Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Capital Ouagadougou Population 16.24 million Language French (official), native American languages 90% Adult literacy rate* Male 29.4%, Female 15.2% Access to adequate sanitation Urban 41%, Rural 6% Access to improved drinking water Urban 97%, Rural 66% Urbanisation 20% Life expectancy Male 51.39 years, Female 55.31 years Religion Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10% Infant mortality rate** 82.98/1000 GNI per capita*** $480 No. Living with HIV/AIDS 130,000 Percentage living on less than US$1.25 per day 57%
*Literacy rate – Percentage of persons aged 15 and over who can read and write. ** Infant mortality rate – Probability of dying between birth and exactly one year of age expressed per 1000 live births. ***GNI per capita – Gross national income (GNI) divided by mid-year population. GNI per capita in US dollars.
Fast Facts: Formerly known as Upper Volta, the country was renamed Burkina Faso, meaning “the land of upright people”, in 1984. Burkina Faso is one of only 12 countries where guinea worm has not been eradicated. In 2005, five human trafficking networks were disbanded, 555 children were returned to their families and 13 suspects were apprehended.
Current Issues Poor health is a significant barrier to Burkina Faso’s development. Approximately 36 per cent of children in the country suffer from stunted growth, often as a result of malnutrition, and incidences of malaria, respiratory infection and diarrhoea are also high. Approximately 120,000 children have been orphaned as HIV/AIDS continues to spread, and Burkina Faso is one of only 12 countries where guinea worm has not been eradicated. More recently, the country has faced a major locust infestation as well as outbreaks of meningitis, yellow fever and cholera. The country currently holds the highest infant mortality rate of all of Compassion’s field countries, with approximately 82 infants dying for every 1000 born. With 46 per cent of its population under 14 years old, extreme poverty in Burkina Faso has resulted in a high percentage of children falling prey to international child trafficking rings. In 2005, five human trafficking networks were disbanded, 555 children were returned to their families and 13 suspects were apprehended. As a source, transit and destination country for internationally trafficked children to be sold into slavery, efforts to combat the problem in Burkina Faso are only now beginning to yield results.
“The Lord has shown the nations that He has the power to save and to bring justice.” – Psalm 98:2
Compassion in Burkina Faso Compassion International began working in Burkina Faso in 2004. Over 19,000 children participate in around 93 child development centres. Compassion Australia assists over 1900 of these children. Compassion’s goal is to reach out to Burkinabe children; helping provide for them the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be.
Background Formerly known as Upper Volta, Burkina Faso achieved independence from French colonialism in 1960. Before independence, France broke up the traditional Mossi states within the territory of what is now Burkina Faso, but the Mossi people continue to be the largest ethnic group in the country. Burkina Faso is now a democracy after repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s gave way to multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Captain Blaise Compaoré is the current President of Burkina Faso, having won every election since his initial grasp for power during a coup in 1987. Currently, Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources mean poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Nevertheless, about 90 per cent of the population is reliant on agriculture to survive, while cotton is the main source of income for the few farmers who are equipped to grow it. More recently, unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabé farm workers to find employment in neighbouring countries.
Education: Public education is ostensibly free; however, many parents can’t afford the cost of school resources such as uniforms and textbooks. A large shortage of schools and qualified teachers has contributed to a total adult literacy rate of just 29 per cent. As boys generally receive preference in schooling, there is a significant disparity between the education and literacy levels of adult men and women. This is also due in part to the large number of girls who are unable to complete their education after they are married and traditionally expected to maintain the house. The Government of Burkina Faso recently introduced fee-cuts and scholarships as a means of increasing the number of school enrolments among girls.
Religion: Approximately 50 per cent of the population practises Islam and 40 per cent practice traditional indigenous religions. The remaining 10 per cent are Christians, the majority of whom are Roman Catholic. Source: CIA, World Fact Book 2009, UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children, 2009
Capital Ouagadougou Population 16.24 million Language French (official), native American languages 90% Adult literacy rate* Male 29.4%, Female 15.2% Access to adequate sanitation Urban 41%, Rural 6% Access to improved drinking water Urban 97%, Rural 66% Urbanisation 20% Life expectancy Male 51.39 years, Female 55.31 years Religion Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10% Infant mortality rate** 82.98/1000 GNI per capita*** $480 No. Living with HIV/AIDS 130,000 Percentage living on less than US$1.25 per day 57%
*Literacy rate – Percentage of persons aged 15 and over who can read and write. ** Infant mortality rate – Probability of dying between birth and exactly one year of age expressed per 1000 live births. ***GNI per capita – Gross national income (GNI) divided by mid-year population. GNI per capita in US dollars.
Fast Facts: Formerly known as Upper Volta, the country was renamed Burkina Faso, meaning “the land of upright people”, in 1984. Burkina Faso is one of only 12 countries where guinea worm has not been eradicated. In 2005, five human trafficking networks were disbanded, 555 children were returned to their families and 13 suspects were apprehended.
Current Issues Poor health is a significant barrier to Burkina Faso’s development. Approximately 36 per cent of children in the country suffer from stunted growth, often as a result of malnutrition, and incidences of malaria, respiratory infection and diarrhoea are also high. Approximately 120,000 children have been orphaned as HIV/AIDS continues to spread, and Burkina Faso is one of only 12 countries where guinea worm has not been eradicated. More recently, the country has faced a major locust infestation as well as outbreaks of meningitis, yellow fever and cholera. The country currently holds the highest infant mortality rate of all of Compassion’s field countries, with approximately 82 infants dying for every 1000 born. With 46 per cent of its population under 14 years old, extreme poverty in Burkina Faso has resulted in a high percentage of children falling prey to international child trafficking rings. In 2005, five human trafficking networks were disbanded, 555 children were returned to their families and 13 suspects were apprehended. As a source, transit and destination country for internationally trafficked children to be sold into slavery, efforts to combat the problem in Burkina Faso are only now beginning to yield results.
“The Lord has shown the nations that He has the power to save and to bring justice.” – Psalm 98:2
Compassion in Burkina Faso Compassion International began working in Burkina Faso in 2004. Over 19,000 children participate in around 93 child development centres. Compassion Australia assists over 1900 of these children. Compassion’s goal is to reach out to Burkinabe children; helping provide for them the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be.
Background Formerly known as Upper Volta, Burkina Faso achieved independence from French colonialism in 1960. Before independence, France broke up the traditional Mossi states within the territory of what is now Burkina Faso, but the Mossi people continue to be the largest ethnic group in the country. Burkina Faso is now a democracy after repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s gave way to multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Captain Blaise Compaoré is the current President of Burkina Faso, having won every election since his initial grasp for power during a coup in 1987. Currently, Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources mean poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Nevertheless, about 90 per cent of the population is reliant on agriculture to survive, while cotton is the main source of income for the few farmers who are equipped to grow it. More recently, unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabé farm workers to find employment in neighbouring countries.
Education: Public education is ostensibly free; however, many parents can’t afford the cost of school resources such as uniforms and textbooks. A large shortage of schools and qualified teachers has contributed to a total adult literacy rate of just 29 per cent. As boys generally receive preference in schooling, there is a significant disparity between the education and literacy levels of adult men and women. This is also due in part to the large number of girls who are unable to complete their education after they are married and traditionally expected to maintain the house. The Government of Burkina Faso recently introduced fee-cuts and scholarships as a means of increasing the number of school enrolments among girls.
Religion: Approximately 50 per cent of the population practises Islam and 40 per cent practice traditional indigenous religions. The remaining 10 per cent are Christians, the majority of whom are Roman Catholic. Source: CIA, World Fact Book 2009, UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children, 2009
