Development in Midebdo

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. Midebdo is situated in the southernmost part of the country, close to the border with Ghana. Although this part of the country receives more rain than the Northern part, it is still a very poor region.

The villages of Midebdo in general are not connected to any grid for electricity or water supply. The primary school of Midebdo has received solar panels from st. Faso in the previous year. This proved to be a tremendous change for the community, as now students from the secondary school could come here to do homework.

40 out of 52 villages still do not even have a water well. People from these villages rely on surface water, which poses great hygienic risks. Also, the surface water becomes more and more scarce as the dry season progresses.

Agriculture is primarily done by hand. Farmers say they want to learn better farming techniques and that they lack the money to buy tools. The same is said by the unemployed youth.

Current status

In 2011 most of this project will benefit 3 villages and their schools in particular. In Midebdo town, both the primary school and secondary school receive a lot of support. Many activities have already started: for example, some school supplies have already arrived and contractors have been found to execute the works.

The microcredit project and the farmer's projects are open to participants of all the 52 villages. The farmers have organized themselves and youngsters were invited to send us proposals for the microcredits.

St. Faso established a Visionary Committee in Midebdo, which advices us how to support Midebdo's development. The plans of our project were identified as the most urgent by this committee.

St. Faso tries to stimulate the local economy by helping youngsters to establish themselves as entrepreneurs. Often they already completed their training to woodworker, metal worker, seamstress etc., but cannot establish themselves by lack of money to buy tools. St. Faso will help them with that through microcredits and building of a workshop. There is enough work for the entrepreneurs and the region will benefit if they can establish themselves. For example there are latrines that need fixing, as well as school benches etc. Girls were explicitly invited to participate, as girls often have a lesser status than the boys in this region.

Of the 52 villages of Midebdo, 40 still do not have improved water facilities. These villages have to rely on surface water, a very unhygienic situation. Two villages were selected because they were worst off and these will receive a new water pump each.

Every year, children of Midebdo still die of undernourishment and don't go to school because they are hungry. To fight this situation, the village of Midebdo has decided to start a communal field. 3 ha will be prepared and worked by the community to feed the children. St. Faso helps by providing seeds and fences.
Of all the villages, farmers are invited to participate in an agricultural program. They are invited to form a cooperative which will receive training and we will help them getting sowing seeds through a system where they pay it back later. The farmers will receive training from ASAP foundation.
Because of the rain patterns, only one crop cycle per year is possible in Midebdo. Creation of a water basin might enable the farmers to grow two crops per year, but the feasibility of such a basin must first be assessed.

The schools of Midebdo are often underequipped. The children will learn more if more educational tools become available. One primary school and two secondary schools will therefore receive learning materials. In addition, the secondary schools will receive electricity through solar panels and the students of one school will receive portable solar lamps to make homework at night (sundown is at 7 pm). The 3 schools will also receive laptops and training in using ICT, as well as an internet connection. A library in Batié has shown that ICT skills are vital for high school students, especially if they proceed to university.

To help Midebdo’s villages improve food and water security by forming and supporting a farmer’s cooperative, communal fields In Midebdo town, clean drinking water in 2 villages, reparation to sanitation and decision on a water reservoir. Tackle Youth unemployment with a microcredit program and building a workshop. Improve education through better facilities, learning materials, solar lamps for students to make homework at night and introduction of ICT, internet and a virtual exchange program.

Goals

• 2 new wells & pumps and decision on a water reservoir
• Training for farmers & support for sowing seeds
• ICT courses, laptops and internet for 3 schools
• Solar power at 2 schools & at home for homework
• Microcredits for youth and a new workshop to work in

Sustainability of the different activities is an important subject for st. Faso.

With respect to the laptops and internet, an internetcafé service should be set up. This allows all the villagers to benefit from the new technology and to pay the bills and reparation/replacement.

For each water well a committee for maintenance is installed and trained. The users of the pumps should pay a small fee for the water they use. From this money maintenance costs can be payd.

Both the community fields, the farmer's cooperative and the youngsters participating in the microcredit program will receive help to start out with, but will be required to pay us back. This will enable us to continue with the support in the following years.