Our Experience:
Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children,
Burkina Faso

Trained women on income-generating activities, enabling them to send over 300 OVC to primary school.

2005-2007

Situation

In 2000, following the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, many young women-led households caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) were settling in large numbers in Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina Faso.

The region had a particularly high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, especially among pregnant women, and an increasing number of orphans.

To start addressing some of these challenges, women in the region joined forces and together formed a support group called “Yéélen,” which served as a community resource and supportive group.

Solution 

Akesis recognized an opportunity to help support families with a particular acknowledgment of the desire for many of the young women in this area to take care of their families in the best way possible.

In 2005, Akesis trained selected women from Yéélen in income-generating activities, numeracy and business management and provided material support for the purchase of a grain mill. Akesis continued to provide targeted technical assistance and capacity building to the key members of Yéélen, enabling the group to reach their goals of supporting other IGA activities and mentoring other women’s groups.

Results

Through the devotion and will of the Yéélen woman and the support of Akeis the Yéélen organization was able to build its organizational capacity within two years. The organization grew from a few women to over 1,000 members and was able to send over 300 OVC to primary school.

Since, Yéélen has been sponsored by the Ministry of Social Welfare to conduct “mentoring tours” to women’s groups in other regions and has successfully solicited funding from UNICEF and the World Bank.