I am back in Burkina a little bit earlierthan planned. This trip is for 3 weeks during the hottest time in Burkina.
Since a few days it was difficult to get gasoline at the gas stations. Through social media it was communicated as a shortage of gasoline. Immediately everybody rushed to the pumps which did not help. Yesterday the pump stations federation communicated that there is gasoline but that the high temperature makes that the pumps are not working. One friend told me that in one of the stations they had taken the body of the pump out to place ice on it!
What is strange is that diesel pumps worked, I could put some fuel in my car without problem?
Villages development information
APPA is taking care of the development activities in the villages.
Support to primary schools
Beginning of this year we were able to help the primary schools of the villages of Sissa and Néfrelaye. The schools were closed in 2003 and reopened in October 2024 after security was restored in the area.
The support came in the form of books, food supply for the cantine and water bottles, thanks to Coop Haarlem, A Petits Pas and Join the Pipe.
Poultry farming for 150 women
A new project for poultry farming for 150 women also from Sissa and Nefrelaye has been validated by Wilde Ganzen. We need to find 13.750 euro and Wilde Ganzen will double this amount. Do you want to help 150 women increase their yearly income by 200 euro from the second year, have eggs and chickens available for the family?
You can make a donation to ASAP using the QR code:
Collaboration with the Rotary Club Utrecht International, APPA and Wilde Ganzen
The Rotary Club Utrecht International is fundraising for its project “Empower Her” benefitting girls in primary schools in 5 villages.
The project consists in building tiled latrines for girls, giving awareness on hygiene and menstruation and distributing soaps and washable menstruation protection kits. Wilde Ganzen will also provide 50% of the total budget for this project.
Rotary Club Utrecht International will celebrate its jubilee on June 21st 2025 in Utrecht. If you are interested you are welcome at this celebration which will be held in Utrecht. You can register on their site.
Latrines for Girls already built in another village
News about the LAP
Students results
For the first cycle (1st to 4th year), the results were rather good. Only the 4th year which is an exam class has shown some decrease in the grades. Hopefully they will be able to catch up in the coming 6 weeks before the exam.
For the second cycle (5th to 8th year), the results are excellent but for the 6th year. This class is also an exam year and does not seem to have leaders who can pull the class up.
Onions harves
Income generating activities
Thanks to Stichting Waterlander, we were able to drill a new water well equipped of a downhole pump powered by solar panels which fill a 10m3 water reservoir.
Video of this realisation
The water will be used for the fish farming activity. At the end of April we will have 5 fish tanks of 48m3 each.
Some of our tilapia production were “fished” this week end for the Easter meal of the students. They are not as big as we expected. Ou analysis leads us to several reasons: quality of the fingerlings, quality of the feed and level of oxygenation.
Fishing tilapias
Some impressions of Burkina
Flamboyant tree at the LAP
The swarming of flying ants happens after a rain. The ants flies to mate then loose their wings. The male dies soon after mating.
Quotes
“If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.” – George Bernard Shaw
“There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots: suspicion”. – Demosthenes
Hope that you are all well,
Hervé