The role of women is essential in the fight for development at the national level and in a context of global sustainable development. Today more than ever, our societies need all intelligences to promote development. To hold their place in our rapidly changing societies, women need to create conditions conducive to the awareness of their abilities and to bring society to change their vision vis-à-vis their capacity of participation. Despite the efforts made by the states in the implementation of gender policy, it is clear that the place given to women in the construction of society remains weak. Individual female skills internationally are recognized. Indeed, the school enrollment rate of girls in Burkina Faso (27%), the number of women scientists in research structures (8%) and in public higher education about 10 % are an illustration of this. In addition, the orientation of girls to study natural sciences (physics-chemistry-mathematics) and high-level technical careers remains marginal. Some women associations join forces and are working for a greater interest of women and girls in science and technology. In addition to this challenge in Burkina Faso, like many countries in Africa, high pregnancy rates in schools of girls is a silent pain that causes a lot of bitterness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 million school-age pregnancies occur each year in developing countries.
According to the Ministry of National Education (MENA) in Burkina Faso about 2,295 cases of school-age pregnancies, were observed in 2014 throughout the country. The reasons for this growing rate of school-based pregnancies are many and varied: socio-cultural factors (early and forced marriages, irresponsibility of parents, weak ability to talk about sexuality, depravation of morals, sexual, the influence of bad company, prostitution), inadequacy of reception centers for girls. Also economic factors explain the situation: poverty and misery. The consequences of early pregnancies are numerous: illegal abortions, school dropouts, exclusion from the family, child abandonment, infanticide, family conflicts, marginalization, social exclusion, increase in family expenses, prostitution, and psychological shock, loss of dignity or honor, banishment…
Some girls arrived by their great effort to reach high education level and it will be very good to support them to have a successful study.
One of the strategic objectives of Burkina Faso’s National Economic and Social Development Plan is to increase supply and improve the quality of education, higher education and training in line with the needs of the economy. It aims to achieve SDG 5: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Professor Yvonne Bonzi-Coulibaly has a dream
– to ensure that twenty women become teachers in chemistry, physics and mathematics in Burkina Faso. To reach this goals, she provides support to women who are studying to become teachers in natural sciences subjects.
Institut Des Sciences (IDS) is a public higher education institution in charge of providing training in chemistry, physics and mathematics to future school teachers in in Burkina Faso. Many prospective female teachers are mothers and have no facility at home to look for their kids, so they bring their cildren to school. They often also bring girls about 8 to 12 years old as babysitter. In Burkina Faso, like many other countries in Africa, high pregnancy rates prevents girls for finishing their education. When Professor Yvonne Bonzi-Coulibaly was Director of IDS, 2018 - 2019, she wanted start a programme offering child-care to the female students so that they can focus better on their studies. The long-term purpose of this program was to see the amount of women becoming teachers in chemistry, physics and mathematics increase in Burkina Faso.
Professor Yvonne Bonzi Coulibali, Action10 and HR&S have been collaborating to formulate a financially sustainable programme approch provding the user driven social good targeted. When Professor Yvonne Bonzi Coulibali assignement as director was concluded, she decided to continue her initiative closer to the villages.
HR&S Action10 decided to seek other opportunities to address user driven social good tageting women empowerment in Burkina Faso.
Professor Bonzi-Coulibaly Yvonne, the General Director of Institute Des Sciences (IDS) institute during 2018 and 2019. Pr Bonzi is the 2013 recipient of the African Union’s Kwame N’krumah Science Prize for Women – “Basic Science, Technology and Innovation”. Her contribution to gender equity has been made within the Association of Women Scientists of Burkina since 1988, within the Chair Women Sciences, Societies and Development creates 2000 at the University of Ouagadougou and via its testimonials model of as well as during her seminars and research themes.
IDEFOCS´ Botanical Reintegration program is in danger.
As you might recall from our previous report, the Cassava cultivation plan did not work out due to lack of funds. These funds still not have materialised, and the fully operational house still lies almost uninhabited.
The situation for former child soldiers in rural areas is quite dangerous. Phenomena of drugs, night stealing and public beatings in the town of Little Bassa are still common and regular. Furthermore, it is hard to find someone who can take charge of trauma counselling in Liberia. For this reason, we are currently planning to arrange therapy training for some people over Skype, to give them basic counselling skills.
There are about 30,000 adults who, as children, were forced to serve armed groups as soldiers, sexual slaves and laborers.
These people need our help.
Many success stories are coming in from the field. For example the one of Anna and Anais (false names due to privacy regulations).
Anna has a fruit selling business. She received three loans of increasing amounts which she repaid in full and in due time, thanks to the success of her business She said the money really helped her. She is soon ready to take in a new investment, to grow even more! Anais has a similar story, but her business is selling cereals.
In 2020 we plan on scaling up our program and help many more entrepreneurs like Anna and Anais. Your donations can really make a difference!
