Classrooms for La Bonne Nouvelle School 2022
Bobo Dioulasso; the second largest city in Burkina Faso
Bobo is located in the south-west region of Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in Western Africa. 10 years ago, Bobo had a population of 600,000, but due to rapid population growth and intense migration of people from rural areas to the city, its population now exceeds 1.5 million. When families reach the city, they find there is inadequate infrastructure to cope with the growing population. Schools are particularly affected. With so many children searching for places in schools, many are increasingly oversubscribed or have class sizes in excess of 100 pupils.
La Bonne Nouvelle School.
In 2005, International Needs opened La Bonne Nouvelle School in Colma, a northern district of Bobo. La Bonne Nouvelle is made up of both a primary and secondary school, which are currently attended by over 450 pupils. The school welcomes all children of all faiths but particularly focuses on encouraging Muslim girls to pursue education as they are often the most unlikely to get an opportunity to go to school due to economic and cultural reasons.
Students at the La Bonne Nouvelle Primary School
New Classrooms at La Bonne Nouvelle in 2018
In 2017, the government shut down 71 unlicensed schools in Colma. These schools were taking advantage of poorer parents and children by taking money but having no interest in providing quality education; class sizes in these schools were up to 200 pupils. This has put pressure on the entire education system as thousands of children now need places in licensed schools. Due to the high demand for school places The Burkina Faso Ministry of Education has asked La Bonne Nouvelle School to create an additional 140 paid places and has committed to continue funding them for five years, starting in September 2018.
The 2018 Building Plans for four new classrooms at La Bonne Nouvelles School
To do this, a new block of 4 classrooms were built on the La Bonne Nouvelle site. The building work began in March 2018 and was completed shortly before the start of the new school term in September 2018. To plan ahead for potential future expansion the foundations were built to allow for a second storey of classrooms to be added in the future.
The block of 4 classrooms – completed September 2018
With the incredible generosity of our supporters, we were able to raise the £70,000 needed to build and equip the classrooms ready for students. The high demand for school places meant that the additional places provided by these classrooms were quickly filled during the September intake.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the development of these new classrooms!
Students take their seats for lessons in a one of the new classrooms
How you can make a difference at La Bonne Nouvelle
One of the main barriers to education in Bobo Dioulasso is cost. By sponsoring a child living in Bobo Dioulasso, you can give the life-changing opportunity to go to school. Find out more about becoming a sponsor today here.
Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about this programme and other ways you can get involved, please get in touch with National Director Danny Morris at danny@ineeds.org.uk
Burkina Faso
Education
Key facts
Only 35% of the Burkina Faso population aged 15 and older is literate. For women, this is much lower- only 26% of women over age 15 can read and write. (UNESCO, 2014)
Whilst there have been large increases in the number of children attending primary school over the last decade, Secondary school attendance remains very low. Less than 30% of young people of secondary school age are enrolled at school. (UNESCO, 2017).
La Bonne Nouvelle
International Needs UK and International Needs BF began building La Bonne Nouvelle Secondary School in 2004, and the school was officially opened in 2005.
It is now attended by over 450 students.
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March 15th, 2024
Healing through the Lens: Trauma Care Support
The students from La Bonne Nouvelle who have been part of the Trauma Care Programme have been delighted to show off their produce…
(Directly above) the beauty of organic vegetables can be seen in their unusual shapes! The tomato harvest was a great success!
(Above) Melons, salad and cauliflowers are just a few of the vegetables harvested by students on the Trauma Care Support programme.
(Above) Students who are part of the Trauma Care Programme were excited to see the progress of their onions
(Above) Lots of Aubergines were harvested by the refugee students
(Directly above, left) Bitter tomato, also known as Ethiopian Eggplant
(Directly above: one of the juicy homegrown cucumbers)
One of the young women joyfully tasting a tomato, a tasty result from hard work!
25 internally displaced children attend woodworking sessions.
In a heartening display of healing and hope, we have seen a transformative journey unfold for displaced children in our care. Trauma counselling support by a psychologist and prayer sessions led by a pastor have given children a safe space to heal. Remarkably, 50 of these children now claim to be completely healed from their traumas, a testament to the power of compassionate care. Additionally, some youngsters have embraced Jesus as their personal saviour, and have found solace in regularly attending church services. We continue to foster healing, faith, and resilience in the lives of those we serve.
June 12th, 2023
Peter Craig Awards for La Bonne Nouvelle’s Outstanding Students!
We are happy that we were able to have the Peter Craig Awards this year to commend and encourage La Bonne Nouvelle school’s outstanding students.
The awards took place last month with International Needs Burkina Faso granting school bags, text books, notebooks, pens and mathematical sets to 18 primary school and 18 secondary school students who had all scored a total of 7 and above out of 10 points at Primary level and 12 and above out of 20 points at the secondary school level.
