Burkina Faso News

2012 International Women's Day Celebrations around the World

jkr — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:07:52 +0000

The Hunger Project joined the international community in celebrating International Women's Day in March 2012. Check out the highlights from the International Women's Day celebrations in our programs around the world, including a forum for junior high school girls in Ghana; an experience-sharing visit to a model community in Ethiopia; and conferences in Burkina Faso.

The Hunger Project joined the international community in celebrating International Women's Day (March 8) 2012. This year, the United Nations theme was especially close to our heart: Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty. As one of its fundamental principles, The Hunger Project firmly believes that it is absolutely essential to cause a society-wide change towards gender equality in order to end hunger and poverty.

Check out the highlights from the International Women's Day celebrations in our programs around the world:

THP-Ghana celebrated International Women's Day with an inspirational forum for selected rural Junior High school girls. Girls attended from 22 schools in the three epicenters in Kwahu West Municipality and women leaders holding various key positions shared various challenges they had to go through as women to reach the positions they occupy. They also discussed opportunities available to these girls as well as the task ahead: to grow into the women leaders of the future who help develop their families, communities, the country and the world as a whole. A total of 327 people made up of 269 Junior High School girls, 41 women and 17 men participated in the forum. Read more about THP-Ghana's celebration, including highlights of the girls' discussion of the challenges and solutions they see for their future role as women leaders.
THP-Ethiopia celebrated International Women's Day at Machakel Epicenter, where 150 women, men and children participated in a day of activities. One activity was an experience-sharing visit, where participants visited a model community where gender equality is practiced and where hard work, peace and love are considered the center of their philosophy of life. The visitors witnessed that the lifestyle of the community as a whole specially focused on equality among women and men members in work division and rights. One of the slogans the community displayed on the wall of their meeting hall reads as follows: "Doing a women's job does not change my sex; it changes my ignorance." Read more about THP-Ethiopia's 2012 International Women's Day celebrations.
Check out photos of THP-Burkina Faso's celebration of International Women's Day with two conferences, one on March 6 at Sapouy Epicenter and one on March 7 at Bissiga Epicenter.
Read THP-Mexico's statement on International Women's Day (in Spanish).

Health Care and Partnerships with THP-Burkina Faso in 2011

Sara Wilson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:01:38 +0000

During 2011 The Hunger Project-Burkina Faso welcomed a new Country Director, developed health care partnerships with like-minded organizations and explored learning relationships with other THP programs in Africa.

Update to the Global Board

October 2011

During Quarter 1, THP-Burkina Faso's leadership shifted with the official nomination of Evariste Yaogho as Country Director, and the addition of the new position of Health and Nutrition Officer. Furthermore, two THP-Burkina staff members visited THP-Senegal and THP-Benin to learn best practices in Rural Bank self-reliance and child nutrition, respectively.

THP-Burkina Faso introduced an innovative mobilization method during Quarter 2, and also saw a strong turnout by volunteer doctors and HIV/AIDS organizations to provide voluntary, anonymous testing. Fully formalizing its partnerships remains a challenge for THP-Burkina, as well as providing electricity at all of its epicenters.

Accomplishments

Exchange Visits: In Quarter 1, THP-Burkina’s Microfinance Program (MFP) Officer traveled to Senegal to observe Rural Banks, note best practices, and increase dialogue on achieving self-reliance among MFP Officers.
Innovative Mobilization: THP-Burkina created a new method of mobilizing communities; epicenter partners who have an acquaintance or relative living in a nearby city nominate the “hometown hero,” who is then contacted by THP and invited to come speak at the epicenter. These young professionals participate on an entirely volunteer basis and mobilize and inspire epicenter partners and provide support for THP staff.
Compost "Plus": Within its Food Security program, THP-Burkina Faso has been expanding teaching of how to make better compost in half the time, maintaining soil fertility and increasing crop yields, as well as continuing to provide practical training on how to create productive vegetable gardens

Download the full report (.pdf 662.86KB)

100-Year-Old Partner Frequents Epicenter Health Clinic

Sara Wilson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:02:53 +0000

Georgette Belemsigri is over 100 years old and an active member at Vowogdo Epicenter in Burkina Faso. Learn more about how she accesses the epicenter health clinic.

HIV/AIDS and Gender

Georgette Belemsigri is over 100 years old and an active member at Vowogdo Epicenter in Burkina Faso. She is interviewed here by a staff member from THP-Burkina Faso during a recent campaign offering free HIV screening at the Vowogdo Epicenter health clinic.

Auntie, what is your name and age and where are you from?

Georgette Belemsigri: My name is Georgette Belemsigri, and I am 112 years old. I come from the village of Liguidimalguem and I’ve participated in [Vowogdo] Epicenter since it was created.

With my age, I am not as active as I was before. However, the mass medical visits at the epicenter really spoke to me. To demonstrate my commitment to the epicenter, I wanted to be present not only to get a health check-up, but also to relive the time in my life when I was on the Health Sub-Committee.

Furthermore, I also wanted to make my presence known and speak with the women and children of this new generation about taking care of their health. Imagine if, in the past, I hadn’t paid such attention to myself, I would not be among you at over 100 years old.

What does The Hunger Project do in terms of health in your epicenter?

GB: The Hunger Project leads awareness-raising activities for preventative health, about HIV/AIDS, and encourages people to come to the health center. In the fight against HIV/AIDS, beyond just workshops, it organizes free testing, like they had this morning.

The animators for health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS put in place by THP-Burkina in the villages contributed to improved health in the population. Today, I am the only person of my age alive at the epicenter, but thanks to THP-Burkina’s activities in terms of health, there will be hundreds of we 100-year-olds in the future.