Volunteering with street children in Burkina Faso

Hi, I’m sorry I don’t really have any leads to share, but actually, it’s your experience in Tanzania that interests me... Did you go with an NGO? Could you give me a few details, please? Thanks! !

hi!!

about my experience in Tanzania, it’s simple. I found an organization that took in volunteers through the internet. I grabbed my backpack and headed to Moshi, at the foot of Kilimanjaro. I knew I had a place to stay because my contact there (the center’s director) had found me a place to live before I arrived. I could get by pretty well in English and I learned Swahili before leaving with a correspondence course. I finished up with lessons from a teacher on-site, but I mostly learned the language from the kids who only speak it!! And to build trust, it’s super useful! So, I had to take care of them, find activities for them, help with reading, writing... but everything went wonderfully! It was an incredible experience. These kids are amazing!! So, that’s basically how it all started.

If you want the center’s contact info or any other details, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d be happy to help. See you soon!

Hi there,

I have a question to ask you that’s unrelated to the post you shared, but anyway—I was wondering, you spent 8 months in Tanzania and now you’re planning to go for a year.

How do you fund your travels? Do you cover it yourself, or do you receive any kind of financial help? Thanks, have a great day! Lilou

hi,

first of all, thanks again for the association’s address. I’m still waiting for a response. for funding my trips, it really depends on my finances!! I’m saving up!! I’ve never managed to get any kind of help—that’s the real issue. The first time, I went on unpaid leave and saved for many months in advance. And now, I’ve saved up again. Every month, I set some money aside. But yeah, I make a lot of sacrifices. I pay my bills, gas, and the rest goes into savings. It’s a few less fun months, but it’s worth it for the huge happiness it brings in the end!! Taking care of those kids is such a rewarding experience!!

that’s it. Sorry, I don’t have a magic solution! see you soon.

Hi Malaika, I’m writing from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. There’s a lot being done here for street children. MSF has a program specifically for them. I met the coordinator, Mr. Issa Ouédraogo, at an exhibition on the topic at the Centre Culturel Français Georges Méliès in Ouaga in early 2005. There’s also the SAMU SOCIAL. I’ll get in touch with both organizations and let you know their response about the best time to visit, as well as the logistics (accommodation, getting around Ouaga). You’ll have an update by next Saturday. In the meantime, hang in there, and send me an acknowledgment when you get this. 😉

hi, thanks so much for your precious help. It’s really great to see so many people trying to help me out! For MSF, I’ll admit I don’t know much about them, but if it’s like the SAMU social, they won’t have anything for me—I’ve already tried. I don’t have any qualifications that interest them, anyway. Goodwill isn’t always enough!!

I’ll be away for a little over a week, and I’m not sure if I’ll have internet access, so if I don’t update for a while, that’s normal. Thanks.

There’s a report in *Ouest France* from 18/08 about the Tie association founded by Gaby Cohn Bendit (Dany’s older brother). I think their principles are sound... but I don’t know if they take "amateurs." You can ask the question at GREF.

Hi Malaika, I stopped by Samusocial but couldn’t meet Ms. Carole Samba, the Administration Officer. Here’s what I was able to gather. The association works in medical and social emergencies for the benefit of excluded individuals, particularly street children (both boys and girls) aged 0 to 15. This work is carried out both on the streets (the *Maraudes*) and at the *Centre de Renaissance*.