It was a happy day of celebrations as the students, teachers and parents gathered in the open grounds of the school to witness the award ceremony which was followed by food sharing, dancing and singing by the students and community. It is uplifting to see La Bonne Nouvelle’s students excelling academically given that most of these children come from very impoverished homes with a quarter of the student population being refugee children who fled into Bobo Dioulasso after facing violence from terrorism in their homelands.
Testimony of one of the Awardees;
“I’m an internally displaced pupil from the village of Titao, 404 km from Bobo-Dioulasso. In 2021, we fled Titao to come to Bobo-Dioulasso. I lost my father in the attacks and my mother brought me and my brothers to Bobo-Dioulasso, here, thanks to International Needs, we’re being looked after by a psychologist and a pastor, and I’ve been able to regain the confidence to work at school. I’m one of the top three in my class. Today, even though I’m an internally displaced person, I see myself like the other children who are with their two parents and who haven’t suffered a shock”. Rasmane*, Grade 1. La Bonne Nouvelle School.
Peter and Judith Craig left a strong and lasting legacy in Bobo Dioulasso by impacting the lives of hundreds of families in this community. Prior to Peter’s passing in 2018, the couple supported the original construction of La Bonne Nouvelle school and the community medical centre managed by International Needs Burkina Faso. Judith continues to honor Peter’s legacy by supporting the annual Peter Craig Awards. We are very thankful for this.
‘In Loving Memory of Peter Craig who was committed to helping the people of Bobo. “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust” Psalm 40 v 4’
Issaka’s Story
“I come from KONGOUSSI, a village 106km away. My parents had to flee the village because of the terrorists who burnt our field and killed my uncle. Since then my father has taken us to Bobo-Dioulasso.”
Issaka* with his prizes, having just won 3rd place out of of 63 pupils!
“Thank God, the Bonne Nouvelle school took us in on 15 September 2022. I was scared, I couldn’t learn my lessons when I started, but thanks to the TRAUMA counselling programme, we were looked after by a psychologist and a pastor. After a few sessions with them, I managed to overcome these difficulties and got a good average to come third in my class out of 63 pupils.”
Aissatou’s Story
“I’m an internally displaced child from the village of Koflandé, 160 km from Bobo-Dioulasso. Armed men killed my father in February 2022, and I came to Bobo-Dioulasso with three older sisters. I saw my father’s blood spilled and I couldn’t forget. I had a lot of nightmares and I was afraid of the armed men.”
Aissatou* with a smile on her face having received the award for being an outstanding student.
“I went to the La Bonne Nouvelle school and they looked after me. Thank you to everyone who supports me.”
*Names changed to protect identity
January 1st, 2023
Happy New Year, and a massive International Needs UK welcome to 2023!
Above: Children from Burkina Faso receiving gifts through our child sponsorship programme.
May 26th, 2022
IN Burkina Faso is Making Great Strides!
Students at the La Bonne Nouvelle School
IN Burkina Faso, with the support of its partners, has been helping children who have been victims of terrorism who have taken refuge in Bobo-Dioulasso. Since the beginning of 2021, 51 refugee and orphan children have been admitted into the International Needs Group Assistance Programme (INGAP) to make a total of 156 children. The programme has been successful so far in supporting the full integration of children back into academics and in restoring their hopes for a bright future. International Needs US has supported the team in Burkina Faso with a motorbike to aid the visitation of children under INGAP as well as office furniture to increase their capacity for reporting and archiving.
The International Needs team in Burkina Faso have been busy making great strides with evangelism and providing relief, education, and medical assistance to vulnerable families which have been distressed by violence and terrorism in the country.
Motorbike for INGAP Visits supported by IN US
Miss Tabita Kone Coordinator of INCAP Using New Computer Supported by IN US
To accommodate the new refugee students, a classroom expansion project costing £84,169 has also commenced with IN UK’s support to build additional classrooms which will take up to 200 new students at La Bonne Nouvelle school.
Preparations for the second story of Classrooms at La Bonne Nouvelle School
The team has also been busy with a feeding programme for the thousands of families who have fled into Bobo-Dioulasso from terrorism in other parts of the country.Many of those who were able to reach Bobo-Dioulasso are widows and orphans who lost their husbands and fathers during the attacks. IN Burkina Faso launched a food distribution programme to relieve the refugees with more than 100 households receiving a bag of rice. The initiative was well appreciated by the Burkina Faso government. In addition to the distribution of food, the team took the opportunity to share their Christian faith and distribute Bibles with those who were interested.
Widows receiving food support
Pastor Jean Kone of IN Burkina Faso with group of trainee Evangelists
With the help of partners, the team in Burkina Faso are doing so much for local communities in crisis!
Please get in touch with us by calling 01883 331332 or email Danny Morris on danny@ineeds.org.uk. If you would like to know more to support the work in Burkina Faso.
May 26th 2022