Neighbour helping neighbour
by Judy Gray
Two days ago, a small group of military elite overthrew the transitional government in Burkina Faso. I have attempted to contact Charles Tankoano, APDC employee and coordinator of the WNC project in that country but have not yet had a response. Given the uprising and lack of stability in the country, internet connection may be interrupted. Hopefully we will have an update soon.
To read more about the political situation in Ouagadougou, click on the link below:
by Judy Gray ~ WNC director
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Fada, Eastern Burkina Faso to visit the World Neighbours Canada project site there. As part of the tour, I visited a number of villages that are participating in projects to generate revenue, increase food security and improve the state of the environment. Though many of the villagers have not attended school and indeed many are illiterate, 
they need no formal education or scientist to inform them of the effects of climate change … they live the effects of desertification on a daily basis! Over the past 5 – 10 years, they have noticed the irregularity of the once predictable rain patterns, with the rainy season arriving later and ending earlier than it did 10 years ago. Furthermore, their efforts to improve food security by planting a market garden, during the dry season when food becomes scare are met with frustration and even failure as the hand dug 6 to 7 meter wells are drying up as the water level drops … an effect of climate change and desertification. Continue reading “Climate change in action”
By Judy Gray ~ with excerpts from an article by Joe Penney, published in the New African magazine, January 2015
I returned a week ago from an eight day visit to Fada, Eastern Burkina Faso to monitor the World Neighbours Canada (WNC) project there. It was a unique and heart-warming experience and one that I will post more about over the coming months. However, the visit also inspired an interest to learn more about the recent political upheaval that the people in this country faced. Brad Fee, the colleague who travelled with me to Fada, sent me this article which elaborates on the struggle which recently occurred in this country. Continue reading “Burkina Faso: After October 30, 2014”
Interesting article published two days ago in Science Daily about one of the ways Burkina Faso is attempting to deal with its very difficult climate and soil conditions.
“In Burkina Faso, what was once stony semi-wasteland is now covered in verdant crop fields, rescued from relentless desertification. Using simple agricultural techniques largely spread by word-of-mouth, this tiny West African state has rejuvenated vast stretches of scrubby soil over the past 30 years, proving they are not doomed and giving hope to other vulnerable areas in the region.”
Though the article in the newspaper is about a village in northern Burkina Faso (Rim), the technique is being used more and more in our project area, Fada. The results are not yet as remarkable as those in Rim, but farmers, both women and men, are using the technique more and more.
Click here to watch a short video and a more thorough explanation
Imagine what a difference it would make to a woman’s life if she were able to earn a little money of her own through the creation of a saleable product and then sell that product at a local market. That’s just what some Burkinabe villagers have been able to do: they have learned how to extract oil from desert dates and then use that oil to make soap.
Recent reports from APDC, World Neighbours Canada’s partner organization in Burkina Faso, have provided details about the project. In addition to the forest products initiatives such as the soap making, the villagers are pleased with the achievement of a local radio broadcast about forestry clearing laws and protection measures, improvement in agricultural yields through the use of green manure, and animal health improvements.
Though we at World Neighbours Canada are only able to contribute what some might think a minuscule amount to support the local NGO (APDC ) in the Fada province of Burkina Faso, the reports we receive from this group let us know that that drop in the bucket is able to provide tangible support for them.
The 15000$ Canadian dollars we sent in allotments over the past year has helped to purchase, after much discussion and thought, TWO motorcycles. This has allowed two local permanent employees to more easily reach distant villages that are part of the program more often and to provide support and re-training of women and community leaders in those villages when it is needed. Prior to this, the existing motorcycle was declared unsafe and irreparable and reaching those villages on foot often meant that visits were not made when requested.
Continue reading “Motorcycles and machetes make a big difference – Burkina Faso”