By Alleigh VandeMerkt | Social Network Intern
Dear BARKA Foundation Supporters,
Ina and Esu recently returned from an eventful trip to Burkina Faso. While there they were welcomed by new villages-- Kanougou, Boungou, Dankibargou, Kouare, and Natiabouani to assess the water and sanitation situation for an upcoming project that will take place in 2014.
The first village that Ina and Esu visited was Natiabouani, a village with a popular market that attracts people from all over the region. The people of the village get their water from a river. The village has applied for wells with the government, but has not received a response yet. Natiabouani is well organized and motivated.
The second village was the the village of Dankibargou. The nearest well is 16 kilometers ( about 9 miles) away. The villagers brought Ina to a dirty stream which is used as the village’s primary source of drinking water. The village has no school, no well, no sanitation, and no water committee. The village of Dankibargou is made up of 3 different tribes: Gourmache, Moussi and Fulani tribes. Each tribe speaks a different language. During the meeting BARKA had with villagers, 5 languages had to be spoken to communicate (Gulimanchema, Morè, Fula, French and English). Peace and harmony rule this community. The villagers agreed on the importance of women to help form a committee that would manage the well and determine its location. The village was willing to raise 500,00 CFA ($1,000) to participate in the drilling of the well.
The third village BARKA visited was the village of Boungou. The population of the village is almost 5000 people. The village has 8 wells (none of them are broken) but is in need of 16 more according to the local government. Boungou is very well organized. The people have a water committee, association of water users, and a special committee for hygiene. The school has 3 classrooms and 120 students. There are latrines at the school and a well that is relatively close to the school. This is a model community to work with.
BARKA also visited the village of Kanougou in the neighboring province of Kouritenga. When Ina & Esu met the village chief and dozens of representatives from neighboring villages, they were surrounded by men. Ina’s first question was "where are the women?" After all, everyone agrees that water is women’s work. The women were all working in the fields but came to visit as everyone walked to the proposed site location for the well.
BARKA and partner APRG also went to the village of Lampiadi where BARKA will be drilling a well, repairing a well, and starting hygiene education programs later this fall. When Ina and Esu arrived in the village they were greeted with song and dance (see photo below). When they left, they were gifted with more than 100 eggs-- a precious form of currency during the "hunger season" when crops are planted but not yet harvested.
The Lampiadi project is imminent and Ina and Esu head back to Burkina soon to oversee its implementation. You can expect a full report of BARKA’s progress in Lampiadi in the next project report.
We want to thank you for your steadfast support of this work and for being part of the BARKA family. We could not be making such amazing strides to help the people of Burkina Faso without you.
BARKA,
Alleigh VandeMerkt and BARKA Staff in US and Burkina Faso
By Alleigh VandeMerkt | Social Network Intern
By Ina & Esu | Co-Founders
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