Figures for January 2006–June 2006

Street Work Number of night outings: 100 Number of children who received care + consultations on the street: 630 Number of children met: 6,422 Number of children taken to the center from the street: 22

*Centre de Renaissance* Number of new children housed at the center: 174 Number of street children received for day care: 1,661 Number of returns to family: 19 Number of children who returned to the street from the center: 46

Number of different children recorded in Samusocial’s database: 1,380

INTERVENTION The intervention teams are multidisciplinary: nurses, psycho-sociologists, psychologists. MEDICAL EMERGENCY Teams operate in the field five (5) days out of seven (7), from 9 PM to 2 AM. They meet children at specific sites. SOCIAL EMERGENCY This targets runaway children. The children are taken in by the center. Depending on the case, the center will: mediate with the child’s relatives to facilitate their return home (this mediation is only undertaken with the child’s consent), or help the adolescent reintegrate socially, particularly through literacy and vocational training. Samusocial welcomes interns and volunteers: nurses, psychologists, and well-meaning individuals (I need to verify this). LOGISTICS Volunteers must arrange their own accommodation and transportation to Ouagadougou. Transportation is only provided by Samusocial for night missions (*Maraudes*). Ms. Carole Samba will tell me more when she returns from leave in early September.

Contact:

*Centre Renaissance* Patte d'oie 05 BP 6333 Ouagadougou 05 Burkina Faso Phone: (+226) 50 38 69 10 Email: samu.social@fasonet.bf

Next week, I’ll contact the *PROJET ENFANT DE LA RUE* at MSF. Actually, the name has changed because it became an autonomous structure. The new name is *KEEGO*—in the Mossi language (my ethnicity), it refers to the initiation ceremony (circumcision) marking the transition from childhood to adulthood. 😉

Repta has a website (just Google it and it’s the first result). There’s another Repta that has nothing to do with this one! They’re partners with Volunteers for Progress and Aide et Action. So it’s these two organizations that recruit volunteers.

sorry I took so long to reply! but I finally got my internet access back!! Thanks for your research. I’ll check it out as soon as I can!

Hi!!

Thanks for your email! It’s super detailed! I’d checked out the Samu Social website. They really seem to be doing great work. Thanks so much!

Hi Malaika,

I’ll introduce you to the KEOOGO association, which—unlike SAMUSOCIAL—carries out its work entirely on the streets. This should give you more options.

STREET CHILDREN PROJECT This project was launched in 1998 and was initially set up for seven years. In early 2004, the second phase began, with the goal of establishing a national association to take over. That association is KEOOGO, created on November 1, 2004, and officially recognized under registration number 2005-85/MATD/SG/DGLPAP/DOASOC on February 11, 2005.

ABOUT KEOOGO KEOOGO helps children regain a positive place in society. In my ethnic language (Moore), KEOOGO means "an initiatory space for transmitting values and virtues to ensure a successful transition into adulthood." The association focuses on supporting street children. The work is carried out entirely on the streets at specific sites (usually where children gather) and is handled by a medical-psychosocial team made up of former workers from the "STREET CHILDREN" project, all of whom were trained and supervised by MSF since 1998. The team consists of: a coordinator, an educator, a female educator, a community outreach and law enforcement liaison officer, a clinical psychologist, an administrator, and a nurse.

APPROACH TO EXCLUSION OF YOUNG PEOPLE KEOOGO takes a unique approach: recognizing the street as a living environment, providing outreach and permanent presence through first responders who are former street children, and working based on the child’s needs and requests.

GOALS There are seven main objectives: improving access to basic and specialized healthcare, enhancing psychosocial support, improving coexistence between locals and street children at various sites, mobilizing Burkinabe society to combat sexual violence against children, supporting children who are victims of pedophilia, raising awareness among certain segments of Burkinabe society (law enforcement, the Muslim community) about the issue of street children, and developing a reliable and effective network of partners to support street children.

ACTIVITIES Street healthcare: medical teams provide care and vaccinations directly on the streets. Referrals are made in collaboration with healthcare facilities, with support from peer helpers who have chosen to leave street life. Psychosocial support for street boys and girls: family reunification, return to family, enrollment in vocational training or partner structures, and obtaining civil status documents. These efforts are personalized, including: - "Therapy walks": group discussions, support groups, drawing activities, photography, and street-based literacy programs. - Work with residents near sites where street children gather. - Work with police stations: awareness-raising to strengthen their role in protecting children, preventing arbitrary detentions, and ensuring proper conditions for minors in custody. - Support for children who are victims of pedophilia. - Prevention of risks associated with street life through urban and rural awareness campaigns. - Work with Muslim communities on the issue of students from Quranic schools. - Literacy classes.

