SOS Children in Burkina Faso

Our charity has been helping children in Burkina Faso since the 1990s. One of the least developed countries in Africa, Burkina Faso has many extremely vulnerable and orphaned children. We help children stay with their families by providing support, and when necessary provide the poorest children places in our SOS Children’s Villages.

With SOS Children, you can help orphaned and abandoned children in Burkina Faso by sponsoring a child:

Sponsor a child in Burkina Faso

Poverty on the rise in spite of economic growth

Although Burkina Faso has experienced economic growth, approximately six million people living in rural areas live in extreme poverty and in total only 20% of the population are in employment. Sanitation facilities in rural areas are extremely limited; with only 6% able to use decent facilities, the high rate of infectious diseases is unsurprising. Thousands of people remain without access to HIV treatment, though counselling and HIV testing exist for some. The life expectancy in Burkina Faso is low at only 53 years.

Children in Burkina Faso

Around three-quarters of a million children in Burkina Faso have lost one or both parents.
HIV/AIDS has left many orphaned and abandoned children in Burkina Faso.
A large number of births are not attended by trained medical staff and general public health facilities are often poor or non-existent. The infant mortality stands at 90.8 per 1,000.
In rural areas only a quarter of children go to school.

Our charity work in Burkina Faso

Ouagadougou

SOS Children's Village Ouagadougou has 12 family houses which are home to 120 children. The village also has a nursery school and a primary school with a capacity for 150 pupils, both of which are open to children from the local community. A playground provides space for the children to learn sports and play with their friends. A small medical centre provides treatment and first aid for both SOS families and local people. In 2003, a SOS Youth Centre was built, accommodating older youths whilst they prepare themselves for independence. Youth counselling is available to support the transition.

Dafra

Burkina Faso's second SOS Children's Village Dafra in Bobo-Dioulasso, near the western border with Mali was opened in 2004. Approximately 10 km from the city centre, the village has 12 family houses for 120 children and a three-room nursery school for 150 children. A combined primary and secondary school provides an education for 900 children. The SOS Village also has a clinic which is open to both the SOS families in the village and the local community. An SOS Social Centre supports vulnerable families to stay together by helping parents engage in income-generating activities and ensuring that children have access to essential services.

Local Contact

Villages d'Enfants SOS du Burkina Faso

Avenue Simon Comparé, Porte 1402

Ouagadougou Secteur 8

01 BP 1468 Ougadougou 01

Burkina Faso

Tel: +226/50 34 65 31

Fax: +226 50 34 65 33

e-mail: sosve.burkina@sos-burkinafaso.org

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