagadougou and worked in a Mission with a group of Catholic Sisters. There she learned about gardening, and cooking as well as learning how to sew. She now spends much of her time looking after her family, but also likes to read during any leisure time she may have.

During our visits to the project villages, we had a number of opportunities to watch Hortense interact with village men and women and it was clear that she has established a strong bond with the villagers and is well-respected by them. Hortense loves her job and enjoys working with the villagers. Her smile is warm, sincere and endearing! I feel that APDC is lucky to have Hortense as part of its team. It is thanks, in part, to World Neighbours Canada’s current Maternal Infant Child Health grant from the Canadian government, that APDC was able to hire an additional field worker, Hortense, to assist with implementing the programs.

August 16, 2017August 16, 2017

APDC staff and families safe

posted by Judy Gray with information from APDC staff in Burkina Faso

Yesterday I received emails from the APDC coordinators, Charles Tankoano and David Lankoandé, letting us know that all the staff of our partner NGO, and their families were safe and not harmed in the horrific attack which took place in the capital, Ouagadougou, on Sunday evening. Lydia Tapsoba, the gender consultant for the project who lives in the capital, was also unharmed but unfortunately one of her co-workers was killed during the attack. Here are some of the words they have used to describe the attack:

“C’est trop pour ce petit pays qui souffre déjà … c’est très triste.” (Lydia) “C’est malheureux ce qui arrive … mais la vie continue.” (David)

It is clear that the citizens of this very poor country, who in my experience are such a warm-hearted, tolerant and hardworking people, continue to suffer at the hands of a few religious extremists. But, as always, they pick themselves up and carry on, refusing to let the actions of terrorists harm their philosophy and the love of their country. I came across this article on the BBC News website which provides some insight into the recent attacks: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39279050

There are a number of articles that discuss the attack and its ramifications and we will update the website with information over the next few days.

June 23, 2017July 3, 2017

Learning more about terrorist threats in West Africa

posted by Judy Gray, WNC director, with information from an article in The Straits Times

During a recent perusing of news items from a variety of media sources, an article in the Singapore Straits Times, about terrorist activity in West Africa caught my husband’s eye. After our recent, and extremely rewarding trips to Burkina Faso, any article that mentions Burkina is of especial interest to us. Though security in the country is not a paramount issue at this time, we certainly hear our partner NGO (APDC) staff mention the threat that exists if one were to travel to border areas – especially anywhere near the border with Mali. Fortunately, our project work seems to be in a safe part of the country. Nevertheless, the following article reminds us of the concern that the Burkinabe people face with respect to terrorists who may infiltrate their country wishing to disturb the peace and religious tolerance of the citizens and certainly an atmosphere that we have experienced. Read on, to learn more …. “Before Ibrahim Malam Dicko became Burkina Faso’s first-ever Islamist militant leader, his sermons were so popular that listeners thronged to the radio station that broadcast them to obtain the recordings.

Today, the mosque in northern Djibo province where the slight, unimposing man used to preach is closed, and the mud-brick walls of his village’s school are riddled with bullet holes. Hundreds of people have fled as soldiers hunt the West African nation’s most-wanted man, who is known as Malam, or teacher.

Dicko’s transformation from popular preacher to an advocate of Islamist violence has dented Burkina Faso’s reputation for religious tolerance and mirrors a wider trend in West Africa.”

To read the entire article, click on the link: http://www.straitstimes.com/world/africa/west-african-nations-take-action-as-extremism-worsens

March 21, 2017July 3, 2017

Celebrating International Women’s Day in Fada

by Judy Gray, director of World Neighbours Canada

Though we hear International Women’s Day, March 8, mentioned on the news in our country, it is not celebrated at the same level as in many countries of the world, especially within Africa. In Burkina Faso, le 8 mars, is a National public holiday and permits the nation to focus on women and their status and role in Burkinabé society.

My husband and I were very lucky to be in Fada on that day and able to participate in the festivities. This year, the day was celebrated in the village of Gnianmanga, one of the original project villages of APDC. Just getting to the village, for many of these women, is no mean feat, as there are no cars in the area and even the number of motorcycles to transport people is limited. Therefore, participating along with 200 village women, and a total gathering of nearly 400, was a unique experience.

The highlight of the celebration was the parade of groups of women, representing each of the villages who are part of the project. Dancing, drumming and eating are also part of the day, providing an opportunity for women to socialize and exchange ideas, and share common concerns as they so rarely get together in one location.

An employee of the State Social Services Department spoke about the many ways that women face “exclusion” in their society and reminded them that this day, le 8 mars, is not only a time for festivities but also a time to reflect on women’s roles and a time to exercise one’s right as a partner within the household. As a director of World Neighbours Canada, AND as a woman, it was a thrill to be part of these festivities and celebrate this crucial day with women who are taking steps, albeit small, to assert themselves and develop their independence.

July 12, 2016July 3, 2017

Taking steps to reduce child malnutrition in Burkina Faso

posted by Judy Gray, director, World Neighbours Canada

yellow indicates moderately malnourished

Peter and I returned, in early April, from a monitoring mission to Burkina Faso to touch base with our partner NGO (APDC) and to deepen our understanding of their activities. Rates of malnutrition among children are tragically high in the area. We were able to attend a training session for community health animators about the dépistage process (malnutrition screening), one of the activities that will be undertaken as part of our new Maternal Child Health Initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada. What might appear a simple procedure to us – measuring upper arm circumference and recording the results – is not easy for people who have never had formal schooling. In addition to training the community health workers, APDC must train a “secretary” – a member of the

recording names, ages and nutrition level

village, who is literate. The following day, we visited the village of Kpartangou to witness the process “in action”. There were about 50 mothers gathered under the big tree, waiting to have their children screened. A number of children fell into the moderately or severely malnourished category – the goal is now to diagnose the cause and then provide training and support so mothers can begin to alleviate the situation. Mothers were keen to learn about the opportunity to have their child evaluated at the regional Health Centre. The visit to these remote villages in eastern Burkina Faso, made us realize, once again, how slowly change occurs in many parts of the world and the gravity of the problems that many people face. We are glad to be part of World Neighbours Canada – an organization that is

willing to accept this rate of change, and remains in project areas for the long haul!

