Supporting windows and educating fatherless children and orphans in Africa

Burkina Faso translates as "the land of the people of integrity". This landlocked country in West Africa has a population of 13 million inhabitants. With no access to the sea, it is bordered by the West African nations of Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Benin and Togo. The main cities are Ouagadougou (the capital), Bobo and Koudougou.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. Almost 90 percent of the working population are farmers or cattle rearers and live within the rural community. There are very few industries and the remaining 10 percent of the working population are employed in government and parastatals as civil servants or in the security services. Others work with one of the many NGO's that operate within the country.

Burkina Faso is officially listed by the UN as one of the poorest countries in the world with per capita income of $210 and life expectancy of 47 years. Only about 43 per cent of children age 7 years and above are able to go to school. Education is not free. Although the cost of tuition is low, many parents cannot afford to pay for school supplies, uniform, books and school meals. In the rural areas the schools are often inaccessible for children, some of whom have to travel several kilometres to the nearest school.

ACT's main partner in Burkino Faso is Child Hope Inc Ministries who are based in Ougadougou.

ACT is also working in these areas:

> Nigeria

> Tanzania

> Uganda

> Zambia