KEOOGO will soon open three literacy centers in Ouagadougou with support from the Ministry of Basic Education. The ministry will provide teachers, while the association will handle materials and supplies. You can support the association by volunteering for literacy classes or by bringing school supplies or funds to purchase everything locally in Ouagadougou. You could also organize charity events in your neighborhood or village. These events would be a great way to talk about KEOOGO, its goals, and its activities. To learn more, request the following documents: the KEOOGO brochure, *PRESENTATION OF KEOOGO*, and *SUCCESS STORIES*. You’ll receive them by email for free.

Contacts: Mr. Ousmane Sawadogo, Coordinator Mr. Issa Ouédraogo 01 BP 62 13 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso Phone: (00226) 78 86 80 59 Email: keoogo@yahoo.fr

Okay, I’ll share info about OCADES in early September. See you later! 😉

Hi, I find the info you shared really interesting and thorough—especially since I’ve been looking for exactly this kind of info! But without wanting to impose, would you happen to have similar addresses in Bobo? That’s where I’m staying. I’ve already connected with the association *Arbre d’en Face*, but I’d like to know about other options before committing. And since you’re apparently Burkinabè, what do you think about the help from *toubabs* in these kinds of organizations? Do you think it’s positive for the kids and adults, or could there be issues because of it?

Don’t worry, you’re not overstepping at all! I’ll reach out to the previous organizations to check if they’re based in Bobo. Also, I need to send Malaika some more info starting the second week of September—I’ll pass it along to you. See you soon! 🙂

Hey Malaika!

I can’t sit still either—after getting back from Nepal, all I want is to set off for new horizons! I’d love to explore Africa and lend a hand. Could you share the details of your organization in Tanzania? Thanks, see you soon!

Marie

Hi Marie,

Here’s the website for the center where I volunteered: www.amanikids.org There’s also www.mkombozi.org. This center works a bit with Amani because it takes care of the older children, while Amani looks after them up to around age 15. But when I share the address, I always specify that the only languages used are English and Swahili. The children only speak Swahili.

There you go! Hope this helps. If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to send another email. See you soon,

Manu.

Hi,

If you want to work for a year with street children, you can check out the website www.enfants-des-rues.com, which lists all the NGOs working in this field along with their addresses and phone numbers. Sometimes there’s a short description that can give you an idea of what to expect. It’s a reliable site, and I don’t think there are any scams. The search is really simple: just go to the "all addresses" tab and select the country...

Good luck!

Hi Marilynbb, I contacted the BSONG (Bureau de Suivi des ONG) here in Ouagadougou. I looked up NGOs and associations based in Bobo. It’s pretty limited—I should point out that the NGO directory is 3 or 4 years old and hasn’t been updated. So some associations may have started up since then, while others no longer exist. You should also be careful because some associations are family-run businesses. Here’s the short list I put together for you:

ONG/WURO YIRE for Development 01 BP 441 Bobo-Dioulasso 01 Burkina Faso – education, infrastructure, health, environment. Contact Mr. Dibi Etienne SANOU Phone: 20 97 09 43 Fax: 20 97 09 43 Email: wuroyiro@fasonet

ASSOCIATION RESPONSABILITE-ESPOIR-VIE-SOLIDARITE 01 BP 382 Bobo-Dioulasso 01 Burkina Faso – health, HIV/AIDS Contact Ms. Martine SOMDA Phone: 20 97 05 17 Fax: 20 97 05 17 Email: revs@fasonet.bf

ASSOCIATION FOR SMALL AFRICAN PROJECT 01 BP 549 Bobo-Dioulasso 01 Burkina Faso – education, agriculture, health, water supply. Contact Mr. Théodore MILLOGO Phone: 20 97 47 20