March 23, 2016May 14, 2017

Praise for Burkina Faso’s new government

posted by Judy Gray article by Neven Mimica from theGuardian

A recent article by Neven Mimica, published in theGuardian praised the Burkinabé government for the peaceful way that transitions occurred after last November’s elections. Mimica adds that “the EU is confident in the future of Burkina Faso, even though we are aware of the high expectations in the country and of the regional challenges. Indeed, work needs to continue to consolidate stability, reconciliation and democratisation, in the context of the terrorist and extremist threat to the region.” As a result of the nature of the transition and the efforts of the new government, Mimica states that the “EU has committed around €623m (£481m) for the coming years: we will support governance, access to healthcare, water and sanitation, resilience and food security.”

To read the entire article, follow the link …

February 1, 2016May 14, 2017

APDC perspective on attacks in Ouagadougou

by Judy Gray, WNC director, with information from Charles Tankoano

We recently received the following information from Charles Tankoano, coordinator of APDC, our partner NGO in Burkina Faso. I had emailed to ask for on-the-ground information about the horrible massacre that took place in the capital city, Ouagadougou, on January 16, 2016. Though our project activities take place in the Fada n’Gourma region, about 200 km. east of Ouagadougou, the recent attack on innocent people has resulted in a dramatic reaction from the populace. Here is a translation of Charles’ email: “Thank you for your concern about this drama in Ouagadougou. We are doing well but no one is happy with these attacks by Muslim extremists. They undermine the security that our country has been benefitting from, and which had rendered this landlocked and impoverished country attractive to other countries and peoples. Peace, stability and security had been preserved until that day and had allowed Burkina Faso to be a country open to the world. These deadly attacks will likely have a significant negative impact on the dynamism of tourist visits to this country, especially those visiting from western countries. Despite this recent problem, the Burkinabé people continue their daily activities throughout the country and calm has returned. The army and all other security forces have divided the country into sectors in order to ensure greater oversight and control. The leaders of the neighbouring West African countries are pooling their efforts and discussing strategies to better cope with this threat.”

For more information on the Al-Qaeda attack, please click on one of the following links: BBC or CBC . Continue reading “APDC perspective on attacks in Ouagadougou”

December 8, 2015May 14, 2017

Elections completed successfully in Burkina Faso

by Judy Gray with information from Charles Tankoano

Presidential elections were to have taken place in October 2015, but were delayed after the recent coup. I was anxious to hear whether the election process would proceed at the end of November after that coup, and apparently that was the case. Charles Tankoano, coordinator of our partner NGO, APDC, recently sent the following information: “There were presidential elections in Burkina Faso last November 2015. The elections were very well run; quiet, free (because there was no former president who was running), and transparent ~ and the results were accepted by all candidates and all the people . The president-elect , not yet invested, named Rock Marc Christian Kabore , comes from a new party that he created a year ago . The political organization, those of civil society and the whole population are all in perfect agreement with this result. He will serve a 5-year term and may be reelected only once because our constitution currently limits the presidential term to 2 terms. No president would consider amending the constitution to perpetuate itself in power in Burkina Faso; anyone who might try to change this will find the entire people will block his path.” I was pleased to get this news and certainly hope that these election results will herald the beginning of a more peaceful period for the country. To read more about these elections, click on the link: BBC news, Burkina Faso elections

September 29, 2015May 14, 2017

Calm returns to Burkina Faso

According to recent news reports, and confirmed by Charles Tankoano of our partner NGO (APDC), the situation in Burkina Faso is more settled. Charles writes: “Calm has returned but it is not very reassuring because the splinter group (RSP) is not yet fully désarmé. But disarmament continues. The whole country is mobilized to resolve this situation in the best interests of the people.” However, Charles also adds that a lingering worry is the support and power of former president, Blaise Compaore, currently in exile in Morocco, but whom Charles believes is secretly supported by France and some other African countries. Thus, looking to the future, the political situation in Burkina Faso and some of its neighbours remains unsettled. The upcoming elections, slated for October 11, 2015 will be critical for the people of Burkina Faso and I’m sure there will be ongoing updates. For more information about the recent political events, click on the links below.

BBC news: Seven lessons from Burkina Faso’s seven-day coup

BBC news: Michel Kafanda re-instated as president

September 22, 2015May 14, 2017

Political confusion continues in Burkina Faso

by Judy Gray, with information from Charles Tankoano

I have received two emails recently from Charles Tankoano, coordinator of APDC, our partner NGO in Burkina Faso. A couple of days ago he mentioned that, though the coup was disrupting life in Ouagadougou, it was not affecting life in the rural areas like Fada, where the World Neighbours Canada project is centred. People were travelling on the roads a little less often and taking more care during the village visits. Today Charles is in Ouagadougou and had added more information which I have translated from French into English while keeping the intent of his message: ” I am at the moment in Ouagadougou but it is not easy, even in Fada, because of the nearby border with Togo (Togo’s president is a friend of President Blaise Compaore ~ the Burkinabe president ousted a year ago), and there has been an entry attempt by Togolese soldiers against Burkina. We pray to God that the situation quickly ends with medium damage (as little damage as possible).” Let us hope that Charles is right.

Here are links to two news reports with updated information:

BBC news Reuters news