BURKINA FASO: AT LEAST 49 YOUNG PEOPLE HELPED TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION

It is estimated that by last year September, more than 13,200 schools in Central and West Africa were closed because of conflict and violence, affecting the education of 2.5 million children.

Senou* and Combary* are two 13-year-old girls in Burkina Faso. At a very young age they learnt that life can be unfair, especially for Christians in certain parts of Africa. Both girls were in school when a jihadist group attacked their villages in 2022. 

Senou and her parents had lived peacefully in their village until the attackers came. They fled to Ouagadougou, the capitol city of Burkina Faso, and stayed with her grandmother. Sadly, Senou’s father soon died not long after they arrived and her mother moved in with her own family in a nearby village, leaving Senou with her grandmother so she could get back to studying at school. But Senou unfortunately had to drop out of lessons because her grandmother didn’t have the means to pay the school fees. 

Like Senou, Combary and her parents also lived peacefully in their village until they had to flee from the attacks. When you’re forced to leave your home, sadly, schooling isn’t as important as finding food and a safe place to stay.This is what happened to Combary when she and her family also arrived in Ouagadougou.

In February 2024, Open Doors local partners heard about the situation facing Senou and Combary. They paid their school fees and got them uniforms and other school supplies.

“We are very grateful to you. We thank you for your good action. May God continue to prosper your ministry, may God strengthen your work, may God arrange everything for you. Truly speaking we received the aid. May God reward you”, shared Senou’s grandmother. 

Thanks to your prayers and support, since the start of this year Open Doors partners have helped at least 49 young people in the region to continue their education.

*Names changed for security reasons…