FORUM FOR AFRICAN WOMEN EDUCATIONALISTS 06 BP 9109 Ouagadougou 06 Burkina Faso – education, training, awareness-raising Contact Ms. Alice TIENDREBEOGO Phone: 50 36 62 68 Fax: 50 36 09 79 Email: afed@cenatrin.bf

RESEAU DE COMMUNICATION ET DE FORMATION DES FEMMES DU BURKINA 01 BP 6473 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso – training in information and communication Contact Ms. Habibou KOUANDA Phone: 50 31 22 25 Email: recif@fasonet.bf

Some NGOs are based in Ouagadougou but work in the Houet province (Bobo is the capital). Also check the Bobo phone directory. Look up "Association"—there’s a short list, and you can contact the ones that interest you.

About what I think regarding *toubabs* helping out: The question goes deeper than that. Are Burkinabè ready to take charge of their own future? This leads us to politics, changing mindsets, and daily practices. Don’t overthink it—you might not like the answers. Follow what your heart tells you to do for this country you love; it shows in your approach. When things get tough, listen to Florent Pagny’s song *Savoir Aimer*—especially when it comes to Africa, and Burkina in particular, those lyrics really hit home. Your gesture is welcome because it comes from a good place.

Personally, I’ve already had experience in humanitarian aid as a volunteer (with the American Catholic Relief Services), preparing for the BIOFORCE decentralized exam at the time. My approach was misinterpreted as a subtle way to find a job—basically taking someone else’s spot. That’s still a thing, and it’s understandable given Burkina Faso’s tight job market.

I haven’t given up on working in humanitarian action . I’m interested in food security logistics, and the main gain I’m looking for is a successful experience, as long as housing, meals, and transportation are covered during the mission. I’m also open to other opportunities. So if you come across anything in Bobo that might interest me, get in touch.

I’d love to exchange more ideas if you’re up for it. I’ll take the chance to expand on what I mentioned earlier. 🙂

Thanks so much—I don’t even know who you are, and it’s kinda weird that someone’s helping me out and I have no idea who they are! Anyway, I really appreciate your reply and sincerely thank you for the time and effort you put into answering others on the forum. That’s really nice of you. See you soon, maybe even in Burkina!

Ahem I live in Ouagadougou. My name’s Augustin. It means a lot to me to lend a hand. Are we a (virtual) community or not? When I browse VoyageForum, especially this section, I’m disappointed to see that some users don’t get answers to their questions—it happened to me too. People want to get involved in humanitarian work without any spirit of sharing. Can you really do humanitarian work while being selfish? Honestly, I wonder what they’re even doing here. To receive, you’ve got to be willing to give—I’m not trying to lecture anyone. I hope this little message sparks some reactions. If you’re ever in Ouaga, I’d love to meet up, and if I have any other info that might interest you, I’ll pass it along to you and anyone else it might help. 🙂

We’re not all on the same wavelength, and that’s a pretty universal conclusion that applies to every country in the world—everywhere there are selfish people, but also a few very "wealthy" individuals who know how to open their hearts to others, help, and selflessly invest in someone.

Okay, I took what you said a bit personally, but I don’t think it was aimed at me. I admit I don’t connect to the internet often, so I don’t engage much in this community, which I’ve just discovered, by the way. Maybe I’ve left people hanging who were waiting for answers.

Still, let’s not generalize and stay tolerant. The people you’re calling out will realize on their own that they’re not cut out for humanitarian work—"justice will be served"!!

And maybe no one had the answer you needed at the exact moment you needed it. For example, I know I can help with certain topics but not others, which doesn’t mean I’m not interested in the person’s request.

I know, I’m making excuses for people, but I also know the world works like that. It’s better to focus on the good rather than dwell on the bad. Plus, that minority of open-minded, selfless, warm, and generous people is always a joy to meet. It probably makes them even more valuable because they’re rarer.

