In Burkina Faso, Terre des hommes (Tdh) is combating child malnutrition and starting to offer a better future to exploited and trafficked children.


Solutions proposed by Terre des hommes

Protection of children working as domestic staff or in the mines and quarries – In addition to awareness sessions, Tdh is reinforcing traditional mechanisms of community protection. The Foundation is also making alliances with state bodies in order to set up a child protection network which is able to identify and follow children in danger and to offer individual tailored assistance and integration opportunities (education, evening classes, professional training).

Mother and child health and nutrition – In this country of extreme poverty there is very little overall coverage in terms of healthcare. In two rural districts Tdh is intervening in communities to ensure they take better care of children’s health and refer them if necessary to one of the 48 health centres supported by Tdh. Care is provided free of charge to children under 5, and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Tdh also supports paediatric units in two hospitals for the most severe malnutrition cases.


Results achieved in 2008

Protection – The Tdh campaign for children victims of exploitation, trafficking and abuse has allowed 780 children to be rehabilitated. The majority of these have gone back to school or undertaken a professional apprenticeship. Tdh has also started the reinforcement of protection mechanisms uniting traditional and institutional players in order to reduce the risks of exploitation.

Mother and child health and nutrition – Due to exemption from paying medical costs in two health districts, Tdh has succeeded in helping more than 12,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women and 52,000 ill and / or malnourished children. The project covers a population of 450,000 persons and will target more than 70,000 children long-term, allowing a significant reduction in cases of maternal and infant mortality.


Challenges to be taken up

The risks of exploitation and trafficking are accentuated by national and transnational migration phenomena. Tdh tries to limit premature and dangerous migration by their preventive work and to intervene directly with the children who are (potentially) victims of exploitation and abuse. The establishment of free healthcare which will allow division by five of the rate of malnutrition in the 2 intervention districts. Nevertheless this plan is only viable if the state of Burkina Faso also commits to this. This will require a tough advocacy work for Tdh and its partners, including the European Union.


The story of: Teri «Big Sister» of Ouagadougou

Teri is 21 and she knows what she wants. 7 years ago she left her native village to go to Ouagadougou to look for work. She would like to be able to earn enough money so as not to have to go home empty-handed.
She is now employed as maid with a family of 7. Her day starts at 4.00 a.m. and does not end until 8.00 p.m. when she falls asleep exhausted. She cherishes her short period of freedom when on Sunday afternoons: for 1 ½ hours she comes to “Point Espoir” at Tdh. There she can share her problems, talk, get advice or even dance if she wants! Although to start with she was very timid it is now she who seeks out this point of contact. Teri has gained so much confidence that she even acts as a “Big Sister” to new girls who arrive, lost, from the country. She passes on to them the messages of prevention which Tdh has taught her. She also passes on this advice to her brothers and sisters who are still at home in her village so that they can themselves develop.