Burkina Faso

Protection for Children and Families on the Run

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Due to armed conflict, many children in Burkina Faso have been on the run for years. They are often separated from their families and left defenseless against violence and exploitation. A looming famine is making the situation in the country particularly dire. We are committed to combating abuse and neglect and to protecting children, providing them with financial and psychological support to meet their basic needs and enable them to attend school and develop a better understanding of their rights.

At a glance

Target audience

More than 13,000 internally displaced children, adolescents, and adults, and more than 3,000 people in host communities in Djibo (Soum Province) and Gorom-Gorom (Oudalan Province)

Goal

Enhanced protection for vulnerable girls and boys through access to life-saving, inclusive child protection measures and food security

Partner

Federal Foreign Office, Joining Forces

Background

One in five children worldwide lives in conflict zones or is fleeing them. In Burkina Faso, too, life for many is marked by widespread violence, displacement, and disrupted services. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. 

 

The protracted conflicts in Burkina Faso mean that many children spend their entire childhood on the run. They are often victims of human trafficking, child labor, neglect, psychosocial distress, physical and emotional abuse, child marriage, and family separation. Their access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and nutrition is severely limited. Recruitment by non-state armed groups is also not uncommon. All these factors pose serious challenges for child protection.

 

Furthermore, widespread food insecurity exacerbates the situation. Both displaced people and host communities struggle to obtain sufficient food. The impact on children’s survival, well-being, and development requires urgent humanitarian action.

The number of displaced people worldwide reached unprecedented levels in 2023. Children account for 41% of all displaced people, even though they make up only 30% of the world’s population. In Burkina Faso alone, there are over 2 million internally displaced people.

In this West African country, more than 6 million people rely on humanitarian aid. That amounts to over 20% of the population.

Burkina Faso is one of the countries most immediately and severely threatened by famine worldwide.

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Help children and families in need now!

Our work in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, we are committed to reducing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children. At the same time, we are working to improve food security and enable them to attend school. To achieve this, we empower children and adolescents affected by crisis situations: We organize workshops to educate them on child protection and nutrition. It is particularly important that:

 

  • Raising awareness of children’s rights and distributing informational materials

  • Establishing active youth groups that convey nutrition messages to children and adolescents within their communities

  • Distributing emergency aid kits and providing temporary income support

  • Providing psychological first aid

We also work closely with caregivers and families. Our goal is to help them provide children with a safe environment where they receive the care and protection they deserve. We offer parent-child sessions that address family dynamics related to child protection risks, healthy nutrition, and appropriate care for their children. Our commitment also includes targeted financial support for families living in poverty, as well as the provision of emergency aid.

 

To ensure our efforts have a holistic and sustainable impact, we also involve the entire community. We promote community-based child protection mechanisms to permanently avert potential dangers to girls and boys, mitigate gender-specific child protection risks, and improve access to food security and nutrition services. This strengthens the capacities of organizations and institutions for child protection and food security at the regional and national levels.

Your donation makes a difference!

Workshops

Awareness and Education Workshop

Donate €10

First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit

Donate €48

Support

Psychological support for children and adolescents

Donate €105

Give children a future now

Your donation helps create a world where children can grow up safely, develop freely, and overcome poverty.

Häufig gefragt

What does ChildFund Germany stand for, and what is the goal of its work?

Our goal is to bring about lasting improvements in the future prospects of children in need, their families, and their entire communities. Through our commitment to these children and families, we aim to make a positive difference and create lasting improvements, always guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This enables them to exercise their rights, overcome poverty and dependency, and lead independent and self-determined lives.

How can I be sure that my donation actually reaches its destination?

The efficient use of the donations entrusted to us is our top priority. To ensure that our aid is used in a highly targeted manner, we rely on close collaboration with local partner organizations in all the countries where we operate, so that our assistance meets the specific needs on the ground. Furthermore, all our support is guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This ensures that the people in our projects benefit from long-term and lasting changes and, in the long run, no longer depend on aid but can live independently and self-determinedly. Our transparent and responsible handling of donations is also confirmed by the DZI Donation Seal, which we have been awarded continuously since 1995 by the German Central Institute for Social Issues.

How does ChildFund Germany work?

Our work is made possible by three sources of funding: sponsorships, other donations, and public funds. Our projects funded by sponsorships are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.

 

The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.

 

In all projects, ChildFund plays two specific roles: First, raising funds so that the project work can be implemented at all. And second, bringing together and building bridges between those who provide money and expertise and those who lack these resources. The goal is to maximize mutual benefit from the collaboration and to advance our projects in the most effective way possible.

What kinds of projects does ChildFund Germany carry out?

Our projects, which are funded through sponsorships, are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.

 

The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.

What regions and issues does ChildFund Germany focus on?

We operate in various countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Our work focuses primarily on education, nutrition, livelihood support, and child protection, as well as humanitarian aid in emergency situations. Issues such as health and climate protection are also central to many of our projects.

How can I support ChildFund Germany?

There are many different ways to support our work. From a one-time donation to a regular donation as a “Future Donor” to becoming a sponsor, you are free to choose the form of support that best suits you. Long-term and particularly sustainable support can also take the form of a foundation or a bequest. We also offer a range of customized support options for businesses and schools.

How many people does ChildFund Germany reach?

Through our work, we reach people in over 30 countries around the world. Our projects benefit more than 80,000 children, their families, and their communities.

Give children a future now

Your donation helps create a world where children can grow up safely, develop freely, and overcome poverty.

Or become a sponsor?

Donation account: Postbank | IBAN: DE61 6001 0070 0001 7107 02 | BIC: PBNKDEFF