Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso flag

Bonjour / Hello from Burkina Faso

Language: French

Burkina Faso is home to majestic national parks and captivating wildlife. It is also home to families who struggle to find food and stay healthy. Compassion-assisted children experience these realities daily. But at the Compassion center, there is hope.

Burkina Faso Stats

POPULATION: 21,935,389
63.2% Muslim
24.6% Roman Catholic
4.2% Traditional/animist
6.9% Protestant

107,326
CHILDREN SERVED

444
CHURCHES SERVING

19
YEARS SERVING

A child walks her three goats while carrying her little brother on her back

A child walks her three goats while carrying her little brother on her back.

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Through hard work, a girl in Compassion’s program plays soccer on the Burkina Faso women’s national team

Through hard work, a girl in Compassion’s program plays soccer on the Burkina Faso women’s national team.

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Children play on a slide outside their child development center

Children play on a slide outside their child development center.

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Children raise their hands to answer a question in class

Children raise their hands to answer a question in class.

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A young girl stands smiling in front of a bright wall

A young girl stands smiling in front of a bright wall.

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Women carry large bowls of milk on their heads to sell at the market

Women carry large bowls of milk on their heads to sell at the market.

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Young children smile while holding Christmas gifts

Young children smile while holding Christmas gifts.

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Little boys read their first Bibles together

Little boys read their first Bibles together.

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A mother carries her young child on her back as she sells vegetables to generate income for her family

A mother carries her young child on her back as she sells vegetables to generate income for her family.

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A girl smiles while leaning against a tree in her neighborhood

A girl smiles while leaning against a tree in her neighborhood.

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5 FACTS ABOUT BURKINA FASO

  1. Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in West Africa, surrounded by six countries: Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
  2. It is known for its cultural diversity, with over 60 different ethnic groups, each having its own unique customs, languages, and practices.
  3. Has a history of political stability and peaceful democratic transitions, setting it apart from some of its neighboring countries in the region.
  4. Traditional music and dance play a significant role in Burkina Faso's cultural heritage, with vibrant rhythms, traditional instruments like the balafon, and energetic dance performances being prominent.
  5. Burkina Faso, located in the Sahel region, showcases diverse natural beauty, including picturesque landscapes, rock formations, waterfalls, and national parks like the UNESCO World Heritage site, W National Park, which is home to various wildlife species.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN BURKINA FASO

Issue: In Burkina Faso, only 33% of the population is literate. Adults who cannot read or write find it difficult to excel professionally, which makes escaping poverty almost impossible. Children desperately need an education so they can steer their country in a better direction.

Response: Children receive after-school tutoring at the center. For teens, the center offers training in mechanics, hairdressing, sewing, gardening and animal breeding. If children want to learn new income-generating skills, Compassion staff members make every effort to provide training.

Prayer Point: Pray for the children in Burkina Faso — that they would rise above their current reality by implementing the life-altering skills they are learning through Compassion.

Beneficiaries learn skills and gain education to help them thrive

Beneficiaries learn skills and gain education to help them thrive.

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Visit the Compassion blog to learn more about our work in Burkina Faso.

Did You Know?

Burkina Faso has many different types of terrain. The north part of the country is covered in desert, while the southwest is woodland and savanna.

Sponsor a Child in Burkina Faso

Life in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso Fast Facts

Official Name: Burkina Faso

Form of Government: Presidential republic

Capital: Ouagadougou

Population: 20,835,401

Official Languages: French

Currency: West African CFA Franc

Area: 105,869 square miles (274,200 square kilometers)

Compassion has been working in Burkina Faso since 2004. These Burkina Faso facts and statistics provide a good picture of the reality of poverty and how child sponsorship through Compassion is making a difference.

Poverty is a problem in the country of Burkina Faso but with your support, Compassion is working to change this. The Burkina Faso facts tell a difficult story, but Compassion is bringing hope in the midst of the difficulties. Our programs are changing the statistics one child at a time.

Don't let the hopelessness of poverty overwhelm you. Sponsor a child in Burkina Faso!