Burkina

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) is a mainland Sahelian country in the heart of Western Africa. It has an area of 274,000 km² and a population of 11,535,000, making it is one of the most populated nations in Western Africa. Its capital is Ouagadougou . The only river not affected by the dry season, the Machoun, joins the Nazinon and the Nakambé as the three main rivers that flow through the this landlocked country. Formed on a vast plateau of low altitude and covered with a more or less fertile arboreal savannah, depending on the region, Burkina Faso is inhabited by around sixty different ethnic groups. The geography of these groups does not correspond to the current borders, inherited from a difficult colonial past, and often spill-over into neighboring countries (Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast).

The most widely spoken languages are French (the official language), Morre (an familial language spoken by the ethnic majority group Mossi), Dioula (similar to the bambara language of Mali), Gourmantché, and Foulfouldé.

Religion: Animist (65%), Muslim (25%), Christian (10%)

Independent since August 5th 1960, Burkina Faso has experienced multiple political changes. It was August 4th 1984, on the first anniversary of the Revolution, that Upper Volta became known as "Burkina Faso," meaning 'the land of men of integrity.' Since 1987, the country has been governed by President Blaise Compaoré.

Agriculture remains the main driving force behind socio-economic development in Burkina Faso. It is the main source of revenue, makes up 92% of the active workforce and obtains more than 50% of the total revenue from export. The main sources of crop income are cotton (production has doubled in the past two years at the expense of food crops), sugar, groundnuts, as well as cattle rearing.

The people of Burkina Faso are also wonderful artists: bronze objects, produced using the technique of 'lost wax,' have become coveted items among the royal courts. Other contributions to the diversity of the local craft industry include basketwork, pottery, skin and leather objects, batiks, wood sculpture and musical instruments (balafon, djembé). It is estimated that the craft industry of Burkina Faso contributes 20% to the overall GDP of the country.

While tourism is experiencing a booming development--the number of visitors has increased tenfold in ten years from 4000 to 50 000--Burkina Faso still remains one of the world's poorest countries.

Current Project:
> Integrated Child Development, Barsalogho District