See you soon, Augustin—it’s late for me, but we’ll continue the discussion another day

Hi Marilynbb,

Sorry, I should have created a new discussion topic to share what was on my mind. The message wasn’t aimed at you but at our community. I actually plan to create a discussion topic titled "volunteering opportunities in Burkina for 2007."

Okay, the title isn’t great, and I’d be happy if you could suggest something better. In this new thread, I’ll share all the information I’ve gathered for people looking for opportunities to come to Burkina—whether for internships or volunteer work.

That way, newcomers to VoyageForum who are interested in Burkina Faso can find curated information.

Let me know what you think, and if you have any interesting info yourself, why not add it to mine?

Thanks for your previous comments.

Hey hey,

I just read your message and wanted to ask if you could give me some info. I’m a trainee specialized educator and I’d love to go to Africa for a month this summer to work. Could you share a website or contact details for the org you were with in Tanzania, please?

Thanks in advance

After reading your reply, I hope you don’t mind me reaching out. I’m a registered nurse in France and currently live in Ouaga. I’m very interested in your contacts.

Could you give me more details about the associations for street children?

Thanks in advance...

Hello, we are an NGO that humanizes the prison environment in Burkina Faso. We work to help minors reintegrate into society. We are Prisoners Without Borders/Burkina (Prisonniers sans frontières/Burkina). Our website: www.prsf.org Our address in Burkina: prsf_bf@yahoo.fr PRSF/BF is a Burkinabe association that has been working for ten years to improve the living conditions of detainees in Burkina Faso's prisons. PRSF's various activities include: - Presence of its volunteers in all detention centers: contact with prison administration and detainees, organization of activities, distribution of food rations… - Construction and development of facilities in prison environments for women and minors, drilling and water towers for drinking water supply, kitchens, health clinics, plus development of computer rooms, libraries, and small workshops… for cultural activities, training, and reintegration - Development of market gardens and small livestock projects to improve prisoners' diets and help them acquire skills in livestock farming and market gardening - Defense of detainees held too long in pre-trial detention or whose innocence is easily defensible. - Moral support for detainees, assistance in acquiring savings, reintegration

PRSF/BF is supported by the Embassies of the Netherlands and Denmark, the European Delegation, as well as various associations. PRSF/BF is present in all prisons in Burkina Faso.

Hello! Is Burkina Faso of interest to you? If so, visit our website: www.prsf.org

Could you share your motivations for working with street children?

WE ARE AN NGO THAT HUMANIZES PRISONS IN BURKINA FASO. WE WORK WITH MINORS. WE ARE PRSF/BF is a Burkinabe association that has been working for ten years to improve the living conditions of detainees in Burkina Faso's prisons. PRSF's various activities include: - Presence of its volunteers in all detention centers: contact with the penitentiary administration and detainees, organizing activities, distributing food rations... - Construction and development of buildings in prison environments for women and minors, drilling wells and water towers for a potable water supply, kitchens, health clinics, plus setting up computer rooms, libraries, and small workshops... for cultural activities, training, and reintegration - Development of market gardens and small livestock projects to improve prisoners' diets and help them acquire skills in livestock farming and market gardening - Defense of detainees held too long in pre-trial detention or whose innocence is easily defensible. - Moral support for detainees, assistance in acquiring savings, reintegration

PRSF/BF is supported by the Embassies of the Netherlands and Denmark, the European Delegation, as well as various associations. PRSF/BF is present in all prisons in Burkina Faso.

Our email address: prsf_bf@yahoo.fr http://membres.lycos.fr/prsf/

PRISONERS WITHOUT BORDERS/BURKINA FASO

Hi, I’d like to know the name of the street children’s association in Tanzania and also the contact details for your local contacts. I’m planning to go for 2 months and I’m looking for associations to volunteer with. Best regards,